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Cougars should make a big climb after two big victories

Jones becomes C-USA scoring champ, Houston's date with DePaul looms

Cougar Sports Services

What a Valentine's Day. The Lady Cougars were forced to spend the holiday on the road, but they book-ended Feb. 14 with two victories. The team may get a late present later this week when the new national rankings are released. 

The Lady Cougars may jump up in the rankings after eight of the nine teams directly in front of them lost at least one game last week. Houston is also tied for first place in C-USA with DePaul (22-2, 10-1). DePaul is the Lady Cougars' opponent Friday.

The Lady Cougars took care of business Sunday against East Carolina (14-10, 5-6). As they have so many times this season, Houston trailed at halftime but came back in the second half to win the game.

Senior guard Chandi Jones sparked the Cougar comeback with eight points in the last four minutes of the game. Senior guard Nicole Oliver and junior center Kiki Harris iced the victory by sinking all six of their free throws in the last 12 seconds.

Jones had 21 points and four steals. With those 21 points, Jones became the all-time leading scorer in C-USA history, passing Memphis' Tamika Butler. Jones has 2,490 career points in 105 games -- good for 23.7 per game.

Junior forward Sancho Lyttle scored 18 points and got 15 rebounds in the victory.

Charlotte (14-10, 7-4) came into the game against Houston just one game back of first place in C-USA. After a 62-58 loss to Houston and a subsequent 100-91 defeat at the hands of Texas Christian, the Lady 49ers are back in the middle of the C-USA pack.

Houston made 16-of-17 free throws, setting a school record and ending the Lady 49ers' chances of victory. All 16 shots came in the second half. As a team, the Lady Cougars are shooting 60.2 percent from the line this season.

Jones had 20 points and 11 rebounds Friday and was 7-of-7 from the line.

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