The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 8 Women's Basketball preview: No. 4 Baylor [Feb. 29, 2016]
02.28.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns and Lady Bears meet at 8 p.m. CT Monday.
No. 8/8 Texas Longhorns (26-2, 15-2 Big 12) at Baylor Lady Bears (29-1, 16-1 Big 12)
Location: Waco, Texas | Ferrell Center (10,347)
Time: Monday, February 28, 2016 | 8 p.m. CT
TV: FS1 (Ron Thulin, Brenda VanLengen)
Radio: 105.3 FM (Roger Wallace, Fran Harris)
Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 8/8 University of Texas women's basketball team travels to Waco, Texas, on Monday to face No. 4/4 Baylor in the 2015-16 regular-season finale.
The Longhorns (26-2, 15-2 Big 12 Conference) have an opportunity to claim a share of the Big 12 regular-season championship on Monday with a win against the Lady Bears. It would be the first Big 12 Championship for Texas since the 2003-04 season. The Longhorns have two Big 12 regular-season titles to their credit, also winning the league crown in 2002-03. In total, Texas has won 12 regular-season conference titles with 10 of those coming in the Southwest Conference.
"I absolutely can't complain about a team that is 26-2 at this point," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "I am really pleased that we gave ourselves an opportunity to go to Waco on Monday. Again, everything is an opportunity at this point, but we have an opportunity to go play for a share of a conference championship."
Texas is 5-2 this season against opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 this season, including a 2-1 tally against top-10 foes. As of Sunday's latest RPI report, Texas has the nation's No. 6 RPI and is 10-2 this season against teams in the top-50 of the latest RPI report.
Over the last 10 games this season, sophomore Brooke McCarty leads the Longhorns with 13.6 points per game and a team-high 14 steals in a team-leading 33.7 minutes per game. This season, McCarty has led Texas in scoring on nine occasions and is averaging 12.0 points per game.
Senior center Imani Boyette leads the Longhorns in scoring (12.1 points per game), rebounding (9.1 rebounds per game) and blocked shots (3.2 blocks per game).
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 107 assists, while junior guard Brianna Taylor has swiped a team-high 37 steals.
Texas and Baylor meet for the 91st time in the history of the two programs. The Longhorns lead the all-time series between the two teams 57-33, but the Lady Bears have won 12 consecutive meetings against Texas. UT's last victory against Baylor came on March 7, 2010 in Waco. The Lady Bears defeated the Longhorns 80-67 earlier this season on January 17.
Baylor enters Monday's game with a 29-1 overall record and a 16-1 mark in Big 12 play. The Lady Bears have clinched at least a share of their sixth consecutive and seventh overall Big 12 regular-season championship.
Nina Davis and Alexis Jones lead Baylor in scoring with 15.7 points per game and 14.7 points per game, respectively. Freshman center Beatrice Mompremier leads the Lady Bears with 6.5 rebounds per game.
QUICK NOTES
- Texas ranks fifth in NCAA Division I women's basketball history with 1,007 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 26 overall victories for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Texas has one regular-season game remaining.
- Texas tied the school record for most Big 12 Conference wins at 15. The 2002-03 team finished 15-1 in Big 12 play.
- The Longhorns have won 14 games this season by 20 or more points.
- Texas has either tied or won the rebound battle in 25 of 28 games this season. The Longhorns rank ninth in the nation in rebound margin at +10.8.
- The Longhorns have scored 60 or more points in 25 of 28 games this season.
- Texas has shot 50 percent or better from the floor this season in six games.
- The Longhorns are 22-0 this season when holding their opponents to 60 or fewer points.
- All 13 available Texas players have seen action in eight games this season.
- Texas leads the Big 12 Conference (all games combined) in turnover margin at +2.1 and in turnovers forced per game at 18.11.
- 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 89 this season.
- Boyette ranks third in the Big 12 Conference this season with eight double-doubles.
