Sunday, February 10, 2013

Not finishing a game, has bit the Rice Owls again. UH 53, Rice 51.

   What makes a team stronger? Recognizing it's strength and not allowing it's faults to become over bearing. At some point this season the Owls will have got to capitalize on some positive consistency. Twice at home this Conference USA season the Owls have lead, or had an opportunity to win the game and lost. 
   UH came into today's game not just for a win, but needing a win, badly. Confidence was not very high, especially with the Cougars 0-4. With a 2 game carry over from January. And Sr G Porsche Landry provided it for them. (17pts, 5ast, 4rebs). After having a poor first half of basketball play by the Cougars, including Landry. Mid way the second half, the Cougars got a wake up call whether by      Co Buchanan or the team as a whole. UH's Landry sat for about 3 mins. It was during this period of the second half, that Rice extended their lead out to 29-43, over UH. Apparently  her sit down was enough for her to get head straight. Because she was definitely in attack mode from that point until the games end. Mind you she did get from teammates Jr C Yasmeen Thompson (10pts, 12rebs, 3blks), Jr F Te'onna Campbell (9pts, 9rebs, 4stls).
   Where as, her Rice counterpart Jr F Jessica Kuster used the first half to establish herself with (14pts, 9rebs, 2blks). It was enough to give the Owls a 31-24 lead at the break. It would not be enough to go it alone. She needed help and didn't get it. 11 points off the Rice bench in the first half needed to carry over into the second. And it didn't happen, only 2pts were contributed in the 2nd half. To get shutout in fast break points, and points off t/o's. Means, you are not in control of tempo. Even with help from Fr F Megan Palmer (9pts, 5rebs) and Soph F Christal Porter (11rebs, 4stls, 4pts). It was not enough. As Co (Greg) Williams mentions in his post game, "need more scoring from others." 
   
The post game interviews may be answering some questions, as much as it is not able to answer any at all.