The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
No. 6 Women's Basketball preview: No. 21 Oklahoma [Feb. 14, 2016]
02.13.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns and Sooners meet at 1:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
No. 6/5 Texas Longhorns (22-1, 11-1 Big 12) at No. 21/21 Oklahoma Sooners (16-7, 7-5 Big 12)
Location: Norman, Okla. | Lloyd Noble Center (11,562)
Time: Sunday, February 14, 2016 | 1:30 p.m. CT
TV: FS1 (Ron Thulin, Brenda VanLengen)
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn (Craig Way, Fran Harris)
Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 6/5 University of Texas women's basketball team travels to Norman, Okla., to face No. 21/21 Oklahoma on Sunday. Tip-off in the Lloyd Noble Center is slated for 1:30 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.
The Longhorns (22-1, 11-1 Big 12 Conference) are looking for their first victory in Norman since 2010. Texas seeks to notch its 12th conference win of the season, marking the first time the Longhorns have reached the 12-win plateau in league play since the 2004-05 campaign.
Texas is 5-1 (.833) this season against top-25 opponents, including a 70-55 win against No. 20 Oklahoma State on Wednesday night in Austin.
"I think we know what to expect when we go into Norman on Sunday," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "It was a really hard-fought game the first time we played them. We're going to have to play better. We fouled too much late in the game and, in particular, we turned the ball over too much. We can't turn the ball over like that in Norman and expect to win."
Senior center Imani Boyette leads the Longhorns in scoring (12.6 points per game), rebounding (9.9 rebounds per game) and blocked shots (3.4 blocks per game). She has recorded 12 double-doubles this season, including eight in Big 12 play. In conference game only, she is averaging 13.3 points per game, leads the Big 12 in blocks (4.3 blocks per game) and is second in rebounding (11.2 rebounds per game).
Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty follows with 11.5 points per game, while sophomore guard Ariel Atkins adds 10.6 points per game. Junior center Kelsey Lang is second on the team in rebounding with 5.0 boards per game. Senior guard Celina Rodrigo has dished out a squad-best 90 assists this season, while junior guard Brianna Taylor has swiped a team-high 35 steals.
Texas and Oklahoma meet for the 52nd time in the history of the two programs with the Longhorns leading the all-time series 28-23. The Longhorns defeated the Sooners 83-76 earlier this season in Austin. Texas is looking for its first win in Norman since February 3, 2010 – a 75-57 decision.
No. 21 Oklahoma enters Sunday's game with a 16-7 overall record and a 7-5 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Sooners are coming off an 87-71 loss against Kansas State on Tuesday night. Oklahoma leads the Big 12 Conference (all games combined) in turnovers forced at 18.57 per game.
Senior forward Kaylon Williams leads her team in both scoring and rebounding with 13.1 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Junior guard Peyton Little follows with 11.2 points per game.
2015-16 Road Success | ||
Opponent (Date) | Result | First Win There Since |
at Tennessee (11/29/2015) | W, 64-53 | 2003 |
at West Virginia (12/30/2015) | W, 65-54 | ever |
at Oklahoma State (1/9/2016) | W, 78-48 | 2009 |
at Iowa State (2/6/2016) | W, 65-49 | 2009 |
QUICK NOTES
- Texas has won the rebounding battle in 21 of 23 games this season. The Longhorns are averaging 43.4 boards per game and are winning the rebound margin by +12.0. Texas ranks eighth nationally in rebound margin.
- On January 27, Texas became just the fifth program in NCAA women's basketball history to reach 1,000 all-time wins. The Longhorns rank fifth all-time with 1,003 wins.
- With its victory against Kansas State on Jan. 30, Texas reached 20 wins for the 33rd time in program history. The 2015-16 Longhorns tied for the third-fastest team in program history to reach 20 wins.
- Up next, Texas returns home to play host to Kansas State on Wednesday. Tip-off in the Frank Erwin Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT on Longhorn Network.
