The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
3-0
Jackson State
0-3
No. 15/21 Women's Basketball improves to 3-0 with 80-53 victory over Jackson State
11.20.2012 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2012
Final Stats | Final Stats 
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AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Women's Basketball team defeated the Jackson State Tigers, 80-53 on Tuesday night at the Frank Erwin Center.
Sophomore Nneka Enemkpali recorded her third straight double-double with 24 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. She is the first player to boast such a feat since Tiffany Jackson in 2006, who recorded her fourth consecutive double-double exactly six years ago tonight. She is also the first Longhorn to record 20-plus rebounds since Kathleen Nash in 2010.
Freshman Imani McGee-Stafford also recorded the first double-double of her young Texas career with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Longhorns boasted three more players with double-digit points: junior Chassidy Fussell had 16, senior Cokie Reed had 14 and freshman Empress Davenport had 10.
Texas started the game off hot against Jackson State with a 7-0 run. JSU called a quick time out before responding with a 7-4 run of its own, bringing the score to 11-7. Texas applied full-court pressure from the opening tip, causing 12 Tiger turnovers in the first half of play. Enemkpali had three of the team's six first-half steals while Reed had four of the team's eight first-half blocks. The Longhorns went into the locker room leading 43-21.
In the second half of play, Texas quickly expanded its lead. UT dominated JSU in the paint, 44-12, and finished the game shooting 47.7 percent to the Tigers' 28.6. The Longhorns outrebounded JSU 55-36 and finished with a total of 13 steals and 13 blocks.
Dominique Brothern and Beatrice Banks led Jackson State with eight points apiece. Tiffany Kellum added 10 rebounds and seven points.
Texas returns to the court on Saturday, Nov. 24, against Central Connecticut State at the Frank Erwin Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM NOTES
-Tonight's game marked the first ever meeting between Texas and Jackson State.
-Texas held a 55-36 rebounding advantage over Jackson State and has outrebounded its first three opponents, 164-93.
-UT outshot Jackson State from the field, 47.7 percent (31-of-65) to 28.6 percent (20-of-70) ... the Longhorns outscored the Tigers 44-12 in the paint.
-Texas recorded 13 team blocks, tied for fourth all-time on the single-game records list.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Nneka Enemkpali
-Led Texas with third-straight double-double and 20+ point game with 24 points and a career-high 20 rebounds ... became only the eighth player in Texas history to record three consecutive double-doubles and the first since Tiffany Jackson in 2006.
-Enemkpali's 20 rebounds were the most since Kathleen Nash pulled down 20 against Boston University on Nov. 21, 2010.
-Posted career highs in steals (four) and blocks (five).
Cokie Reed
-Matched her career high in blocks (four) and posted a season high in points (14), rebounds (seven) and field goals made (six)
-Reached double-figure scoring for the second time this season and 21st time in her career
Chassidy Fussell
-Scored 16 points ... has reached double-figure scoring in each game this season and 57 times in her career
-Recorded a season-high four 3-point FG
Imani McGee-Stafford
-Posted first career double-double in just her third game as a Longhorn, recording 12 points and 10 rebounds
Celina Rodrigo
-Distributed a season- and team-high eight assists to just one turnover
Empress Davenport
-Dished out a season-high six assists and matched her season high in points (10)
Nadia Taylor
-Scored first point of her Longhorn basketball career, a free throws with 7:15 remaining in the second half.
Texas Head Coach Karen Aston
On freshman C Imani McGee-Stafford performance tonight: I think every day is a learning experience for all of our freshmen. This is a completely different level for them so every time she goes out to play a game it's going to be a learning experience for her, but Imani is making progress because her attention to detail in practice is getting better, her reps in practice are getting better, so she is starting to get the feel of what it takes at this level.
On the team's balance: We have good balance on this team. We have several players with an inside presence. It creates a difficult choice to make for teams whether they are going to double-team a post player or not. We have to continue to develop our point guard play, but I think we have an inside-outside game. If we can get better at getting to know each other better and getting to know our system, I think we can be special.
Sophomore F Nneka Enemkpali
On her transition from last year to this year: The biggest thing different from last would be my mindset. With a new coaching staff, everything is different, and all of us are buying into Coach Aston's system and doing what she is telling us and reaping the benefits on the court.
On Imani's potential in this program: The sky is the limit for her. She needs to believe in herself and know what she is capable of doing in the game. She's 6' 7 and I just want her to buy into it and once she taps into it, we are going to be an even better team with her.
Freshman C Imani McGee-Stafford
On her play tonight compared to the first two games: I've been working harder in practice and the harder you work in practice, the easier the games are and that's something I'm learning as a freshman. I'm just trying to work as hard as I can in practice so I can get into the game and not be as nervous as the first game.
