The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
5-0
Tennessee
5-1
No. 8 Women's Basketball knocks off No. 4 Tennessee, 64-53
11.29.2015 | Women's Basketball
Freshman guard Lashann Higgs scores career-high 18 points.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– Freshman guard Lashann Higgs scored a career-high 18 points as one of three Texas players in double-figure scoring and the No. 8/8 Longhorns knocked off No. 4/5 Tennessee, 64-53, in front of 10,204 fans Sunday in Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Longhorns (5-0) have recorded consecutive wins in the series against Tennessee (5-1) for the first time since winning four in a row from February 2002 through November 2004. Texas used a post presence that outscored Tennessee 28-18 in the paint.
Higgs' 18 points included three three-pointers and complemented five rebounds. Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty added 12 points and seven rebounds in 38 minutes of action. Senior center Imani Boyette nearly reached a double-double with 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds in 35 minutes of play.
The Longhorns shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53) from the field and overcame a difficult afternoon at the free-throw line by connecting on 7-of-8 free throws in the game's final 33 seconds.
"I am really proud of our team's mentality," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "We've talked a lot about how we had to have a better road mentality. It was a bit of an ugly game, but it usually is an aggressive game when these two teams play. Our defense from a team perspective was extremely good and we stayed disciplined defensively. Our guards made good decisions, especially in the first half, and that gave us a lot of confidence. The exciting thing is, I think we can get a lot better, but I am very proud of how we came in and played with a great road mentality today."
Tennessee led 16-13 after the opening quarter and the teams traded baskets for much of the second quarter until the Longhorns broke a 20-20 tie late in the period. Higgs knocked down a three-pointer and immediately followed up with a layup to put Texas ahead 25-20 at the 3:01 mark of the second quarter.
The Longhorns led 29-24 at halftime.
Texas burst out of the halftime locker room on a 7-2 run to extend its advantage to 10, 36-26, on a Taylor layup that forced a Tennessee timeout. The Longhorns would lead by as many as 11 points (2:06 3rd quarter), but Tennessee was able to cut within four, 56-52, with 1:18 left. That's when Texas' clutch free-throw shooting put the game away for the Longhorns.
Tennessee was led by Diamond DeShield's game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday when it plays host to No. 8/10 Mississippi State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network.
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