The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
6-3
Mississippi
6-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 28 | 30 | 58 |
| Texas | 29 | 35 | 64 |
No. 17 Women's Basketball shuts down Ole Miss, 64-58
12.16.2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2009
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Brittainey Raven had 17 points and eight rebounds to help No. 17 Texas come back to beat Mississippi 64-58 Wednesday night.
Down seven points with just under eight minutes remaining, the Longhorns (6-3) closed out the game on a 22-9 run.
Erika Arriaran scored 13 points and Cokie Reed had 12 for Texas.
Shantell Black led Ole Miss (6-4) with 15 points and Bianca Thomas added 13.
Kat Nash made a 3-pointer and a putback to get the Longhorns going and close the gap to 49-47. Arriaran put Texas up on one of her three 3-pointers, and after Ole Miss tied it on a free throw, Yvonne Anderson answered with another 3.
The Rebels had a chance to make it a one-possession game with 20 seconds left.
LaKendra Phillips had a chance at a three-point play but missed the free throw and Kayla Melson missed a follow shot that could have gotten the Rebels within two points.
TEXAS QUOTES
Head Coach Gail Goestenkors
Opening statement: I'm just really happy to come away with the win. Ole Miss is an exceptional team, and we knew they were going to come in very upset, because they really should have won their game against Ohio State. I know they were frustrated with that. They have a great team that can beat anybody on any given night. I was anxious to see how we would play after a 10-day break. We didn't play very good basketball for a very long period of time, but what I am proud of is that we had resiliency and we never gave up. We believed until the end that we were going to win and we did the things that were necessary to win. There are a lot of games in the Big 12 that are not pretty, but you have to find that they are very ugly and you have to find a way to win. What I'm most proud of tonight is that we found a way to win.
On Bianca Thomas: I'm really proud of our team defense. We had some breakdowns individually where we allowed penetration, but I thought our team defense on Bianca was very good. She missed some open shots, but we also have to give credit to our entire team. We were switching on all screens 1-4, and I don't know if they had seen that up until this point, so that gives credit to not only our guards, but our post players as well.
G Brittainey Raven
On team defense: We would like for our defense to get our offense going. Any play that's made with seconds left on the shot clock really energizes us to go down on offense and execute.
On the importance of defense: From my freshman year until now I do enjoy defense a lot more. Defense is difficult and makes you tired, but in actuality the harder defense you play, the more frustrated the other team gets and the more energy you get.
G Erika Arriaran
On the three pointers in the last six or seven minutes: Our team thrives off of big plays, whether it's taking a charge, getting an offensive rebound, or making a three, any of those give our team energy. Our team is so close, and anytime somebody does something well, we congratulate them and use that energy to take us over into the defensive or offensive side. Any of those three plays really help our team and motivates us to get to the next play.
P Cokie Reed
On her presence in the game tonight: I think it was our 10 days off and the boot camp, because I feel like I'm in better condition and I just catch the ball and go up with it. I have to work on my foot work and not traveling. I think I had about four or five traveling calls, but for the most part I just focused on catching, turning and shooting.
MISSISSIPPI QUOTES
Head coach Renee Ladner
Opening statement: I am really proud of our kid's effort, we really battled. But once again we got down to that magical moment where we had a five point lead and we struggled to score. I give credit to Texas for doing an incredibly good job on out lead scorer. We just failed to put the ball in the basket. You just have to put pressure on people. We are a work in progress so I am extremely proud of the way we played tonight, for the most part.
On their rebounding battle: Looking at the stats, we shot well enough to win, we rebounded well enough to win, we just didn't. We didn't finish the game and that is the difference between the Texas mentality and our mentality. Our kids are growing and getting better they just have to believe that they can finish.
G BIANCA THOMAS
On finishing in the end: We wanted to get a stop and we definitely needed one. Getting the five seconds call was really good, but then they went and made a play right after that.
On not being your best performance: I mean I guess it was one of those nights and [Brittainey] Raven defended me great. Everywhere I dribbled they were all on me. I just have to do better and create my own shots. I give credit to Texas they defended me very well.
POST GAME NOTES
TEAM
-Texas is now 6-1 all time against Ole Miss
-The Longhorns' bench outscored the Rebels bench, 39-6, UT's largest margin of the season.
-Texas used a 9-2 run to close the half, including back-to-back baskets from Brittainey Raven, to build a 29-28 halftime lead after trailing 26-18 with 3:59 remaining.
-Trailing 47-42 at the 9:45 mark in the second half, UT pulled ahead to 50-49 with an 8-0 run with 5:36 remaining.
-Texas held Ole Miss 20 points below its season average (78.1 ppg)
-Texas held its fifth opponent of the season to at least 10 points below its season scoring average (UConn, North Texas, Mississippi State, Oral Roberts)
-The Longhorns shot 40 percent or better from 3-point range for the third time this season.
-Texas had a season-low 11 free throw attempts.
Yvonne Anderson
-Tied season high with six points (2-of-3 FG, 2-of-2 3FG)
-Tied career high with two made from 3-point range.
Erika Arriaran
-Reached double-digits with 13 points (4-of-10 FG, 3-of-6 3FG, 2-of-2 FT)
-Scored 10 or more points for the third time this season and the 43rd time of her career.
-Has connected on at least one from 3-point range for the sixth straight game.
Ashley Gayle
-Recorded team-high three blocks ... has posted at least two blocks in seven games this season.
-Has posted 26 blocks this season to move her into 10th place in UT's sophomore top 10 list in that category.
-Pulled down seven rebounds, fifth time this season with six or more boards.
Brittainey Raven
-Scored 17 points (6-of-10 FG, 5-of-5 FT) for her 14th-straight double-digit scoring effort dating back to March 4, 2009.
-Scored 10 or more points for the ninth time this season and the 72nd time of her career.
-Shot 60 percent from the field, fourth time this season she's shot 60 percent or better.
-Was perfect from the free throw line to extend her streak of consecutive free throws made to 14, dating back to her last three in the game vs. Rutgers (Nov. 29).
-Posted team-high eight rebounds
-Led the team in rebounding for the second straight game and the sixth time this season.
Cokie Reed
-Recorded 12 points (6-of-8 FG) for her third double-digit scoring effort of the season.
-Made a career-high six field goals.
