Tulsa-The University of Houston Cougars survived 20 lead changes and nine tied scores to escape the Mabee Center with a 93-89 victory over the Oral Roberts women's basketball team Sunday afternoon.

Jaci Bigham was a weapon of mass production for ORU, falling one rebound short of a triple-double with an exceptional 22 points, 10 assists and a career-best nine rebounds in the loss.

Following a see-saw first half battle in which neither team was able to build more than a six point advantage, ORU overcame a four point deficit with 52 ticks to go when Kevi Luper and Bigham drained consecutive threes in a 13 second span to give the Golden Eagles a narrow 45-43 lead heading into intermission.

Four ties and eight lead changes highlighted the opening 10 minutes of the second half, before the guest Cougars were eventually able to build the game's first double-digit (73-63) lead with 9:03 to play on a Leslee Mason layup.

Once again, the gritty Golden Eagles mounted a comeback, outscoring Houston 18-8 over the next three minutes and knotting the duel up at 85-all with just over four minutes showing.

The undefeated Cougars answered with a three-ball on the ensuing possession and managed to hold an uneasy four point (90-86) lead with only 1:51 on the ticker thanks to a pair of Brittney Scott free throws.

ORU managed to claw back to within one point (90-89) when Dominique Allen went one for two at the freebie stitch and sank a layup the next trip down. That would be as close as the Golden Eagles would come however, as Houston drained three of four from the charity stripe in the final seconds to hold on for the four point decision.

Luper finished with 30 points, six rebounds and four steals for ORU, while Jordan Pyle earned her fourth double-double of the year with 18 points and 12 boards.

Houston's Porsche Landry led all scorers with 31 points on a 10-14 shooting display.

The Golden Eagles fired a respectable 47% from beyond the arc, but shot an icy 66% from the free throw line.

With the loss, ORU drops to 2-5 on the year, while Houston moves to a perfect 4-0 on the young season.

ORU hits the road once again this Tuesday, as they travel to Springfield, Missouri to battle Missouri State at 7:05 p.m.

-ORU-