The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
15-5,(3-3)#17/16
Baylor
17-3,(5-2) #3/4
No. 16/17 Women's Basketball tops No. 4/3 Baylor, 58-55
02.01.2009 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2009
Box Score 
WACO, Texas (AP) -- Seconds after the final buzzer sounded against Baylor, Texas players whooped and hollered their way off the court and into the tunnel.
The jubilant display was probably as much relief as it was celebration for the Longhorns.
Kathleen Nash had 11 points and 10 rebounds and No. 16 Texas bounced back from consecutive losses to beat No. 4 Baylor 58-55 on Sunday.
"We have had some rough games lately," Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors said. "When you hit adversity, character reveals itself. I think we saw some great character from our team."
The Longhorns (15-5, 3-3 Big 12) lost by 20 to No. 2 Oklahoma on Jan. 24 and fell behind 19-3 in the game's opening minutes before losing by 14 to No. 11 Texas A&M on Wednesday.
On Sunday, Texas scored the first 11 points of the game and then rallied from a seven-point hole early in the second half. This was highest ranked team the Longhorns have beaten since Goestenkors took over last season.
"This win is big for so many reasons," Goestenkors said. "The road has not been kind to us in general. When you consider it was here at Baylor and at a point in our season where we need a big win, this was great for us."
Baylor (17-3, 5-2), which lost to No. 2 Oklahoma on Wednesday, dropped two straight home games for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey was more concerned with her team's poor offense than its recent home struggles. After shooting 27 percent in losing to the Sooners, Baylor made 31 percent from the floor and missed half of their 26 throws against Texas.
Baylor's four post players, Danielle Wilson, Rachel Allison, Ashley Field and Morghan Medlock, were 7-for-32 from the floor.
"To sum it up, we're just not shooting the ball good," Mulkey said. "We're not making layups and we're rushing shots. It's us. It's about Baylor right now."
Wilson had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Jhasmin Player added 12 points and Jessica Morrow chipped in with 10 for the Lady Bears.
"We have to get better," Player said. "It is not how you start, it is how you finish. That's what it is all about."
Brittainey Raven hit a pair of free throws to put Texas on top 53-51 with 2:46 left. With just a second on the shot clock, Kristen Nash scored her only points of the game--a layup that put Texas on top 55-51 with 1:19 left.
Kathleen Nash hit two free throws to give the Longhorns a 58-55 lead with 6.6 seconds left. Nash thought Texas was up by three, not by one, when she walked up to the foul line.
"I actually didn't look at the scoreboard because I didn't really want to," Nash said. "That helped because I didn't feel quite as much pressure."
With a chance to tie, the Lady Bears missed a desperation shot as the final buzzer sounded.
"We will take it and hopefully gain some confidence from it," Goestenkors said.
Texas went on a 6-0 run and took the lead for the first time since the opening half, 48-47, on Erika Arriaran's short jumper with 5:55 left. Carla Cortijo, who had 11 points before fouling out, drove for a basket on the next possession to put the Longhorns up by three.
Baylor, which led 30-23 early in the second half, tied it up at 50 when Kelli Griffin nailed a 3-pointer from the corner.
The Lady Bears took a 51-50 advantage on Wilson's free throw. But they missed their next eight shots from the field as Texas took the lead for good.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Texas improved to 55-20 all-time against Baylor and 3-1 against the Lady Bears under second-year head coach Gail Goestenkors.
- Texas defeated its highest-ranked opponent (No. 4/3 Baylor) under Goestenkors ... the Longhorns' previous highest-ranked victory was No. 8/8 Baylor last year under then first-year head coach Goestenkors.
- The Longhorns' last road win over a higher-ranked opponent was on Dec. 28, 2003, at No. 2/2 Tennessee ... The win was also Texas' biggest over a ranked opponent since topping No. 1/1 Tennessee on Nov. 25, 2004.
- The Longhorns used the starting lineup of Carla Cortijo, Ashleigh Fontenette, Brittainey Raven, Kathleen Nash and Ashley Gayle for the first time this season.
- Texas opened the game with an 11-0 scoring run.
- Texas held Baylor scoreless until the 16:30 mark in the first half for an 11-2 lead.
- UT trailed 24-21 at the half ... Longhorns are 2-4 this season when down at halftime.
- Texas used a 6-0 run from 6:41 to 5:22 to build a 50-47 lead ... Baylor hit a 3-pointer at the 5:00 mark to tie the game with five minutes remaining.
- Texas shot 40 percent or better from the field for the third time in its last five games and 15th time this season (22-of-55; 40.0).
- UT held its opponent to under 40 percent FG shooting for the 15th time this season (20-of-64; 31.3).
- Texas shot 70 percent or better from the free-throw line for the 10th time this season (11-of-15; 73.3)
Kathleen Nash
- Recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 points (3-of-8 FG, 1-of-3 3FG, 4-of-4 FT) and 10 rebounds...fifth double-double of her career.
- Led the Horns in rebounding for the ninth time this season ... third time this season reached double-digit rebounds.
- Reached double-figure scoring for the 16th time this season and 27th time of her career.
- Co-led the Longhorns in scoring for the fifth time this season and 22nd time of her career.
- Was perfect (4-of-4) from the charity stripe for the ninth time this season.
Carla Cortijo
- Scored 11 points (5-of-8 FG, 1-of-3 FT) to reach double figures for the second time in three games...connected on a season-high five field goals.
- Seventh double-digit scoring effort of the season and 39th of her career.
- Dished out two assists, moving her into sole possession of sixth place for most career assists in Texas history with 446.
Ashleigh Fontenette
- Pulled down a career-high eight rebounds, including six in the first half.
- Played a career-high 34 minutes.
- Made her first career start as a Longhorn.
Ashley Gayle
- Posted two blocks, moving her into fifth place on the All-Time Texas Freshman blocks list with 42.
- Made her first career start as a Longhorn.
