The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
No. 3/3 Women’s Basketball preview: No. 4/5 Texas A&M [Dec. 21, 2014]
12.19.2014 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns face Aggies in SEC / Big 12 Challenge on Sunday (12:30 p.m. Central, SEC Network).
SEC / Big 12 Challenge
Game 10: #3/3 TEXAS vs. #4/5 Texas A&M
Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 21 | 12:30 p.m. Central
Site: Little Rock, Ark. | Verizon Arena (18,000)
TV: SEC Network - Pam Ward (play-by-play), Carolyn Peck (analyst), Cara Capuano (reporter)
Radio: 103.1 iHeart Austin or TexasSports.com - Craig Way (play-by-play), Fran Harris (analyst)
Notes at a Glance
• The 85th meeting between Texas and Texas A&M on Sunday (12:30 p.m. Central, SEC Network) will mark the first time both the Longhorns and Aggies have been ranked in the top-5 on the date of competition. No. 3/3 Texas (9-0) and No. 4/5 Texas A&M (11-0) are one of 12 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division I women's basketball. The game will be televised nationally on SEC Network and broadcast on the Longhorn IMG Radio Network (103.1 FM iHeart Austin).
• SERIES: The Longhorns have won the last three meetings with the Aggies and lead the all-time series, 61-23. Texas holds an 8-5 edge at neutral sites. Head Coach Karen Aston is 15-3 against A&M as a coach at Texas, including a 1-0 mark as a head coach.
• AGAINST TOP 10: Texas is 2-0 against top-10 teams this season with wins at No. 6/1 Stanford (Nov. 20) and against No. 4/5 Tennessee (Nov. 30) in Austin.
• UNDEFEATED: The 2014-15 Longhorns are the fifth team in program history to begin the season with a perfect 9-0 record, marking UT's best start since the 2008-09 season (11-0). UT's current nine-game winning streak is the longest under Coach Karen Aston.
• POINTS IN THE PAINT: Texas is out-scoring its opponents in the paint by an average of 40.4-to-18.4 -- a scoring margin of +22.0 points in the paint. 52.7 percent of UT's offensive production comes in the paint (364 paint points / 690 total points).
• DEFENSE WINS: Texas has made its way to a 9-0 record with the 13th-ranked scoring defense in the country. The Longhorns are holding opponents to 52.2 points per game. Texas has held five opponents to under 50 points, including two under 40 points.
• SOLID STARTS: The Longhorns have led at halftime in all games and are holding opponents to an average of 20.2 first-half points, for a +19.9 first-half scoring margin.
• CRASHING THE BOARDS: Texas ranks fifth in the nation in rebound margin (+15.0). The Longhorns grab 44.9 rebounds per game, while holding opponents to 29.9 boards per game. Texas has eclipsed 50 rebounds twice this season, including a season-high 59 rebounds against UT-Pan American (Nov. 26). Senior forward Nneka Enemkpali ranks second in the Big 12 in rebounding with 9.2 rpg.
• LANG LEADING: Sophomore center Kelsey Lang leads Texas in scoring (13.7 ppg), field goal percentage (.630 FG%), plus/minus (+16.1) and minutes per game (27.1 mpg). The Woodlands, Texas native ranks seventh in the nation in field goal percentage (.630 FG%).
• ENEMKPALI CEMENTING LEGACY: Senior forward Nneka Enemkpali ranks 13th in career rebounds (806) and 35th in career points (1,020) at Texas. Enemkpali, a two-time All-Big 12 performer, is on the three main watch lists for national player of the year -- Wade Watch, Naismith Trophy Women's 50 Watch List and the Wooden Award Preseason Top 30.
• NEXT UP: No. 3/3 Texas returns home to conclude its non-conference schedule against Rice on Tuesday, Dec. 30 (7 p.m. Central, Longhorn Network). From Nov. 26 through Jan. 7, Texas plays nine of its 10 games at home.
