Tulsa
Houston
Tulsa Women's Hoops Upset Houston, 59-55
2/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2009
Final Stats |
Final Stats 
Houston, Texas - Larrissa Williams, ReShawndra Jackson and Chanel Johnson all scored in double digits, leading Tulsa to a 59-55 upset victory over Houston on Sunday afternoon at Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston, Texas. The Golden Hurricane moved to 7-19 on the season and 3-11 in Conference USA, while the Cougars fell to 17-9 overall and 9-5 in the league. TU snapped an 18-game road losing streak dating back to February 8, 2008.
"It was a great win and a moral victory over a very good Houston ball club," Head Coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson said. "We have been encouraging them all season that they had it in them to finish, and today we finished. We found a way to stay two possessions ahead and to finish with the lead. Tatum and ReShawndra stepped up, giving Larrissa, Kara and Chanel a supporting cast that was able to get it done."
Williams had a team-best 18 points and 13 rebounds for her 29th double-double of her career and the 13 this season, and added four blocks, four steals and three assists. Jackson scored 11 points, while Johnson totaled 10 points and had three blocks. Kara Vaughan also pulled down double figure rebounds with 10 and Tiffani Couisnard finished with nine.
Seven lead changes and seven tied scores made the first half a tight 20 minutes, with both teams leaving the court with 26 points. Williams and Johnson scored eight and six, respectively, and both registered three blocks, while Couisnard led with nine rebounds in the first half.
TU jumped out to a game-high 10-point lead with just under 16 to play, but a trey by Courtney Taylor and a layup by Cobilyn Hill cut the lead in half. Houston continued to inch closer and took the lead, 42-41, with just over nine minutes left on the clock. Both teams traded baskets, as the lead changed six times and was tied twice more before Tulsa took the lead for the final time with 51 seconds left to play and finished with the four-point win.
The Cougars were led by Courtney Taylor who registered 18 points and Brittany Mason who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
TU out-rebounded Houston, 45-37, out-shot them in all three areas of the court, had a 12-9 advantage in steals and a 9-5 lead in blocks.
The Golden Hurricane returns home to host UTEP on Thursday, February 26th beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
The 2009 Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship is set to get underway on March 5-8 in New Orleans. For the past 13 years the league has awarded the championship trophy to eight different outstanding teams. Fans may purchase their tickets in advance by calling the Tulsa ticket office at 918.631.GoTU (4688) or online at TulsaHurricane.com. General admission All Session tickets are $50 for adults and $40 for youth, while Single Session prices are $10 for adults and $7 for youth.
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