Houston women’s basketball takes down High Point in a clash of the cats

In a matchup between cougar and panther, Houston clawed its way through adversity and won the battle of the cats 67-57 to hand High Point its first loss of the season.

“We are so happy with the win,” coach Matthew Mitchell said. “The team stayed resilient and fought their way through.”

Efficiency and inefficiency defined the first half for both teams in varying ways.

Houston shot 46.2% from the field, but 30% from 3-point range and went 3-8 on free throws. 

For High Point, its free-throw shooting was what kept it in the game. The Panthers struggled everywhere else, going 27.6% from the field and 1 of 11 from downtown, but their 11 made free throws kept the deficit small with the Cougars taking a 30-28 lead at the end of the half.

Momentum swung Houston’s way in the third quarter as it went 54% from the field for 17 points, while also limiting turnovers.

The Cougars committed 14 turnovers in the first half, but turned it over only seven times in the second half. 

High Point once again struggled with shooting in the third quarter, converting only 26.7% of its shots from the field, and found itself down 47-42 heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Houston hit a massive slump, shooting 27.8% from the field while the Panthers shot 40%. However, unlike the first half, the free-throw game for the Cougars proved critical, as the team connected on 8 of 9, which proved to be a difference maker. Houston ended the game on a 13-8 run, which included making six free throw attempts.

The Cougars had three players score in double digits. Junior guard Kierra Merchant with 18 on 7-of-14 shooting, redshirt senior guard Kyndall Hunter with 13 and freshman forward Jade Jones with 16.

Jones recorded her first double-double in her second career start, with 12 rebounds to go along with her 16 points.

“It feels good,” Jones said. “Just continue to play hard.”

Houston, which is now 4-2, heads to Nassau, Bahamas, for the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship in the Goombay Division, starting on Friday, Nov. 28, where it will first take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves in the first round.