The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
8-0
Stanford
6-2
No. 5 Women's Basketball Defeats No. 14 Stanford, 77-69
12.13.2015 | Women's Basketball
Senior guard Empress Davenport scores a career-high 23 points.
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AUSTIN, Texas – Senior Texas guard Empress Davenport scored a career-high 23 points Sunday to lead the No. 5/6 Longhorns to their third win this season against a top-25 opponent, defeating No. 14/12 Stanford 77-69 at the Frank Erwin Center.
The Longhorns (8-0) extended their streak of regular-season wins against non-conference opponents to 22. Texas placed three players in double-figure scoring and out-rebounded Stanford (6-2), 44-29. The Longhorns shot 76.7 percent (23-of-30) from the free-throw line and both teams connected on 42.4 percent from the field.
"Our team came out with a lot of confidence and energy," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "That was the thing that was noticeable for me right from the tip. We have a different sense about us right now, and in particular our guards have a confidence about them that I haven't seen since I've been here. We were able to get enough stops to win the game. I thought the difference in the game was our guard play."
With her 23 points, Davenport exceeded her previous best of 15 points, accomplished on six previous occasions, most recently against Oklahoma State back on Feb. 25, 2014.
Completing a group of three UT players in double figures were sophomore guard Brooke McCarty, who had 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting, and senior guard Celina Rodrigo, who nailed 8-of-10 attempts from the free-throw line in registering 11 points. All of Rodrigo's points came in the second half.
Senior center Imani Boyette brought down a team-high nine rebounds to go with eight points and three blocks. She increases her career points total to 1,059 and her career blocks total to 215.
As a team, Stanford hit eight three-pointers and was led by junior Lili Thompson's 21 points.
Scoring did not come easy during the first few minutes of the game. After Stanford scored first with an opening three pointer, Texas got into their groove, taking it's a 7-3 lead with 6:25 left in the opening quarter on three combined makes from McCarty and Davenport. The teams traded baskets until the Longhorns used a trio of buckets to extend their advantage to 13-9 going into the media timeout. The Horns finished the first quarter up 20-16.
Texas opened the second quarter strong with six points over the first minute and a half from junior center Kelsey Lang and Davenport to improve the score to 27-16.
Stanford refused to back down, utilizing a 14-5 run to cut its deficit to just two points at 32-30 with 2:59 remaining in the second stanza as Texas was forced to burn a timeout.
A well-timed three-pointer from Boyette brought the momentum back to Texas. With help from Davenport (6-10 for the half) and a charge drawn by freshman forward Jordan Hosey, the Longhorns headed into the locker room leading 39-32 at the half.
After Boyette opened the scoring in the second half off a rebound from McCarty's three-point attempt, the Cardinal again battled back, cutting UT's lead to just four points at 45-41 with 6:47 left in the third.
Buckets over the next 2:20 from junior guard Brianna Taylor and Davenport as well as a pair of free tosses by McCarty pushed Texas back out to a more comfortable nine-point advantage. Davenport continued her clutch scoring by totaling four points over a 30-second stretch as the Longhorns took a 59-48 lead into the fourth.
Stanford managed the opening field goal of the final quarter to move within nine, but then the Longhorns held them scoreless for 3:45 in nabbing a 13-point lead. The Horns defense set the tone by taking three charges and getting a huge block from Boyette before the media timeout.
The Cardinal used a Brittany McPhee three-pointer to complete a 9-0 spurt to fight back within four at 63-59 with 3:34 left.
Texas, however, finished off the win at the free-throw line, shooting 80 percent (16-of-20) down the stretch.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday when it plays host to Canisius. Tip-off in the Erwin Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network.
