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Sports

Spartans too much for UH down stretch

Cougars can't overcome deficit and No. 16 Michigan State post players to pull off upset

by BRANDON WHITE
The Daily Cougar

Although there was a lot of scratching and digging, the Cougars just could not claw their way to victory against the Michigan State Spartans Sunday afternoon at Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston held their own defensively against The Associated Press No. 16 ranked Spartans, but timely baskets by Michigan State late in the second half helped it ice the win 68-55.

The Cougars came out firing on all cylinders in the first half. Led by guard Sha'Ratta Hawkins, Houston went on to shoot 50 percent from the field in the half, going 7-11 from three-point range. Hawkins scored 13 points in the period. Her backcourt mates juniors Alona Obaze and Maya Onikute had five points apiece. 

The Cougars, however, had no answer for Michigan State guard Victoria Lucas-Perry in the first half, who was automatic from three-point range, going 4-5, with 17 points. Michigan State guard Rene Haynes shared the wealth, chipping in 11 points before the end of the half.

The Cougars sought to settle the score in the second half on the defensive side of the floor. Led by senior forward Ryan Meyers and Obaze, the defense seemed to be everywhere at once. They tallied five steals in the half, pressuring the Spartan backcourt at will.

Onikute proved herself to be a smooth, cool-headed point guard against the Spartans, keeping her team and herself under complete control every trip down court. She also made some things happen offensively as the game went on, finishing the afternoon with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. 

"The first five, six minutes of the game we looked timid, and after 15 minutes we played like we know how to play," Onikute said.

She had a lot of help on the offensive end of the court by fellow guard Hawkins, who finished with 16 points.

The Cougars turned up the tempo defensively in the second half, but the Spartans' "Bigs" refused to be put on hold. Forward Aisha Jefferson made some huge buckets down the stretch when it mattered, scoring 12 points in the second half and finishing with 17. 

Coach Joe Curl was excited about his post play, which even though undersized put up a valiant effort. 

"I don't have any complaints, but we need to do a better job because there is not going to be a team we line up with in the preseason or conference that we will be bigger than," Curl said. "So that's a trait we have to build on."

The Cougars take the floor again 6 p.m. Thursday against the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, W.Va.

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