HOUSTON – Junior guard Amanda Johnson scored a career-high 32 points to lead HBU to an 88-43 victory over LeTourneau in its home opener Wednesday evening at Sharp Gym.  
 
"It was a frustrating first half." Finnie says "We didn't come out with enough intensity on the defensive end. We made too many mistakes as a team and gave up too many offensive rebounds. The second half we picked it up and got some better looks in transitions. Amanda was our leader tonight. This was her best game by far, in terms of shot selection and composure. It was good seeing so many people contribute offensively."
 
Johnson hit 13-of-14 from the field, including 1-of-1 from the 3-point range and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line with eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks for the Huskies (1-1). Her 30-plus performance was only the 17^th in HBU history and was the most points scored, since Shanice Steenholdt scored 33 against Chicago State on March 7, 2013. Junior center Veronika Kirienko went 7-of-11 from the floor shooting a career-high 15 points with six rebounds. Sophomore guard Sydney Carr also scored in double-digits (10) for HBU with seven rebounds and two steals.
 
Keauna Whitfield led LETU (0-1) with 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Ashley Reed scored seven. Olivia Eweni and Kiara Johnson each chipped in with six points.
 
The Huskies shot 53.1 percent from the floor, 5-of-12 from behind the arc and 15-of-19 from free-throw line. The YellowJackets shot 24.2 percent from the floor, 4-of-18 from behind the arc and 7-of-15 from the line. HBU outrebounded LETU 49-35.
 
LETU led 8-7, but the Huskies scored the next six points and took a 16-11 lead at the end of the first.
Carr started a 13-3 run to open the second quarter with a runner in the paint, followed by a layup by Johnson off a steal.  Sophomore guard Shannon Jones grabbed a rebound and pitched it ahead to sophomore guard Britta Daub, who converted a three-point play. After back-to-back baskets by sophomore forward Lauren Calver made the score 29-14, LETU got back within nine. The Huskies scored the next six to take a 40-28 lead into halftime.
 
The Husky defense held the YellowJackets to a only eight points compared to the Huskies 20 points in the third quarter,62-36, including 12 points by Johnson and 3-pointer by freshmen guard Megan Valdez-Crader in her debut for the Huskies. Johnson knocked down a jumper to start the fourth quarter, but LETU answered back with a four point run. Junior Forward Brooklyn Moore drained a triple to end the YellowJackets run, 67-40. The YellowJackets scored their final points with 5:12 left to go. Valdez-Crader drained another 3-pointer and started a 13 point run for the Huskies, including 12 points from Kirienko. 

HBU will face crosstown foe, Rice, to continue non-conference play at Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday at 2 p.m.