Holly Thomas helped the Houston Lady Tigers build an early lead.
Kate Harper was responsible for keeping it.
Thomas scored nine of the Lady Tigers’ first 11 points, and Harper scored nine in the fourth quarter as Houston held off Licking 37-29 Saturday night.
Houston led by 14 points early and after seeing its advantage dwindle to two points in the fourth quarter, survived for its second victory of the season.
“I was really proud of the way the kids hung in there,” Lady Tigers coach Brent Kell said. “Licking made a run at us and we were able to withstand it.”
Amber Honig scored six points and Kendra Welch added five for the Lady Tigers (2-3).
After Licking scored the game’s first two points, Houston rattled off a 14-0 run and eventually led 18-4.
Licking cut the deficit to two points early in the fourth quarter, but consecutive baskets by Harper thwarted the comeback bid.
“We came out focused and really playing well,” Kell said. “Then there were some funny calls both ways. I really felt like the kids for Houston and Licking couldn’t adjust to the officiating because it was pretty inconsistent.”
On Thursday at Rolla, Thomas and Welch scored 15 points apiece in Houston’s 65-37 loss.
Houston trailed Rolla, which got points from 12 different players, 19-4 after the first quarter.
Houston 14 4 6 13 – 37
Licking 2 9 9 9 9 – 29
HOUSTON – Moore 1 0-0 2. Honig 3 0-0 6. Welch 1 3-4 5. Thomas 5 1-4 11. Harper 5 3-8 13. Totals 15 7-16 37.
LICKING – Whitaker 2 3-4 8. Duncan 4 0-3 9. Wade 2 2-2 6. Ellison 2 2-4 6. Totals 10 7-13 29.
3-pointers: Houston 0; Licking 2 (Whitaker, Duncan).
Houston 4 7 14 12 – 37
Rolla 19 8 15 21 – 65
HOUSTON – Moore 0 0-1 0. Honig 0 1-3 1. Welch 4 5-6 15. Thomas 6 3-8 15. Herndon 0 0-1 0. Harper 0 2-4 2. Maddox 1 0-2 2. Pierce 1 0-2 1. Totals 12 11-27 37.
ROLLA – Kerr 4 0-0 9. Bramel 2 1-2 5. Carter 1 1-1 3. Rogers 1 0-0 2. Okafor 2 0-0 4. Reppond 1 0-0 2. Grayson 1 0-0 2. Tiddy 1 0-0 2. Hagni 3 1-1 7. Steele 4 7-7 15. Rightnowar 4 0-1 8. Parry 3 0-0 6. Totals 27 10-12 65.
3-pointers: Houston 2 (Welch); Rolla 1 (Kerr).
