The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
13-5, 2-2
Oklahoma State
15-3, 3-1
No. 20 Women's Basketball downs No. 12 Oklahoma State, 77-63
01.20.2010 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2010
Box Score | 
| Box Score 
AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) -- Texas needed a jolt. For one game at least, Erika Arriaran provided a thunderbolt.
Arriaran scored a career-high 28 points, hitting eight 3-pointers, to carry the No. 20 Longhorns to a 77-63 win over No. 12 Oklahoma State on Wednesday night, Texas' second straight victory after an 0-2 start in the Big 12.
Arriaran set a school record for 3-pointers in a Big 12 game as Texas (13-5) snapped Oklahoma State's 11-game winning streak.
"I can't remember the last time I felt like that," Arriaran said. "I was in a dream."
It's been a long time coming for the fifth-year senior whose career had been sidetracked by injuries and the burden of carrying the lofty expectations of the top recruit in the country coming out of high school.
"It put chills up my spine," Arriaran said.
Texas trailed 43-36 early in the second before Arriaran made two 3-pointers to start a game-changing Texas run. She was 8 of 11 from long range.
Texas needed everything Arriaran had to overcome another big night from Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley, the school's career scoring leader who had 31 points. She has scored at least 30 points in four straight games.
Tegan Cunningham scored 19 points for Oklahoma State (15-3, 3-1) but Texas' reserves, including Arriaran, outscored Oklahoma State's 42-2.
"When you bring in a high school All-American (Arriaran) off the bench, that's quite a luxury to have," Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke said.
Texas led 31-27 at halftime despite having Brittainey Raven, their leading scorer, spend almost the entire first half on the bench after two early fouls. Raven had drawn the defensive assignment of covering Riley.
Raven picked up her third foul early in the second and Cunningham put Oklahoma State ahead 39-35 with a baseline jumper. The Cowgirls pushed the lead to 43-36 before Arriaran reeled them back in with eight consecutive points in an 18-3 run that put Texas up 54-46 with 9:13 to play.
Arriaran, who had made just one basket in Texas' previous two games, had an easy time finding her shot against Oklahoma State's defense, which seemed to sag off the Longhorns on the perimeter. Her eight 3-pointers were the most by a Texas player since Danielle Viglione made 11 against Houston in 1994.
"She has just a beautiful jump shot. We probably should have adjusted and tried something else," Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke said.
Yvonne Anderson, who had to guard Riley because Raven was in foul trouble, made a pair of superb defensive plays as Texas steadily built on the lead.
Anderson's steal and layup put Texas up by 11 before she poked the ball away from Riley, who got upset there was no foul called and was hit with a technical foul. Raven made both free throws before Arriaran drifted to the left wing and made another 3-pointer. Arriaran's eighth 3-pointer 90 seconds later put Texas up 69-49 with 4:49 to play.
"I went in with the mindset do your job. I'm going to guard hard, go for everything, but play smart," Anderson said.
Texas had given up at least 90 points in the previous three games before holding Oklahoma State to 40-percent shooting.
"Defense is about focus, heart and hustle," coach Gail Goestenkors said. "I think that the team was really locked in on what our game plan was."
Tegan Cunningham scored 19 points for Oklahoma State (15-3, 3-1).
TEXAS QUOTES
HEAD COACH Gail Goestenkors
On the game: I am just excited to come away with a win. As always for the Big 12, it was another hard fought game. It was a game of runs, and we got down, but I was proud of the team. We were never out. We just kept fighting and working and eventually shots started to fall. I thought that we played together really, really well. Our defense overall was good. It is hard to say that when you see that Andrea Riley had 31 points, but I thought that we did a good job defensively nonetheless. I'm pleased with the win, happy for the team, and ready to get ready for Iowa State.
On the team's defensive effort: We feel like defense is really about focus, heart, and hustle. I think that the team was really locked-in on what our game plan was the last two days in practice. Our team takes pride in their defense, so these last three games were rough for us, and we wanted to show that we are in fact a good defensive team.
