The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Trinity University
No. 24 Women's Basketball posts 101-50 exhibition win over Trinity University
11.01.2007 | Women's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Behind six players in double-figure scoring, the No. 24 Texas women's basketball team posted a 101-50 exhibition game victory over Trinity University Thursday night.
The balanced Longhorns scoring attack was led by a pair of starting guards, with senior Erneisha Bailey and sophomore Brittiney Raven each netting game-highs of 18 points. Joining them in double-digit scoring were the junior post duo of Ashley Lindsey and Aubry Cook, who each chipped in with 15 points. Adding 13 points apiece were junior point guard Carla Cortijo and freshman guard Kathleen Nash. Nash (Plano, Texas) came off the bench to collect a double-double, as she also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
This was the first of two exhibitions for the Longhorns. The game, played at the Frank Erwin Center, marked the Longhorns coaching debut of head coach Gail Goestenkors. Goestenkors, who spent the last 15 years at Duke, took over the Longhorns program this spring after the retirement of Jody Conradt.
The Longhorns used a huge rebounding advantage and points off turnovers in gaining the victory over Trinity, a Division III program from San Antonio. The Tigers turned the ball over 34 times, which resulted in UT holding a commanding 35-7 edge in points off turnovers.
The Longhorns also used their height advantage to control the boards by a 63-33 margin and out-score the Tigers in the paint, 58-10. Texas shot 43 percent for the game, hitting 40 of 94 shots taken, while Trinity connected on just 31 percent of their shots (16 of 52).
UT turned the ball over 11 times, and had 23 steals, including seven by Cortijo. Trinity finished with seven steals.
From the foul line, the Longhorns went 17-for-24, while Trinity made 13 of 19 from the line.
Texas took a 46-28 lead into intermission and then out-scored Trinity 15-3 in the opening five minutes of the second half, jumping to a 61-31 edge behind three layups from Raven (Fort Worth, Texas) and four points from Cortijo (Carolina , Puerto Rico). Cortijo had two free throws and a fast-break layup in the run.
Lindsey (Austin, Texas) helped the Longhorns jump out to 18-point lead at intermission on the strength of Lindsey's seven-for-eight shooting from the floor in the opening period. Lindsey scored 15 points and added five rebounds, one block and two steals in just 13 minutes of first-half action.
Texas jumped out to its 18-point lead on the strength of dominating on the boards and forcing 17 Tiger turnovers. Texas out-rebounded Trinity by a 34-19 margin in the first half. Neither team shot well in the opening half, with the Longhorns connecting on 38 percent of their shots, making 19 of 50 attempts. Trinity hit 35.7 percent of its shots (10-28) in the period.
After Trinity cut the UT lead to 21-15 on a jumper by Kristin Prato Matthews with 10:35 left, the Longhorns built their lead to 18 points with a 17-5 run over the next 4:29, capped by a Cook layup for a 38-20 edge.
This was the first of two exhibition games for the Longhorns. The second and final exhibition game takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 4 when Texas hosts the Houston Jaguars at 7 p.m. at the Erwin Center. The Jaguars are a club team, comprised of current and former WNBA players and former collegians.
Admission to that final exhibition game is free, with open seating. Parking also is free in Lot 108 (adjacent to the Erwin Center) for the Nov. 4 exhibition.
Texas begins official play when it hosts Missouri State on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. in Austin.
Season tickets, individual game tickets (which are priced $10-16), mini-plans and group tickets currently are on sale for the 2007-08 Longhorns campaign.
Season tickets and single game tickets: Available for purchase via ; at the Bellmont Hall Athletics Ticket Office (Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) and the Frank Erwin Center Box Office (Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; gameday one hour prior to tipoff); at Austin area H-E-B stores; and by calling the UT Athletics Ticket Office Phone (512-471-3333 or 800-982-BEVO) or Texas Box Office charge-by-phone (512-477-6060).
