Rice University
Houston
Owls Fall to Houston 71-51
2/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2011
Houston - Houston's Porsche Landry scored 20 of her game-high 22 points in the second-half, to lead the Cougars to a 71-51 victory over Rice inside Hofheinz Pavilion. Owl super freshman Jessica Kuster posted her eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds and four blocks in 37 minutes of action.
Rice's four-game winning streak was halted and is now 14-10 on the season and 6-4 in Conference USA, while UH improves 19-4 and 10-0 in C-USA play.
With 14 rebounds, Kuster now has 260 rebounds this season and ranks tied for ninth with Goya Qualls (1980-81) for Rice season rebounds. She made 7-13 from the field and 4-7 at the free throw line.
Senior Morgan Mayse had 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Opal Taskila came off the bench for a season-high 10 points for Rice.
Houston began the contest by scoring the first eight points, but Rice tallied the next six points on two baskets by Morgan Mayse and one by Jessica Kuster. Another Mayse made basket cut the UH lead to 15-12 (9:31). Houston then went on a 12-2 run forge a 27-14 margin (4:19). Mayse actually had 10 of the Owls' first 14 points.
Brittney Scott finished the half with a driving lay up to give UH a 29-19 lead. Scott led the Cougars offensively with 10 points. Houston shot 40 percent to Rice's 37.5 percent.
Rice opened the second half by scoring the first four points (Kuster and Mayse), but UH then next scored the next six for a 35-23 lead. Houston had three 6-0 runs in the second half to keep the Owls at bay the last one gave UH a 65-43 lead with 3:26 on the clock.
Also in double-digits for UH was Landry's back-court mate, Brittney Scott, with 13 points. The reigning Conference USA Player of the Year, Courtney Taylor, was held to a season-low 9 points and 8 rebounds on 3-9 shooting from the field. Brittany Mason also had 9 points for the Cougars.
Rice is in action this Sunday at Memphis. Tip-off is at 2 p. m.
