The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
TCU
No. 8 Women's Basketball preview: TCU [Feb. 27, 2016]
02.26.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns host Frogs for Senior Night on Saturday at 7 p.m.
No. 8/8 Texas Longhorns (25-2, 14-2 Big 12) vs. TCU Horned Frogs (15-12, 7-9 Big 12)
Location: Austin, Texas | Frank Erwin Center (16,540)
Time: Saturday, February 27, 2016 | 7 p.m. CT
TV: Longhorn Network (Fran Harris, Nell Fortner, Alex Loeb)
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn (Craig Way, Kathy Harston)
Tickets | Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio | Watch ESPN
Feature Story: Seniors Leave It Better Than They Found It
Pre-Game Media Sessions: Karen Aston | Senior Class
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 8/8 University of Texas women's basketball team will celebrate Senior Night on Saturday at the Frank Erwin Center when it plays host to TCU. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network.
Texas (25-2, 14-2 Big 12 Conference) will recognize the program's four seniors Imani Boyette, Empress Davenport, Celina Rodrigo and Brady Sanders, as well as student athletic trainer Will Zinser and manager Travis Guebert. The Senior Day presentation will begin at 6:43 p.m., so fans are encouraged to arrive early.
It marks one of the most special senior classes in program history, in the fourth year under head coach Karen Aston. The group of Boyette, Davenport and Rodrigo (Sanders is a fifth-year senior) has compiled a record of 83-43. The foursome has been a key part of returning the Longhorns back to national prominence. From a 12-18 record in 2012-13, the group will finish its career having advanced to three NCAA Tournaments and having posting three consecutive 20-win seasons, with consistent improvement each year.
"I would say I'm excited about tomorrow, but I'm not excited about saying goodbye to this bunch of young women," Aston said. "It's a special night for all of us. It's always bittersweet, but you always want to take the time to recognize the young ones who grow into women and that is what has happened with these four. We've watched them all grow up right in front of us. To say the least, they're going to finish here and be able to say that they left something special with this program."
Texas women's basketball season ticket holders will be able to renew their 2016-17 season tickets at the game on Saturday. Members can bring their seat tags to the table located outside of section 44 on the concourse to renew. Season ticket holders who renew their seats on Saturday will also receive a free gift for renewing early.
Between the first and second quarters on Saturday, Aston and Jody Conradt will be recognized for their roles in Texas achieving the 1,000-win milestone. The winningest coach in Texas women's basketball history, Conradt earned 783 victories from 1976-2007, directing the Longhorns to three NCAA Final Four appearances and the 1986 NCAA Championship with an undefeated season. Under her direction, the Longhorns compiled an unparalleled 183-game win streak against Southwest Conference opponents that spanned more than a decade. Conradt is a member of both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and accumulated 900 career wins.
Boyette leads the Longhorns in scoring (12.1 points per game), rebounding (9.1 rebounds per game) and blocked shots (3.26 blocks per game). She has the opportunity to move up several Texas all-time career charts on Saturday. She needs three more blocks to surpass Ellen Bayer (289) for second place on the school's all-time career blocks list. Boyette also needs six more rebounds to surpass Annette Smith (966) for sixth place on the school's all-time career rebounds list.
Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty follows with 11.9 points per game and, over the last five games combined, is McCarty is averaging 15.0 points per game and is shooting 50 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Ariel Atkins adds 10.3 points per game and is shooting 53.5 percent from the field.
Junior center Kelsey Lang is the team's second leading rebounder, averaging 4.9 boards per game. Rodrigo leads the team with 106 assists on the year, while junior guard Brianna Taylor has logged a squad-best 36 steals.
Texas and TCU meet for the 40th time in the history of the two programs with the Longhorns leading the all-time series 37-2. When the game is played in Austin, Texas leads the series 17-0. The Longhorns defeated the Frogs 65-58 in Fort Worth earlier this season on January 20.
TCU enters Saturday's game with a 15-12 overall record and a 7-9 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Frogs have won three of their last four games, including a win against No. 17 Oklahoma State last week. TCU is coming off an 83-72 loss at West Virginia on Wednesday night.
Senior guard Zahna Medley is just 17 points away from tying the TCU career points record. She has averaged 19.8 points per game in her last five games. In conference games, Medley ranks second in the Big 12 at 16.4 points per game. In conference games, TCU leads the Big 12 in three-point field-goal percentage at .389. The Frogs are second in the conference in free-throw percentage at .741.
TCU assistant coach Edwina Brown played at Texas from 1996-2000. Brown was a two-time All-American for the Longhorns and the 2000 Margaret Wade Trophy winner as the National Player of the Year. Brown ranks 12th in Texas school history with 1,705 career points.
QUICK NOTES
• Texas ranks fifth in NCAA Division I women's basketball history with 1,006 all-time victories.
• The Longhorns are 5-2 (.714) this year against top-25 teams, including a 2-1 (.667) mark against top-10 foes this season.
• The Longhorns have reached 25 overall victories for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Texas has two regular-season games remaining.
• Texas also has reached the 14-win milestone in Big 12 Conference play for the first time since 2003-04.
• The Longhorns have won 13 games this season by 20 or more points.
• Texas has either tied or won the rebound battle in 24 of 27 games this season. The Longhorns rank 10th in the nation in rebound margin at +10.6.
• The Longhorns have scored 60 or more points in 24 of 27 games this season.
• Texas has shot 50 percent or better from the floor this season in six games.
• The Longhorns are 21-0 this season when holding their opponents to 60 or fewer points.
• All 13 available Texas players have seen action in seven games this season.
• Texas leads the Big 12 Conference (all games combined) in turnover margin at +2.2 and in turnovers forced per game at 18.15.
• The Longhorns have had eight different leading scorers across their 28 games this season.
• Senior center Imani Boyette ranks eighth nationally in blocked shots with 88 this season.
• Boyette ranks third in the Big 12 Conference this season with eight double-doubles.
• Up next, Texas travels to Waco, Texas, on Monday to face No. 4/4 Baylor. Tip-off in the Ferrell Center is slated for 8 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast live nationally on FS1.
