The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Rice
No. 3/3 Women’s Basketball preview: vs. Rice [Dec. 30, 2014]
12.29.2014 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns meet Rice for the first time since the SWC era to conclude non-conference play.
Game 11: #3/3 TEXAS (10-0) vs. Rice (5-5)
Date/Time: Tuesday, Dec. 30 | 7 p.m. Central
Site: Austin, Texas | Frank Erwin Center (16,540)
TV: Longhorn Network - Fran Harris (play-by-play), Nell Fortner (analyst), Jane Slater (reporter)
Radio: KVET 1300 or TexasSports.com - Craig Way (play-by-play), Kathy Harston (analyst)
Live Stats: TexasSports.com
Tickets: TexasSports.com/tickets or 512-471-3333
Gameday FAQs | Game Notes | Texas in the National Rankings
Notes at a Glance
• No. 3/3 Texas Women's Basketball concludes non-conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 30 against Rice in Austin. It will mark the first meeting between the in-state foes since both were members of the Southwest Conference (Feb. 7, 1996). The game will be televised nationally on Longhorn Network and broadcast on the Longhorn IMG Radio Network (AM 1300 KVET).
• SERIES: Texas leads the all-time series with Rice, 32-1, including a 26-1 mark during the Southwest Conference era and a 14-0 mark in Austin.
• UNDEFEATED: With a win on Tuesday, Texas would become the first Longhorn team to finish non-conference regular season play with an undefeated record since the 1985-86 squad, which went on to become national champions (34-0). The 2014-15 Longhorns are the fourth team in program history to begin the season with a perfect 10-0 record, marking UT's best start since the 2008-09 season (11-0). UT's current 10-game winning streak is the longest under Coach Karen Aston.
• HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Texas is 21-2 at the Frank Erwin Center since last season, including a 7-0 mark at home this season. The Longhorns are currently in a 10-game stretch of their schedule that features nine home games (Nov. 26 through Jan. 7).
• POINTS IN THE PAINT: Texas is out-scoring its opponents in the paint by an average of 39.8-to-19.0 -- a scoring margin of +20.8 points in the paint. 52.5 percent of UT's offensive production comes in the paint (398 paint points / 757 total points).
• DEFENSE WINS: Texas has made its way to a 10-0 record with the 16th-ranked scoring defense in the country. The Longhorns are holding opponents to 53.5 points per game. Texas has held five opponents to under 50 points, including two under 40 points.
• CRASHING THE BOARDS: Texas ranks sixth in the nation in rebound margin (+14.2). The Longhorns grab 44.4 rebounds per game, while holding opponents to 30.2 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 leads the Big 12 in rebounding with 9.6 rpg.
• SOLID STARTS: The Longhorns have led at halftime in nine of 10 games and are holding opponents to an average of 21.4 first-half points, for a +17.8 first-half scoring margin. No Texas opponent has scored over 20 first-half points at the Erwin Center this season.
• HATTIS JOINS THE TEAM: Junior Sara Hattis joined the Texas Women's Basketball team on Dec. 27 after helping Texas Volleyball to its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Final Four. Hattis, a native of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, also lettered in basketball at UT during the 2012-13 season, averaging 8.4 mpg, 1.3 ppg and 1.1 rpg.
• DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE: Senior forward Nneka Enemkpali enters Tuesday with four consecutive double-doubles and five consecutive games with double-digit rebounds. The national player of the year candidate is approaching the program record of six consecutive double-doubles, which she set during the 2012-13 season. Enemkpali has 26 career double-doubles, including five this season.
• ENEMKPALI CEMENTING LEGACY: Senior forward Nneka Enemkpali ranks 13th in career rebounds (819) and 35th in career points (1,041) 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.
• LANG LEADING: Sophomore center Kelsey Lang leads Texas field goal percentage (.624 FG%), plus/minus (+16.1), minutes per game (27.8 mpg) and co-leads in scoring (13.5 ppg). The Woodlands, Texas native ranks seventh in the nation in field goal percentage (.624 FG%).
• TOP 10 TOPPERS: Texas is 3-0 against top-10 teams this season with wins at No. 6/1 Stanford (Nov. 20), against No. 4/5 Tennessee (Nov. 30) in Austin against No. 4/5 Texas A&M in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• NEXT UP: Texas begins Big 12 Conference play on Saturday against Kansas (7 p.m. Central, Longhorn Network).
