Cougars lose to UTEP 65-54

Posted: January 27, 2013 -- 9:52 p.m. CT.

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) - The Houston Cougars played two poor halves of basketball Sunday afternoon. The UTEP Miners only played one poor half. As a result, the Coogs lost 65-54 to the Miners in front of a small but vocal (lots of Miners' fans in the house) announced crowd of 469 fans.

The first half was definitely a half to forget. Neither team did much right at all. The Coogs shot 22.7% (5 for 22 field goals) and turned the ball over 12 times while the Miners shot 29.0% (9 for 31 field goals) and committed 13 turnovers.

Miraculously, the Coogs led 22-21 at the half.

The first four minutes of the second half produced more action and less mistakes than the first half. The Miners made all 5 of their goal tries. The Coogs made 4 of 6. The Miners led 32-31 at the 15:44 mark of the half.

The game was nip and tuck for nearly 10 more minutes; but, UTEP center Anete Steinberga had her fingerprints all over the second half. The Coogs simply had no answer for the 6'2" center. Steinberga posted up on the right block time and time again and scored. Steinberga was 6 for 7 from the field.

The Miners (16-2 overall, 4-1 in Conference USA) were clinging to a 45-43 lead when Chrishauna Parker missed the front end of 1-and-1 free throw opportunity; but, an offensive rebound result in a huge three-point basket by UTEP forward Kayla Thornton for a 48-43 lead.

After Houston's Te'onna Campbell missed a 3 point shot; Steinberga missed a jump shot; however, Parker rebounded the miss and scored a layup to give the Coogs a 50-43 deficit with 6:52 remaining in the ball game.

The Coogs (9-9, 3-2) never recovered.

Alecia Smith scored a layup for the Coogs; but, Steinberga scored four straight points for a 54-45 lead. After a layup by Houston post Yasmeen Thompson, Saidah Zuberi Allen sank a jump shot and also scored after an offensive rebound for a 58-47 Miners' lead with just 2:37 left in the game.

The Miners shot a white-hot 58.6% (17 for 29 field goals) in the second half while the Coogs shot an awful 31.4% (11 for 35). In addition to their stellar shooting, the Miners dominated the Coogs on the boards 50-31.

After the game, Houston head coach Todd Buchanan lamented his decision to not change defenses to guard Steinberga. Steinberga finished the game with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Marche' Amerson led the Coogs with 11 points. Campbell pulled down 16 of the Coogs' 31 boards.


The Coogs' next game is Thursday, January 31, on the road versus first-place SMU. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.