The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
14-3, 2-1Big 12
Colorado
8-7, 0-3Big 12
No. 16/17 Women's Basketball downs Colorado, 62-32
01.17.2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2009
Box Score 
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Kathleen Nash had 16 points and No. 16 Texas clamped down on Colorado in a 62-32 victory on Saturday night.
The Longhorns limited the Buffaloes to just 12 points and 22 percent shooting in the first half. Colorado shot 28 percent for the game.
It was the fewest points allowed by Texas this season.
Erika Arriaran added 11 points and Nash also had seven rebounds for Texas (14-3, 2-1 Big 12). The Longhorns won their second straight game after dropping three of their previous four.
Alyssa Fressle had eight of her 12 points in the first half for the Buffaloes (8-7, 0-3). Brittany Spears added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Texas led by 17 at halftime but Colorado closed to 31-22 in the second half. The Longhorns finished the game with a 31-10 run.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Texas improved to 14-4 all-time against Colorado and 7-1 when playing in Austin.
- Texas improved to 21-3 (.875) at home under Gail Goestenkors.
- Texas held Colorado to zero field goals between 14:57-7:10 in the first half, a span of seven minutes and 47 seconds, while building a 14-6 lead.
- Texas improved to 403-68 (.856) all-time in the Frank Erwin Center...UT has now won 11 consecutive games at home, a streak that dates back to its 70-55 win over Texas Tech on March 5, 2008.
- Texas held Colorado to 12 points in the first half, a mark which ties for third all-time in Texas history as fewest points by an opponent in the first half.
- UT held a 29-12 advantage at the half, marking the 13th time it has held the lead at the midway point ... The Longhorns are 12-1 this season when leading at halftime.
- Texas shot 40 percent or better from the field (24-of-56, .429) for the sixth time in its last eight games.
- The Longhorns also shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc (8-of-15, .533) and improved to 9-1 when doing so.
- Texas' bench outscored Colorado's bench 24-0 ... it was the second time this season the Longhorns have held the opponents bench to zero points...held San Diego State's bench to zero (Dec. 30).
- Texas held the Buffs to just 32 points, the lowest point total in Colorado history.
Kathleen Nash
- Posted 16 points (6-of-10 FG, 4-of-7 3FG), including 10 in the first half...shared the team-lead in rebounds with seven.
- Reached double-figure scoring for the 14th time this season and 10th in the last 11 games.
- Led the Longhorns in both scoring and rebounding for the first time this season.
Carla Cortijo
- Dished out a game-high eight assists marking the third-straight game she's led the team in that category.
Ashley Gayle
- Tallied seven points (3-of-4 FG, 1-of-2 FT) for her highest scoring output since eight against UTEP (Dec. 28)...also added five rebounds and one block.
- Now has 37 blocks this season, placing her tied for sixth on the all-time Texas freshman blocks list.
Erika Arriaran
- Was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field for 11 points, including three-straight 3-pointers from 6:02-3:36 in the second half.
- Reached double figure scoring for the ninth time this season and 36th of her career.
TEXAS QUOTES
HEAD COACH Gail Goestenkors
Opening statement: I'm just really proud of my team for how they played physically on the defensive end of the floor. I thought we started the game with great focus, great energy and tremendous intensity, and that's what we've been seeing in practice. I feel like we've been practicing so well, but our games have not reflected our practices. So before the game, we said, let's just play the way we've been practicing and we'll be fine. We saw our hard work in practice start to pay off for us.
On whether Kathleen Nash has earned a starting spot with her performances: She has. She's just been very consistent for us, and it's not just about her scoring, but her rebounding as well. We need to do a great job on the boards and I think Kat has earned her way. Erika [Arriaran] is fine with coming off the bench, so it's worked out well.
On holding Colorado to their fewest point total in CU history: I'm just really proud of our defense. I thought we did a great job, especially initially. I know they missed some open shots toward the end of the first half, but overall I'm very pleased with our defense. Any time you can hold any Big 12 defense to under 50 points, I think you're doing something special.
JUNIOR GUARD Brittainey Raven
On the distribution skills of point guard Carla Cortijo: Carla controls our team when she's out on the floor. She just has really good vision and she's able to see things that the rest of us might not see. She's always capable of finding the open player. I think we do a really good job of finishing, for the most part.
On her offense picking up in the second half: Coach kept telling me it starts with defense, so I just tried to pressure the ball, make some plays on the defensive end so we could get out on the break and get layups.
SOPHOMORE GUARD Kathleen Nash
On her hot streak in the second half: I think our defense gave us more confidence on the offensive side. They weren't guarding me very tight, so it opened some of my shots. Also, when my teammates penetrated, the other team had to worry about them and it left me open. I credit them for that.
COLORADO QUOTES
HEAD COACH KATHY McCONNELL-MILLER
Opening statement: There's no doubt that we play in the toughest conference in the country, and we've had the toughest stretch over the past three games. Our objective right now as a team is to stay positive and to focus on the good that has been happening with this team. We had some really good stretches tonight, but you can't have good stretches against a team like Texas that has the ability to take advantage and go on runs. I love Texas' team top-to-bottom. They do a great job. They are an exciting team.
On the slower pace of the first half: The lower possession game that we have, the better that was for us. I thought we did a fairly decent job in our zone defense, particularly in the first half. We didn't allow them to have a high possession game, get to the rim and we made them settle for shots out of their offense. They are very good in their man-to-man offenses and they have tons of weapons. They have weapons that we struggled to guard. I liked what we did and I think the zone probably slowed the game down for them offensively.
On Texas' defensive pressure: They switched on everything. They switched big-on-little and guard-on-guard, which we haven't faced in a long time. They really pushed our offense out and didn't allow us to enter the ball as easily as we needed to. We weren't very effective tonight with the shot clock winding down and making plays and finishing. Their defensive pressure took us out of what we wanted to do, and when the shot clock ran down, I don't think we finished anything under ten seconds. You have to credit their defense. They're aggressive, they switched even when they had a big on a guard, they kept us out of the lane and really challenged us.
