Houston’s defensive grit not enough in loss to Colorado

Big 12 competition has proven to be a tall task for first-year coach Matthew Mitchell and Houston women’s basketball, leaving little to no margin for error in its 1-11 start to conference play this season, entering Wednesday night.

Though the results Mitchell and the program seek have yet to emerge, what has garnered conference-wide attention is Houston’s defensive tenacity, with numerous opposing coaches, most recently Colorado’s JR Payne, highlighting that trait.

“I’m proud of having a team like that in this conference,” Payne said. “They’ve been so close, in a lot of games, and they’re going to get some of these. I think that they compete fearlessly, which is probably the nicest thing I can say about a team.”

Mitchell noted the energy and fearlessness Houston displayed in its 73-63 loss to Colorado, traits that brought both the good and bad.

It led to 10 blocks, five steals, and 18 forced turnovers against the Buffaloes, but also to several turnovers that Houston could’ve avoided with steadier play.

“Errors of commission instead of omission, I thought we were trying hard tonight,” Mitchell said. “Untimely turnovers that we need to clean up and do better. But I thought the effort was much better than we had on Saturday.”

Houston’s improved effort showed in the fourth quarter, when it got within six points twice late, including a 3-pointer from graduate guard Briana Peguero, her sixth of the contest.

Peguero led the Cougars in scoring with 21 points and was responsible for all of the team’s triples.

“It was a huge boost for us tonight,” Mitchell said. “That has not been our strongsuit this season, haven’t shot the three well. So six three’s from her was awesome.”

The performance came on a night when two of Houston’s other leading scorers, senior guards TK Pitts and Kyndall Hunter, combined for just seven points–all courtesy of Pitts–and had a scoreless first half between them.

Colorado’s height and length made life challenging on the interior for Houston, on both ends.

60 of Colorado’s 73 points came on the interior, something Payne said was by design because of the size advantage over Houston and the Buffaloes missing two of their top perimeter scorers.

The Cougars, on the other hand, only mustered up 22 points total.

Houston, now 7-17 overall and 1-12 in Big 12 conference play, will next head to Lawrence, Kan., to take on the Jayhawks in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb. 14.