The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
14-6, 5-3
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Kansas *
10-11, 3-6
Women's Basketball stampedes Kansas, 80-55
01.28.2014 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns earn first Big 12 Conference road win in Lawrence.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Texas Women's Basketball team earned their first conference road win by defeating Kansas on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse, 80-55.
Texas (14-6, 5-3) boasted four players in double figures, led by senior Chassidy Fussell's 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a 4-of-5 mark from beyond-the-arc, in 23 minutes. Sophomore Brady Sanders contributed 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting from long range in 25 minutes.
Junior Nneka Enemkpali recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds in 22 minutes. Sophomore Celina Rodrigo scored double-figure points (10) for the fourth time of her career while tying a season-high seven assists.
Texas tied a season-low 14 turnovers for the third time this season while recording 19 assists -- the most for the Longhorns in Big 12 play this season.
In the first half, freshman Kelsey Lang hit two quick shots to give Texas the early lead, 4-0, but the Longhorns were unable to pull away from Kansas (10-11, 3-6) despite shooting 58.3 percent from the 3-point line (7-12 3FG). Both teams traded baskets for the majority of the first half and neither team led by more than five points. Texas finished the half on a scoring spree, rattling off an 8-2 run to end the first half with a four point lead, 38-34.
The Longhorns dominated the second half, starting on an 18-6 run over the first 7:32, fueled by Sanders and Fussell who combined for 12 points over the span. Texas continued to pull away from the Jayhawks throughout the half and maintained a comfortable 20-plus point lead for the last 10 minutes of the game. The Longhorns gained their largest lead of the half at the 5:16 mark with a 26-point lead, 75-49.
Texas shot 58.6 percent (17-29 FG) in the second half, while holding the Jayhawks to a 28.6 shooting percentage (8-28 FG). UT outrebounded KU 50-to-31 and held a 34-to-22 advantage in the paint.
Junior Natalie Knight led the Jayhawks with 13 points (3-8 FG, 5-5 FT).
The Longhorns improve their all-time series advantage against KU to 17-10, including three consecutive victories. Tuesday marks UT's first win in Lawrence, Kan., since Feb. 13, 2010 and the first regular season sweep of the Jayhawks since the Big 12 began double round-robin in the 2011-12 season. Texas won the first meeting of the season, 70-58, in Austin on Jan. 15.
All 14 student-athletes on the Texas roster recorded playing time for the third time this season (Sam Houston State, Idaho).
Texas continues Big 12 Conference play on the road at No. 9/7 Baylor on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. Central on Fox Sports Southwest.
TEAM NOTES
• Series: Tuesday's game marked the 17th meeting between Texas and Kansas and the second meeting this season. Texas won the first matchup, 70-58, on Jan. 15 in Austin.
• Starters: Sophomore Celina Rodrigo, senior Chassidy Fussell, sophomore Brady Sanders, junior Nneka Enemkpali and freshman Kelsey Lang. This is the second straight game and the second time this season lineup has been used.
• In the first half, Texas hit seven 3-pointers which marks the most 3-pointers the Longhorns have made in a half this season.
• 12 players scored for the Longhorns and all 14 roster players saw the floor for the first time in conference play.
• The win marks the largest road win in a Big 12 matchup for Texas since the Longhorns defeated Oklahoma State by 33 in Stillwater in 2005.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Nneka Enemkpali
• Scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 23 minutes of play for her sixth double-double of the season and the 19th of her career.
• Has averaged 13.7 rebounds per game over the last four games.
Chassidy Fussell
• Scored 18 points in 23 minutes for her first double-figure scoring effort since returning from a knee injury sustained against Idaho (12/28/13).
• Also grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists.
Brady Sanders
• Scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting including 3-of-4 from beyond-the-arc.
• Her five field goals made ties her career-high in field goals made and marks a season-high for the sophomore.
Celina Rodrigo
• Reached double figures for the second time this season and the fourth time of her career with 10 points.
• Also dished out a game-high seven assists. Texas is 7-1 this season when Rodrigo has five or more assists.
