University of Louisville
Houston
Women's Basketball Falls in Nailbiter
January 18, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2002
Houston, Texas - The Cardinals dropped their first conference game of the season, losing a nailbiter 68-71 to Houston in Hofheinz Pavilion on Friday night. Houston sophomore Chandi Jones hit one-of-two free throws and snagged her own rebound to take any hopes of a Cardinal win.
Sara Nord registered her second triple-double of her career with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Marju Sober led the Cardinals with 16 points while Jones led Houston with 20 points.
Houston pulled ahead 38-31 to start the second half. Nord registered two steals, a layup, two assists and a three-pointer to put the Cards ahead 40-38 at the 16:43 mark.
The Cougars pulled head 50-45 with just over 12 minutes remaining. Then freshman Nina Simotes came of the bench to score three consecutive baskets, two three-pointers and a layup.
Louisville did not score a basket in a three minute stretch while Houston hit five of six free throws to move ahead 68-63. Senior Marju Sober hit a three-pointer at the 1:01 mark to pull within two. Jones connected on a runner to keep the Cougars ahead then Kara Kessans hit a jumper to cut the lead to 70-68.
The Cardinals started the first half with a 5-0 run with back-to-back baskets by Kessans. The Cougars then converted on back-to-back baskets from sophomore Jones to tie the score at five.
Louisville went on to pull ahead 13-9 in the first five minutes before Houston made a 10-4 run to take a 19-17 lead with seven minutes remaining in the half. There were four more ties before Houston sophomore Angela Curl hit a three-pointer as time was running out at the half to give the Cougars a 34-31 lead at the half.
The Cardinals will travel to TCU to play the Lady Frogs on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2:00 p.m.
