The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
4-4
UT Rio Grande Valley
5-6
No. 16/17 Women’s Basketball tops UTRGV, 85-61
12.15.2016 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns picked up their 500th all-time win inside the Erwin Center.
Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery
Videos: Highlights | Aston Interview | McCarty Interview
AUSTIN, Texas – Freshman Joyner Holmes and Senior Kelsey Lang both registered double-doubles as No. 16/17 Texas Women's Basketball defeated UTRGV inside the Drum on Thursday night, 85-61.
The victory marks 500 all-time wins for Texas Women's Hoops inside the Erwin Center. The Longhorns hold a 500-96 (.839) record at home since the Erwin Center opened during the 1977-78 campaign.
This is the first time two Texas players have notched double-doubles in the same game since Imani Boyette and Nneka Enemkpali accomplished the feat against Kansas State on Jan. 26, 2013.
Texas holds a perfect 7-0 record over UTRGV in series history.
"It's always exciting to be part of a win that is historic," said Texas head coach Karen Aston. "I'm happy it was the 500th in the Erwin Center, and it just means a whole lot of special basketball has gone on here for a whole lot of years, and we're really proud to be a part of that."
Holmes led the way for Texas with a game-high 16 points and career-high 13 rebounds. The freshman also totaled a career-high four assists and three blocks.
Lang picked up her third double-double of the season with 10 points and rebounds, respectively. She also added one block for the night, moving her in a tie for 8th place all-time on the Texas blocked shots list with Tracy Cook (1998-02).
Junior Brooke McCarty posted 14 points along with five boards and a game-high six assists. Freshman Jada Underwood rounded out the Longhorns in the double figures with 12 points, including a perfect 4-4 effort from both the field and the charity stripe.
As a team, Texas shot 53.2 percent (33-62) from the field while holding UTRGV to a 29.2 shooting percentage (21-72). The Longhorns outrebounded the Vaqueros, 50-35, and have not lost a battle of the boards yet this season.
UTRGV was led by senior Shawnte' Goff and sophomore Bernesha Peters with 12 points each.
The Horns opened on a 9-2 push to start the game, and consecutive McCarty to Holmes lay-ups made it 15-10 Texas at a UTRGV timeout with 6:08 remaining in the first. Texas closed with a sophomore Jordan Hosey jumper and six lay-ups to end the first quarter, 29-17.
It was a 17-15 battle with Texas narrowly holding the edge as the Vaqueros found all their points from downtown with five triples in the second stanza. McCarty knocked down her first trey of the game at the 2:51 mark, and the Longhorns headed into the half with the 46-32 lead.
The Horns held UTRGV to only eight points in the third quarter and took their largest lead of the night, a 33-point spread, with just under a minute remaining. Lang knocked down two from the line to close the third, 71-40 Texas.
The Vaqueros held the edge in the closing quarter, 21-14, but it wasn't enough as Texas went on to win the game, 85-61.
Coming up, the Longhorns have a quick turnaround as they host UTSA inside the Drum on Saturday night. Tip is set for 5 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcasted on Longhorn Network.