Texas Basketball Mini-Plans: Two five-game mini plan ticket packages also are available ($60 per package), with arena-level seating. The "Orange Package" consists of games against Iowa State (Jan. 16), Oklahoma State (Jan. 23), Oklahoma (Feb. 3), Baylor (Feb. 13) and Texas A&M (Feb. 24), while the "Weekend White Package" consists of games with Louisiana-Lafayette (Dec. 16), Kansas State (Jan. 13), Missouri (Jan. 26), Oklahoma (Feb. 3) and Texas A&M (Feb. 24).
Mini Plans and group tickets are ONLY available for purchase by calling the UT Athletics Events, Sales and Services office at 512-232-3865. These packages are not available for purchase any other way.
TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Gail Goestenkors
Her general opening statement: Overall, I was happy with our first effort and I thought we did a much better job the second half. I thought we came out a little anxious to start and rushed things offensively, and we took some chances defensively, trying to get steals, instead of just playing basic defense. But I thought we really settled down in the second half and I think it was really a total team effort. Once they settled down, I think they all played really well.
The one thing I was not pleased with was our trapping and pressing defense. Getting that going will be a process. It will get better as we move into the season. I did like the fact that we had six players scoring double figures. After the graduation of Tiffany Jackson, we need our players to step up and contribute offensively and not be the tpe of role players that they have been. Tonight was a good start for them, offensively.
On coaching her first game as Texas' head coach: I think we've all been really anxious. We've all been working hard and the players were working hard in practice but I thought it was good for all of us to finally get out on the floor and compete against someone besides ourselves or our male practice players. This is a first for me, and a first for a lot of the players. We're all stepping into new roles and I think it was a good feeling for all of us. The players were helping me through and together we'll get comfortable with our roles.
On the play of junior post Ashley Lindsay: I saw Ashley play on tape as a freshman as we prepared to play Texas, and I remember thinking that I've never seen a post player as fast as her. So I was excited to have the opportunity to be her coach. I feel like she can do some things that most inside players can't do because she can run the floor. I think she is continuing to grow as a player and as a person and she is becoming more offensive minded. I think Ashely is going to continue to grow and be something special for us.
On having six players in double figures: We're not really going to have one superstar and that's OK. One my favorite stats is assists and I think a team that really shares the ball is a team that is tough to defend. If you have four or five players who average double figures, it makes a team difficult to defend. We want to feel that on any give night somebody is going to step up and have 20 points, so everyone is going to be a threat.
JUNIOR GUARD Carla Cortijo
On Coach Goestenkors' coaching style: It is a new energy and it's a new style of playing, pushing and pressing the ball. I really like that. We've been working on a lot of new things in practice. It was the first game and I was just trying to have fun but at the same time staying focused and trying to win the game.
SENIOR GUARD Erneisha Bailey
On Coach Goestenkors' coaching style and playing for her tonight: We're trying to get used to Coach G's style of pressing and full court defense. That is the only big difference between the way we played last year and this year. Last year was more man-to-man (defense), but we need to get better on our zone and pressing. Coach G. let us know that during the game. She was very intense out there tonight. We were having one of our dips and she got on us pretty tough at the timeout. At halftime, we especially didn't know that to expect in the locker room, because she and the coaches spent a lot of time talking before they met with us, but she came in pretty positive. Now we can kind of expect what Coach G's reactions are going to be based on how we're playing. And, she's right to feel that way, because we know when we are not playing together and doing the things we have worked on in practice.
JUNIOR POST Ashley Lindsey
On making her first seven shots: Offense is what I've been mainly working on this summer and in the preseason, because my defense is there, but offense is what Coach G wants me to really focus on. I still have work to do on defense, and I know that, but my offense is really what I'm concentrating on. So yes, you'll see me shooting more.
FRESHMAN GUARD Kathleen Nash
On playing her first college game and notching a double-double (13 points, game-high 11 rebounds) off the bench: I was really excited to get out there today because it is my first game in a Texas uniform. I think my teammates did a really good job of making me feel comfortable, so I hope to keep that up. It's really fun to be on the floor with my sister again (redshirt sophomore Kristen Nash) since it's been awhile since we played in high school together. And, the last time we played together, it was here (at the Erwin Center) in the (2006) State 5A championship.
