The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-1
Connecticut
2-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 48 | 35 | 83 |
| Texas | 27 | 31 | 58 |
Women's Basketball falls to No. 1 Connecticut 83-58
11.17.2009 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2009
Box Score | 
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Defending champion Connecticut arrived in San Antonio five months before the Final Four begins here.
Maya Moore had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Connecticut had no trouble with what was supposed to be its first real test of the season, easily beating Texas (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP) 83-58 on Tuesday night in yet another blowout during the Huskies' 41-game winning streak.
Against ranked or unranked teams, whether in November or April, it hasn't mattered in a long time for the Huskies. After winning by an average of 30 points last season, UConn dominated Texas after demolishing Northeastern 105-35 in its season opener.
"There are a lot of things that came out of tonight that were good for our team, things you'd like to know about your team but you wouldn't find out unless you played a pretty good team on the road," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.
He added, "It was a good test for us."
If he says so.
Tina Charles added 15 points and 11 rebounds as UConn (2-0) never trailed in what was basically a home game for the Longhorns. But the defending champion Huskies looked far more comfortable.
The Huskies played like they'll be coming back this way. All five starters for Connecticut were in double figures as it dismantled another opponent, after going unbeaten last season with 39 double-digit victories.
On Tuesday, they took command early against Texas and never let up.
Kathleen Nash led Texas (1-1) with 22 points. The Longhorns remained winless in five tries against UConn, and this 25-point loss was among the worst yet.
It stands second only to the 34-point defeat the Huskies handed Texas in the second round of the 2008 NCAA tournament.
"Their intensity was at another level," Nash said. "For a team to come out and play that hard for that long and just do every little thing right makes them a great team."
Kalana Greene scored 14 points, Caroline Doty had 13 and Tiffany Hayes added 10 for UConn, which shot 48 percent from the floor while holding Texas to 32 percent.
Tempting as it might seem for UConn to be already thinking about coming back to San Antonio next spring, Auriemma said he didn't even discuss it with his players.
"I haven't said anything, have I?" Auriemma said, sitting between Charles and Moore after the game.
Charles shook her head. So did Moore.
"What's the point in talking about it all the time?" Auriemma said. "They know exactly what they're playing for. They know exactly why we're here. They know what the road looks like between now and then."
Although the final score would suggest otherwise, the game was actually the marquee draw of a doubleheader at the AT&T Center. The Final Four will be at the Alamodome.
Brittainey Raven had 14 points for the Longhorns.
"They had five starters in double figures," Texas coach Gail Goestenkors said. "Great teams have great balance, and they do. Not only are they skilled, but they work harder than anyone else."
TEXAS NOTES
TEAM
-Texas held Connecticut without a field goal from 15:44 to 11:39 in the first half, a span of four minutes and five seconds.
-UT's 21 point halftime deficit (48-27) was its largest since trailing Oklahoma by 19 points at the half on March 8, 2009.
-The Longhorns fell to 0-5 all-time against the Huskies, while Gail Goestenkors is now 2-4 in her 18-year head coaching career.
-Texas is now 71-104 all-time against Top 10 opponents, and Goestenkors is 5-8 against opponents ranked in the Top 10 while at Texas.
Kathleen Nash
-Scored 22 points (8-of-14 FG, 2-of-4 3FG, 4-of-4 FT) for the 33rd double-digit scoring effort of her career and the first of the season
-Posted 20 or more points for the sixth time of her career.
-Her 22 points were her most scored since 27 against Arizona State (Dec. 18, 2008)
-First double-digit scoring effort since 11 against Mississippi State in the First Round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament (March 21)
-With her two three-pointers, moves to 98 total in her career, two away from the 100 mark and is just three away from tying for eighth (101) for most 3-points made all-time at Texas.
-Was perfect from the free throw line for the 15th time of her career.
-Pulled down nine rebounds to lead the team in that category for the 28th time of her career....most rebounds since 13 against Missouri (March 12, 2009).
-Sixth-straight game with five or more rebounds, carrying over from the 2008-09 season.
-Also added four assists for her most since 5 against Texas A&M - Corpus Christi on Nov. 20, 2008.
Ashley Gayle
-Posted two blocks to move her career total to 66...14th game of her career with two or more blocks.
-Seventh-straight game with at least one block, carrying over from 2008-09 season.
-Pulled down five rebounds for her fourth-straight game with at least four boards.
Brittainey Raven
-Recorded 14 points (5-of-11 FG, 2-of-4 3FG, 2-of-2 FT) for her second-straight double-digit outing this season and the seventh-straight carrying over from the 2008-09 season.
-Scored 10 or more points for the 65th time of her career.
