The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
No. 6 Women's Basketball preview: No. 20 Oklahoma State [Feb. 10, 2016]
02.09.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns and Cowgirls meet at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday in the Erwin Center.
No. 6/5 Texas Longhorns (21-1, 10-1 Big 12) vs. No. 20/24 Oklahoma State Cowgirls (18-4, 8-3 Big 12)
Location: Austin, Texas | Frank Erwin Center (16,540)
Time: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 | 7 p.m. CT
TV: Longhorn Network (Fran Harris, Nell Fortner, Tyler Denning)
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn (Craig Way, Kathy Harston)
Tickets | Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio | WatchESPN
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 6/5 University of Texas women's basketball team looks to sweep the season series with Oklahoma State for the first time since the 2006 season, when it faces the No. 20/24 Cowgirls on Wednesday. Tip-off in the Frank Erwin Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally on Longhorn Network.
The Longhorns (21-1, 10-1 Big 12 Conference) will face a pair of ranked opponents this week beginning with No. 20/24 Oklahoma State. Texas then travels to Norman, Okla., on Sunday to meet No. 21/21 Oklahoma. The Longhorns are 4-1 against top-25 opponents this season.
"We're really looking forward to tomorrow night," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "I think this is going to be a terrific match-up with two top-20 teams. Oklahoma State is playing really good basketball and I think this is going to be a tremendous challenge for our team."
Senior Texas center Imani Boyette leads her team in scoring (12.8 ppg), field-goal percentage (.553), rebounds (9.9 rpg) and blocked shots (3.3 bpg). In conference action only, Boyette is averaging 13.9 points per game, is second in the Big 12 in rebounds (11.4 rpg) and first in blocks (4.3 bpg).
Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty follows with 11.2 points per game, while sophomore guard Ariel Atkins adds 10.2 points per game. Junior center Kelsey Lang is the team's second-leading rebounder at 5.0 boards per game. Senior guard Celina Rodrigo has dished out a squad-best 88 assists, while junior guard Brianna Taylor has recorded a team-high 35 steals.
Texas and Oklahoma State meet for the 44th time in the history of the two programs with the Longhorns leading the all-time series 28-15. Texas has won three of the last four meetings between the two teams, including a 78-48 win in Stillwater earlier this season.
Oklahoma State enters Wednesday's game with an 18-4 overall record, including an 8-3 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Cowgirls are on a six-game winning streak and are looking for their first seven-game win streak in conference action since the 1990-91 season.
Senior guard Brittney Martin has recorded double-doubles in each of her team's last eight games. In conference games only, Martin leads the league in both scoring (19.5 ppg) and rebounding (11.8 rpg). Sophomore center Kaylee Jensen adds 15.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds 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 4-1 (.800) this year against top-25 teams, including a 2-1 (.667) mark against top-10 foes this season.
- 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. 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.
- Texas ranks seventh nationally in scoring margin at +19.7 points per game, ninth nationally in field goal percentage defense at 33.7, and ninth nationally in rebound margin at +12.4.
- Texas has led at the half in 19 of 22 games.
- All 13 available Texas players have seen action in five games this season.
- Texas has won the rebounding battle in 20 of 22 games this season. The Longhorns are averaging 43.6 boards per game and are winning the rebound margin by +12.4. Texas ranks ninth nationally in rebound margin.
- Senior Texas center Imani Boyette has a chance to do something no other player in program history has accomplished. With 68 more rebounds, Boyette would become the first Texas player ever to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks in a career. She currently ranks 25th in program history in scoring (1,238), eighth in rebounding (932) and third in blocked shots (272).
- Up next, Texas travels to Norman, Okla., to take on No. 20/24 Oklahoma. Tip-off in the Lloyd Noble Center is slated for 1:30 p.m. CT and the game will be carried live on FS1.
