The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Women's Basketball preview: Texas Tech [Feb. 24, 2016]
02.23.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns and Lady Raiders meet at 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday.
No. 8/8 Texas Longhorns (24-2, 13-2 Big 12) at Texas Tech Lady Raiders (11-15, 2-13 Big 12)
Location: Lubbock, Texas | United Supermarkets Arena (15,098)
Time: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 | 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Southwest Plus (Robert Giovannetti, Andy Penney)
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn (Craig Way, Kathy Harston)
Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio
Pre-Game Media Sessions: Karen Aston
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 8/8 University of Texas women's basketball team looks to reach the 25-win plateau for the first time since the 2003-04 season when it travels to Lubbock, Texas, on Wednesday to take on Texas Tech. Tip-off in United Supermarkets Arena is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
The Longhorns (24-2, 13-2 Big 12 Conference) matched their win total from the 2014-15 season (24-11) on Sunday when they notched a 73-50 win against West Virginia at the Frank Erwin Center. Texas has assured itself of a finish no worse than second in the Big 12 Conference this season, which would be their best finish in the league since the 2004-05 season. On Wednesday, Texas is looking for its 14th Big 12 Conference win of the season for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign.
"I'm really pleased with the way that we played on Sunday," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "I thought we executed really well. We did a lot of things that we talk about all the time, but the composure of our team and the willingness to execute, the willingness to make extra passes and the willingness to be in the right places on defense was there. I hope that we can continue that and move forward this week with the same type of performance."
Senior Texas center Imani Boyette leads the Longhorns in points per game (12.3), rebounds per game (9.4) and blocks per game (3.31). She needs five more blocked shots to surpass Ellen Bayer (289 blocks) for second place on the school's all-time career blocks list. Boyette also needs nine more rebounds to surpass Annette Smith (966 rebounds) for sixth place on the school's all-time career rebounding list.
Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty follows with 11.9 points per game and, in the last five games combined, McCarty is averaging 14.4 points per game in a team-high 36.6 minutes per game. Sophomore guard Ariel Atkins adds 10.2 points per game and is shooting 52.1 percent from the field on the season.
Junior center Kelsey Lang is the team's second-leading rebounder with 4.9 boards per game. Senior guard Celina Rodrigo has dished out a squad-best 102 assists, while junior Brianna Taylor has come up with a team-high 36 steals.
Texas and Texas meet for the 96th time in the history of the two programs. The Lady Raiders are the Longhorns' most frequent opponent. Texas holds a 66-29 advantage in the all-time series, including a 21-17 edge when the game is played in Lubbock. The Longhorns have won the past five meetings between the two teams, sweeping the season series the last two years.
Texas Tech enters Wednesday's game with an 11-15 overall record and a 2-13 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Lady Raiders are coming off a 65-53 loss at Kansas State on Sunday.
Junior guard Ivonne CookTaylor leads the Lady Raiders with 13.8 points per game, while freshman guard Japreece Dean follows with 11.3 points per game. Junior center Leashja Grant is the team's leading rebounder with 6.5 boards per game.
QUICK NOTES
- Texas is just the fifth NCAA Division I women's basketball program to reach 1,000 wins all-time.
- The Longhorns are 5-2 (.714) this year against top-25 teams, including a 2-1 (.667) mark against top-10 foes this season.
- Texas has reached 13 conference wins for the first time since the 2004-05 UT team finished 13-3 in Big 12 play.
- Senior center Imani Boyette was presented with the Haier Achievement Award for accomplishments outside of sports at the Texas-Baylor men's basketball game on Saturday, February 20.
- Boyette has been named Big 12 Player of the Week on three occasions this season.
- The Longhorns have had eight different leading scorers this season over the course of their 26 games.
- Texas has shot 50 percent or better from the field on five occasions this season, including a 50.8 percent (31-of-61) clip against Oklahoma on Jan 23. The Longhorns shot a season-best 55.7 percent (34-of-61) against Canisius on Dec. 16.
- The Longhorns shot a season-best 88.9 percent (16-of-18) from the free-throw line against Oklahoma on January 23.
- All 13 available Texas players have seen action in six games this season, including the team's last outing against West Virginia.
- Texas has won or tied the rebounding battle in 23 of 26 games this season. The Longhorns are averaging 42.5 boards per game and are winning the rebound margin by +10.4. Texas ranks 10th nationally in rebound margin.
- Up Next, Texas plays host to TCU for Senior Night on Saturday. Tip-off in the Frank Erwin Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT and will be nationally televised on Longhorn Network.