SENIOR GUARD Erika Arriaran
On winning their last two games in the Big 12: I think that these have been two great wins for us, but like Coach Goestenkors said, I think that this was two wins that were due for us. We have been practicing hard. We pushed through this summer. We had the mindset that we were going to come into Big 12 play undefeated, and I think that it kind of crushed us to come in and lose two right off the back. I think that these games are a great momentum for us though, and we need to just have the same intensity in the next game.
On the root of her confidence boost: When Coach Goestenkors talks to me and gives me words of advice, it boosts up my confidence so much. She is my coach, and I love playing for her, so it really helps me a lot when I know that she is confident in me.
JUNIOR GUARD Kathleen Nash
On the key to tonight's win: Every time that we take care of the ball, we always have good games. That has always been one of our keys.
SOPHOMORE GUARD Yvonne Anderson
On guarding Oklahoma State G Andrea Riley: I just went in with the mindset that I had to do my job. Most of the time, I am a defensive player, and in practice I am going to guard anybody. I am going to guard hard and go for everything, but I am going to play smart. Luckily tonight, I got the opportunity to play and show what I can do.
OKLAHOMA STATE QUOTES
HEAD COACH KURT BUDKE
On the game: We thought Texas is one of the most talented teams in the country. When you bring a high school all-American off the bench, that's quite a luxury to have. (Texas G Erika Arriaran) got hot tonight on her home floor. All we need to do is give (Texas) credit. They played a nice game. They protected their home floor tonight.
On Texas G Erika Arriaran's 28-point effort tonight: She has just a beautiful jump shot. We probably should have adjusted and tried something else, but she made me a believer when you go eight-for-11 from three. She's a great player.
SENIOR GUARD ANDREA RILEY
On her technical foul: Something like that gets to you as a player but you've got to continue to keep yourself strong and everything. Coach Budke was said, `You're alright, don't worry about it. That can't make you make more mistakes. Just move on.'
On the defense of Texas G Yvonne Anderson: I think that she really did a good job tonight. She was really active on defense. She has active hands and she doesn't back down. I think she did well.
SENIOR FORWARD TEGAN CUNNINGHAM
On the Texas defense: They were pretty much facing on me. I really couldn't get away from it at all. They played a great game. Give them credit.
POST-GAME NOTES
-Texas is now 23-8 all-time against Oklahoma State.
-Gail Goestenkors notched her 100th all-time victory over a Top 25 opponent ... is 100-82 (.549).
-UT connected on seven or more 3-pointers for the third-consecutive game and 10th time this season ... the Longhorns now have 131 treys, a mark that ranks tied seventh in school history.
-The Horns committed just 10 turnovers, their fewest in Big 12 Conference action.
-UT rallied from its second-consecutive halftime deficit in the win ... is 3-5 when trailing at the half and 11-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
Erika Arriaran
-Set career high with 28 points (9-of-14 FG, 8-of-11 3FG, 2-of-2 FT) for her seventh double-digit scoring effort of the season.
-Scored 10 or more points for the 47th time of her career
-Scored 20 or more points for the second time this season and the fourth time of her career.
-Led the Longhorns in scoring for the third time this season and the 18th time of her career
-Recorded eight straight UT points in a 1:16 span from 13:12-11:56 in the second half
-Set the UT record for 3-pointers made in Big 12 games with her eight from beyond the arc
-Eight 3-pointers tie for the third most made in a UT game (8-Danielle Viglione vs. Arizona, 12/21/93).
-Eight 3-pointers made are the most by a Longhorn since 1/29/1994 (11-Danielle Viglione vs. Houston).
-Eight 3-pointers made tie for the third most by a Big 12 Conference player in a single game
Kathleen Nash
-Recorded 11 points (4-of-10 FG, 3-of-6 3FG) for her third-straight double-digit scoring effort
-Scored 10 or more points for the 12th time this season and the 43rd time of her career
-Now has 913 career points and is 87 shy of becoming the 34th Longhorn player to join the 1,000 point club.
Brittainey Raven
-Scored 10 points (3-of-6 FG, 4-of-5 FT) for her 17th double-digit scoring effort of the season and fifth-straight.
-Scored 10 or more points for the 80th time in 118 career games.
-Pulled down team-high six rebounds
-Led the team in rebounding for the third time this season and eighth time of her career
-Now has 1,500 career points at UT, 18 shy of 15th place on the UT all-time list.
