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Sports

Seniors end home season with a win

Despite a slow start, Lady Cougars fire up a win against conference nemesis Charlotte

By Arica Jefferson
The Daily Cougar

Some of the seniors shed tears Sunday at the senior appreciation ceremony after an emotional 69-64 win against the UNC Charlotte 49ers in the last Lady Cougar home game of the 2005 season.

The last home game for the team's six seniors started off with very sloppy defense and lacked luster from the much easier 72-52 win over the East Carolina Pirates.

The ladies had frustration written on their faces when, with 11:53 left in the game, they shot only 28.6 percent from the field. There were six lead changes in the first half, but it was a foul to senior center Sancho Lyttle that sent her to the free-throw line and a three-pointer by freshman guard Jasmin Moore with 4:02 left in the game that ignited the fire in Houston.

It was obvious Lady Cougar head coach Joe Curl was frustrated by the unforced turnovers Houston made. There were 43 turnovers in the entire game, 23 by Houston and 20 by Charlotte. 

Even with the abundance of turnovers, Curl knew this game was one the ladies needed.

"I felt this (win) was brutally important," Curl said. "You don't want to put your basketball future in someone else's hand."

Just a side note: Curl is now undefeated in his red blazer. 

The Pirates looked to Andrea Davidson to score, but she didn't score enough to close the six-point gap UH was expanding. To put a seal on the half, Lady Cougar freshman forward Kadi Creel knocked down a three pointer with 46 seconds left in the game. Despite the game's sloppiness, UH ended the first half with 32-28 lead over Charlotte. Lyttle, who broke the UH women's single-season record for rebounds with 310, a record once held by Valerie Muoneke, went into the half leading all scores with 11 points.

The Lady Cougars came out with the same fire in their eyes they left the half with, but back-to-back three-pointers by Davidson and Monica League at the beginning of the half gave Charlotte a quick 36-33 lead.

The second half belonged to Kiemona "Kiki" Harris who ended the first half with only four points, but ended the game with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. The last home game of the season was emotionally overwhelming for Harris who could barely talk after the game.

"All the things I went through here, and just to think this is my last year," Harris said with a teary eye and sniffles. "I'm just so proud of myself and coach Curl for having me here. I can't put it to words."

Senior Joann Overstreet also stepped it up with an emotional three-pointer with 7:50 left in the game. It was a second three-pointer by Creel that put the nail in the Pirates coffin. 

The reception of roses and picture plaques for the seniors escorted by family members was the icing on the cake. 

It has not sunk through to Overstreet that the game was her last home game, but she is looking to the future and winning the C-USA championship. And to do that, they must take it to another level.

"I'm trying not to cry and trying to stay strong, but we have to come out and play (the) same as always and work hard in practice," Overstreet said. "We will win if we come out and play hard."

The Lady Cougars' last game of the regular season is Feb. 27 in Fort Worth against Texas Christian. UH loss 63-55 to TCU at home Jan. 30, but a win in Fort Worth can tie them for the third-place spot in the Conference USA Championship. UH is now fourth with a 19-7 overall record and 9-4 in C-USA.
 

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