The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UConn
No. 7 Women's Basketball preview: No. 1 UConn [March 28, 2016]
03.28.2016 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns and Huskies meet at 6 p.m. CT Monday in Bridgeport, Conn.
No. 7/7 Texas Longhorns (31-4) vs. No. 1/1 UConn Huskies (35-0)
NCAA Regional Finals
Time: Monday, March 28, 2016 | 6 p.m. CT
Location: Bridgeport, Conn. | Webster Bank Arena (10,000)
TV: ESPN (Dave O'Brien, Doris Burke, Holly Rowe)
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn (Craig Way, Fran Harris)
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Making its first NCAA Regional Final appearance since 2003, the No. 7/7 University of Texas women's basketball team will face No. 1/1 UConn on Monday. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised live nationally by ESPN.
The Longhorns (31-4) have reached their most overall wins in a single season since the 1987-88 campaign. Texas is looking to advance to its fourth all-time NCAA Final Four, having gone to the Final Four in 1986, 1987 and 2003.
Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty leads Texas in scoring with 11.7 points per game as one of three Longhorns averaging in double-figure scoring. Senior center Imani Boyette, on Monday named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America selection, follows with 11.5 points per game, while sophomore guard Ariel Atkins adds 10.9 points per game.
Boyette is the squad's leader in rebounds per game (9.0) and blocked shots per game (2.94). In three NCAA Tournament games for Texas this season, Atkins is averaging a squad-best 17.7 points per game and is second on the team with 7.0 rebounds per game.
Texas and UConn meet for the seventh time in the history of the two programs with the Huskies leading the all-time series 6-0. The two teams last met in the NCAA Sweet 16 a year ago, with UConn defeating Texas 105-54.
UConn enters Monday's game with a 35-0 overall record, having finished its American Athletic Conference slate with a perfect 18-0 tally. The Huskies are looking to advance to the program's record ninth consecutive NCAA Final Four.
QUICK NOTES
- Texas ranks fifth in NCAA Division I women's basketball history with 1,012 all-time victories.
- Five Longhorns earned recognition on the All-Big 12 teams. Imani Boyette and Brooke McCarty were named to the All-Big 12 First Team, Ariel Atkins was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and Empress Davenport and Celina Rodrigo were named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
- The Longhorns are 7-4 (.636) this year against top-25 teams, including a 3-3 (.500) mark against the top-10.
- The Longhorns have reached 31 overall victories for the first time since the 1987-88 season.
- 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 15 games this season by 20 or more points.
- Texas has either tied or won the rebound battle in 29 of 35 games this season. The Longhorns rank 16th in the nation in rebound margin at +9.6.
- The Longhorns have scored 60 or more points in 31 of 35 games this season.
- Texas has shot 50 percent or better from the floor this season in six games.
- The Longhorns are 26-0 this season when holding their opponents to 60 or fewer points.
- All 13 available Texas players have seen action in 13 games this season. Against Alabama State, for the first time this season, all 13 players scored.
- Texas leads the Big 12 Conference (all games combined) in turnover margin at +2.2.
- The Longhorns have had nine different leading scorers across their 35 games this season.
- Senior center Imani Boyette ranks ninth nationally in blocked shots with 103 this season.
