The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma *
No. 14/13 Women's Basketball preview: No. 24/rv Oklahoma [Jan. 29, 2015]
01.28.2015 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns face Oklahoma on Thursday (6 p.m. Central, FOX Sports 1) for the second time in two weeks.
Game 19: #14/13 TEXAS (14-4, 3-4) vs. #24/rv Oklahoma (13-5, 7-0)
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 29 | 6 p.m. Central
Site: Austin, Texas | Frank Erwin Center (16,540)
TV: FOX Sports 1 - Ron Thulin (play-by-play), Brenda VanLengen (analyst)
Radio: KVET 1300 or TexasSports.com - Craig Way (play-by-play), Fran Harris (analyst)
Live Stats: TexasSports.com
Tickets: TexasSports.com/tickets or 512-471-3333
Notes at a Glance
• No. 14/13 Texas hosts No. 24/rv Oklahoma on Thursday evening (6 p.m. Central, FOX Sports 1).
• TEXAS-OU SERIES: Texas leads the all-time series against Oklahoma, 25-23. Oklahoma won the first meeting of the season, 70-59, on Jan. 14 in Norman. In the last four meetings, the rivals are an even 2-2. The Longhorns are 13-9 against the Sooners in Austin.
• HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Texas holds an 11-1 record at home this season. The Horns are 25-3 at the Frank Erwin Center since last season. UT's 13-game home winning streak was snapped on Sunday in a one-point loss against Iowa State.
• ASTON NEARING 150: Texas Head Coach Karen Aston is playing for her 150th career victory on Thursday. Aston is in her eighth season as a head coach with a 149-97 career record.
• LANG HEATING UP AGAIN: In the last two games, sophomore center Kelsey Lang is averaging 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 85 percent from the field (11-13 FG). Her pair of 12-point efforts in the last two games were the first two times she reached double-figure points in Big 12 play this season. On Sunday against Iowa State, she became the first player this season to lead UT in scoring (12), rebounding (8) and assists (3). During UT's undefeated non-conference season, Lang led Texas in scoring (13.5 ppg).
• McGEE-STAFFORD SHOWING CONSISTENCY: Junior center Imani McGee-Stafford is putting up efficient numbers in just 11.1 minutes per game during Big 12 play. Per 40 minutes in league play, McGee-Stafford is averaging 20.0 points, 14.9 rebounds and 4.6 blocks. She leads Texas at the free throw line during Big 12 play (13-15 FT; .867). The Preseason All-Big 12 selection sat out the first eight games of the season after undergoing surgery to reinforce her left tibia in September.
• SANDERS STEPPING UP: Junior guard Brady Sanders leads the Longhorns in assists (2.6 apg) and is the second-leading scorer during Big 12 play (8.0 ppg).
• CLEANING THE BOARDS: Texas has out-rebounded 17 of 18 opponents this season. UT's +10.9 rebounding margin ranks 10th in the nation. The Horns are averaging 43.3 rebounds per game.
• COLD STREAK: During UT's only four losses of the season, the Horns shot a combined 33.3 percent from the field (82-246 FG). During UT's 14 wins this season, Texas has shot 45.2 percent (393-869 FG).
• DEEP BENCH: 11 Longhorns average more than 10 minutes per game. Texas' bench out-scores its counterpart by an average of 28-to-15. During Big 12 play, UT's bench accounts for 44 percent of the team's offensive production (180 bench points / 407 total points).
• BIG D: Texas has the 22nd-ranked scoring defense in the country. The Longhorns are holding opponents to 55.3 points per game. Texas has held seven opponents to under 50 points, including two under 40 points.
• POINTS IN THE PAINT: Texas is out-scoring its opponents in the paint by an average of 35-to-19. 51 percent of UT's offensive production comes in the paint.
• VALUING THE BALL: The Longhorns maintain an improved +1.4 turnover margin this season after posting a -4.3 turnover margin in 64 games during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
• WIDE MARGINS: Texas ranks 10th in the nation in rebounding margin (+10.9) and 23rd in scoring margin (+14.5).
• QUICK STARTS: The Longhorns have led at halftime in 14 of 17 games and are holding opponents to an average of 23.1 first-half points.
• ENEMKPALI OUT FOR THE SEASON: Senior forward Nneka Enemkpali suffered a season-ending injury on Jan. 19 at Baylor. At the time of her injury Enemkpali led the Big 12 in rebounding (10.6 rpg), double-doubles (9), and rebounding in conferece-only games (12.0 rpg). She was on pace to become the fifth Longhorn to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, finishing with 1,116 points (30th at UT) and 899 rebounds (9th at UT). This week, Enemkpali was named to the Wooden Award (national player of the year) Midseason Top 20 list and as one of 30 candidates considered for the Senior CLASS Award.
• WINNING STREAK: Texas started the season with a 13-0 record, its third-best start in program history.
• NON-CONFERENCE PERFECTION: Texas became the first Longhorn team since 1985-86 to finish its non-conference regular season schedule with an undefeated record (11-0).
• TOP 10 TOPPERS: The Longhorns are 3-1 against top-10 opponents, with wins at No. 6/1 Stanford (Nov. 20), against No. 4/5 Tennessee (Nov. 30), and against No. 4/5 Texas A&M.
