The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 4 Women's Basketball preview: No. 6 Baylor [Jan. 17, 2016]
01.15.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns and Lady Bears meet at 2:30 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN2.
No. 4/4 Texas Longhorns (16-0, 5-0 Big 12) vs. No. 6/7 Baylor Lady Bears (17-1, 4-1 Big 12)
Location: Austin, Texas | Frank Erwin Center (16,540)
Time: Sunday, January 17, 2016 | 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2 (Tiffany Greene, Chiney Ogwumike, Jane Slater)
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn (Craig Way, Fran Harris)
Tickets | Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio | WatchESPN
Feature: Texas Starts Fast To Win Big
AUSTIN, Texas – In one of the top matchups in all of college basketball this season, No. 4/4 Texas plays host to No. 6/7 Baylor on Sunday. Tip-off in the Frank Erwin Center is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. The Longhorns are searching for their first win against the Lady Bears since 2010.
The Longhorns (16-0, 5-0 Big 12 Conference) are off to the third-best start in program history and are looking to start 6-0 in Big 12 play for the first time in school history. The Longhorns were last 6-0 to begin conference play in 1992-93 when they won their first nine games in the Southwest Conference.
The game is presented by H-E-B and fans are encouraged to stay in their seats following the game for a post-game Fast Break on the court.
"I'm excited about Sunday," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "I think that any time you have an opportunity to play on your home court in a marquee game where you know that the nation is looking at it, it should be exciting. Everybody has asked if we feel pressure but I really think, for the first time, it's exciting. We don't feel anxious, we just feel excited about playing in the Erwin Center in a big game."
Senior center Imani Boyette has won back-to-back Big 12 Conference Player of the Week accolades and has recorded eight double-doubles this year, including double-dips in four of her team's five league games. In conference games only, Boyette leads the Big 12 in both rebounds per game (12.2) and blocks per game (4.8), while ranking fifth in points per game (15.4). In all games combined, Boyette is averaging 12.9 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game and 3.1 blocks per game.
Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty follows with 10.9 points per game and sophomore guard Ariel Atkins adds 9.4 points per game. Junior center Kelsey Lang is the squad's second-leading rebounder with 4.9 boards per game. Senior guard Celina Rodrigo has dished out a squad-best 58 assists, while junior guard Brianna Taylor has come up with a team-high 27 steals.
Texas and Baylor meet for the 90th time in the history of the two programs. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 57-32, but the Lady Bears have won each of the last 11 meetings. Texas' last victory against Baylor came on March 7, 2010 in Waco.
Baylor enters Sunday's game with a 17-1 overall record and a 4-1 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Lady Bears are coming off a 69-64 win against West Virginia on Tuesday in Waco. Baylor ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage at 50.0 shooting from the floor. The Lady Bears are also fourth nationally in rebound margin at +15.9 and fourth in scoring margin at +27.1.
Junior forward Nina Davis leads Baylor in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game. Junior guard Alexis Jones follows with 14.6 points per game. Freshman post Beatrice Mompremier is the squad's leading rebounder, averaging 6.3 boards per game.
QUICK NOTES
- The Longhorns are 3-0 this season against top-25 opponents and 2-0 vs. top-10 opponents.
- Texas head coach Karen Aston is looking for her 75th win at Texas on Sunday.
- The Longhorns rank fifth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (32.7).
- Texas ranks eighth nationally in rebound margin at plus-13.
- The Longhorns have trailed for a total of just 16 seconds in Big 12 play this season.
- Ten of Texas' 16 games this season have been decided by 20 or more points.
- Texas has led at the half in 15 of 16 games this season, trailing at intermission in only the game at Little Rock.
- The Longhorns have scored 70 or more points in 11 games this season, including 80 or more points in five contests.
- Senior Texas center Imani Boyette has been named Big 12 Player of the Week on three occasions this season, including two consecutive weeks.
- All 13 available Texas players have seen action in three consecutive games and four times this season.
- Up next, Texas hits the road to face TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, on Wednesday. Tip-off in the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena is slated for 7 p.m. CT.
PRE-GAME QUOTES
Texas Head Coach Karen Aston
"I'm excited about Sunday. I think that any time you have an opportunity to play on your home court in a marquee game where you know that the nation is looking at it, it should be exciting. Everybody has asked if we feel pressure but I really think, for the first time, it's exciting. We don't feel anxious, we just feel excited about playing in the Erwin Center in a big game."
On Texas' focus entering Sunday's game …
"Our players are very focused right now and have been since we lost to Connecticut [in last year's NCAA Regional Semifinal]. They have been focused on how we get better as a basketball team. They're still in that same place."
On senior Baylor guard Niya Johnson …
"I think she's really, really good because she has a high level of experience and a high level of understanding of how to read defenses, how to draw defenses and create things for others. What I think is so special about her is her ability to make others around her better. That's really the greatest description you could give about a point guard. I think we have to do a very solid job on her."
On Texas' current team generating additional fan and media interest …
"I try and try to tell our players that we haven't done anything yet, but we are at a place where some attention is being received. People are starting to talk about women's basketball in Austin again and that is a huge thing. If you can draw some fans in and they like what they see and each game bring a few more, then you are sitting in front of the type of crowds that we used to have here in the early 1990s and the 80s. You have to do some things to draw people's attention and I'm really excited about Sunday."
On Texas' success on the road this season …
"Last year, we really struggled on the road. For whatever reason, we've kind of liked going on the road this year. I think they've enjoyed the bonding time together, I think they feel confident and I am very pleased with how we play on the road."
On the 2015-16 Texas team …
"This is a special team. I've been coaching long enough to see it and know what it looks like. I think this team has that. I don't know that we'll win every game, but I do think that they have some really special qualities – they really care about each other and the whole group. This is a really fun team to watch play."
Sophomore Guard Brooke McCarty
On facing No. 6/7 Baylor on Sunday …
"We have to go out there and compete no matter who we play, and Baylor happens to be one of the top teams in the country. We all know that we have to come out here and play hard. Whoever comes out here and plays hard is going to come out on top."
On the importance of Sunday's matchup with Baylor …
"We have to go out and prepare for every team in the Big 12. Whoever we have coming up, we have to come prepared the same way each time."
On fan support …
"We are always feeding off our fans and it helps to know that we have people out there cheering for us. We really do appreciate the fans who come every game. It's a good feeling to have the fans out there watching you and cheering for you."
On getting off to fast starts in Big 12 play …
"Fast starts get us going. We just have to keep sticking to the game plan and doing what we need to do."
Sophomore Guard Ariel Atkins
On facing No. 6/7 Baylor on Sunday …
"They're a very good team and very well coached. We have respect for them, but we have to focus on this like it's any other game."
On senior Baylor guard Niya Johnson …
"I think that Niya is the heart of the team and she is their motor. She is really good and we are going to have to contain her as much as we can."
