Houston Stealth Lose at the Buzzer

Published on March 11, 2003 under National Women's Basketball League (NWBL)
Houston Stealth News Release


Coco Miller made two shots the entire game. Unfortunately for the Houston Stealth, Coco's last basket was a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer which gave the Birmingham Power an exciting 73 72 victory over the Houston Stealth.

With 2.6 seconds left in the game, Houston led 72 70. Birmingham's Taquilla Allen found a wide-open Coco Miller with the inbound pass; and, Coco calmly sank the winning basket.

"The play was really set up for her sister (Kelly), said Curtis Oden, Birmingham's head coach. "But, they left Coco open, rotated late, and Coco nailed the three."

"About 2 or 3 people went with her and that just left me wide-open in the corner," said Coco Miller. "I just knocked it down."

After trailing by as many as seven points (25 18) in the first half, the Stealth finished the half with a 13 to 4 run to lead 31 to 29 at the break. Stealth center Michelle Snow was a dominant force as she scored 12 points (4 for 5 shooting) and pulled down 7 rebounds in the first half.

The second half began with Houston making a conscious effort to maximize Snow's height (6'5) advantage over Birmingham's guard-oriented line-up. Michelle scored 12 of Houston's first twenty points in the half; and, the Stealth took its biggest lead (14) of the game 51 to 37 with 12:50 left in the ball game.

Birmingham's Boo Barnes scored 9 straight points for the Power to help Birmingham cut the Stealth's lead to seven (56 to 49) with 8:50 remaining.

With a 63 to 58 lead, Birmingham's Tiffany Travis took over. She scored 12 straight points for the Power (two field goals and six free throws) to pull the Power within 2 (72 70) with 9.2 seconds left.

"I just wanted to come out in attack mode", said Travis. With 34 points, Snow was the game's leading scorer. However, despite making 14 of 15 field goals (including all nine attempts in the second half), her eight missed free throws (8 for 16) were a huge factor in keeping Birmingham in the game.

"And the free throw line of course," lamented Snow. "We shot ourselves in the foot, me especially. That easily could have been a win."

Birmingham's 44 points in the second half were a big problem for Houston's head coach John Chancellor.

"We just gave the game away," admitted coach John Chancellor. "You can't give up 44 points in a half and win. If we don't play defense we're not going to win."

In addition to Snow's 34 points, Houston had two other players score in double figures: Marla Brumfield added 13 points (5 of 6 from the field, including 2 for 2 from long range) and La'Neishea Caufield scored 11 points.

Kelly Miller's 20 points led Birmingham. Tiffany Travis added 18 while Taquilla Allen scored 11 points.

Houston shot 49.1% (26 for 53) while Birmingham shot 42.6% (26 for 61) from the field.

The Birmingham Power led just once in the second half; unfortunately for the Stealth, the lead came as the final buzzer sounded.

"This one hurts folks," said a disappointed John Chancellor after the game.

With the loss, the Stealth's record falls to 3 and 7 while the Power's record improves to 4 and 5.

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National Women's Basketball League Stories from March 11, 2003


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