The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
18-1, 7-1
Oklahoma
13-5, 4-3
No. 6 Women's Basketball downs No. 19 Oklahoma, 83-76
01.23.2016 | Women's Basketball
Senior Imani Boyette became the ninth Longhorn in program history to record 900 career rebounds.
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AUSTIN, Texas— Seniors Imani Boyette and Empress Davenport each tallied 18 points to propel No. 6/6 Texas over No. 19/19 Oklahoma, 83-76, inside the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday morning.
With the win, Texas (18-1, 7-1 Big 12 Conference) notched its 999th win for the program. The Longhorns are one away from 1,000-win milestone, an achievement attained by only four other programs in women's college basketball history. On the season, Texas moves to 4-1 when playing ranked opponents. The Longhorns lead the all-time series against the Sooners, 28-23, and have won four of the last five meetings.
It was Texas Exes day at the Erwin Center, and 40 Texas Women's Basketball letterwinners were honored at center court at halftime.
"It was a really good home win for our team," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "I thought we did some really good things, and then I thought there were some things that we obviously need to look at film and try to clean up, in particular the turnovers. The one thing that is really special about this team that I can see right in front of my eyes is we are very calm and very confident. I never feel like we don't think we can win. That is a mark of a good team, and I am proud of them."
Boyette brought down 11 boards to record her 11th double-double of the season and tied her Big 12 career-high with seven blocks. She also posted her 900th career rebound in the game, becoming the ninth Longhorn to ever achieve the feat.
Davenport recorded her Big 12 career-high points with 18, including two triples. Freshman Lashann Higgs and sophomore Ariel Atkins joined them in the double figures with 11 points each. Senior Celina Rodrigo led the Horns with four assists.
As a team, Texas shot 50.8 percent (31-for-61) from the field and a season-high 88.9 percent (16-for-18) from the line. The Longhorns dominated the boards, 42-29, and out-blocked the Sooners, 9-3.
Oklahoma (13-5, 4-3 Big 12 Conference) was led by sophomore Vionise Pierre-Louis with 23 points.
The Sooners would get off to an early 6-2 lead, but the Longhorns would rally back to tie things at eight after a Boyette layup at the 6:38 mark. Sophomore Brooke McCarty would nail the first triple of the game to give the Horns their first lead, 11-8, with 6:13 on the clock. It would be an even match from there, but Oklahoma would be able to rally behind strong paint play from Pierre-Louis, who scored the last eight points for the Sooners, to tie things at 16 to end the first quarter.
After evening things again early in the second, the Horns would go on a 15-2 run to take their largest, 12-point lead of the half after a Davenport triple at the 4:40 mark. The Horns would outscore the Sooners, 27-18, in the second quarter to head into the locker rooms with the 43-34 advantage.
The Longhorns would extend their margin to as much as 14 in the third, but Oklahoma would rally behind a 11-4 run to cut the deficit to seven (58-51) with 2:18 left in the quarter. Two quick baskets from Boyette and Higgs would force OU to burn another timeout, but a Sooner triple and two from the line would get them within striking distance (62-58) at the end of the third quarter.
Oklahoma would continue to press back, making it a one-possession game (69-66) with 5:39 remaining in regulation. Texas would answer on an 8-3 spurt to lead by eight (77-69) at the 3:40 mark. The Sooners would once again push back, and a triple with 15 seconds remaining made it 79-76 Texas. McCarty made a layup off a fast break, and a pair of free throws from Boyette secured the game for Texas, 83-76.
Up next, the Longhorns will remain at home as they host Kansas inside the Frank Erwin Center on Wednesday night, seeking the program's 1,000th all-time victory. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast nationally on Longhorn Network.
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