Rice University
Houston
Cougars Edge Owls 91-86 in Overtime
1/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2007
Houston -
Valeriya Berezhynska had a career-high 31 points, but it wasn't enough for Rice to overcome Tye Jackson's 30-point outburst as Houston dealt the Owls a 91-86 defeat in overtime Tuesday at Hofheinz Pavilion. Berezhynska, whose previous career-high was 21 points, hit 12 of 23 shots from the field, including three three-pointers. Her 23 attempts were the second-highest ever by an Owl.
The Cougars (4-8, 1-1 C-USA) forced 19 Rice turnovers and converted those miscues to 26 points.
Rice (7-7, 0-1) led 41-35 at the half after going on a 12-0 run from the 4:25 mark, capped off by a Krystal Frazier three-pointer. Frazier, who had a season-high 22 points, had five assists in the first half on the way to a career-high seven.
The Owls kept up the pressure to open the second half, fighting off Houston until Ashlee Joseph canned a jumper with 15:33 to go to tie it at 48-48. A layup and trey from Frazier gave the Owls a three-point edge a minute later, but Whitney James hit from long distance and Maya Onikute knocked down a layup and a jumper to make it 59-53 for the Cougars. Houston stretched its lead to nine on a Jackson jumper with 6:02 to go, then Frazier hit another three and Berezhynska sank two key baskets to put the Owls ahead 70-69 at the 3:02 mark.
After another Joseph bucket, Berezhynska hit a rainbow from long-distance, and followed with another three a minute later to put Rice up 76-73 with 1:28 on the clock. Onikute scored with 24 seconds left and Jackson converted her second free throw after a miss to tie it at 76-76 and send the game into overtime.
Houston scored five straight points to star the extra period, and despite two Kadie Riverin free throws and a three-pointer with 25 seconds left, Rice never got closer than two points and the Cougars added three free throws to seal the win.
Riverin finished with 17 points and six assists for the Owls, who were without starting forward Lauren Neaves for the second game in a row. Tiffany Loggins grabbed a career- and game-high 11 rebounds, and Rice had 11 three-point baskets, the equal-second-highest ever by an Owl squad.
Joseph had a career-high 20 points for Houston, and James (17) and Onikute (14) also scored in double figures for the Cougars.
The Owls travel to El Paso Friday to take on UTEP, and will play at Tulane Sunday.
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