The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
(2) 27-3, 15-3
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Kansas
(10) 6-25, 0-18
No. 6/7 Women's Hoops defeats KU, 66-50, to advance to Big 12 Semifinals
03.05.2016 | Women's Basketball
This is the third consecutive year the Horns have advanced to the semifinal round.
Boxscore (PDF) | Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oka.— Senior Celina Rodrigo totaled a season-high 13 points and five assists to lead No. 6/7 Texas over Kansas, 66-50, in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
With the win, Texas (27-3, 15-3 Big 12 Conference) reaches the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship for the third consecutive year. The Longhorns lead the all-time series over the Jayhawks, 22-10, and have taken the last eight meetings.
"I thought the young kids have a little different energy about them right now," said Texas head coach Karen Aston. "They deliver an energy level that is quite contagious for our team."
Rodrigo broke her Big 12-career high for both points and assists with 13 and five, respectively. She had four three-pointers on the night, her new career high. Senior Imani Boyette had four points, moving her to 24th place on the Texas all-time scoring list, and brought down a game-high seven boards. Sophomore Ariel Atkins notched 11 points for the night, and sophomore Brooke McCarty rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
As a team, Texas shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the floor and 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from behind the arc. The Longhorns outrebounded Kansas, 33-23, and outblocked the Jayhawks, 3-1.
Kansas (6-25, 0-18 Big 12 Conference) was led by sophomore Lauren Aldridge with 12 points.
Four different Horns drained baskets to lead Texas out on an 8-2 run at the 4:22 mark of the first quarter. Kansas swiped the next seven points to take its first advantage, 9-8, after a layup with just over a minute remaining, but Rodrigo netted a triple and made one from the line to end the first, 12-9 Texas.
After trading baskets, the Longhorns went on an 8-0 spurt to increase their margin to six (19-13), forcing a Kansas timeout at the 6:46 mark. After Atkins drilled a three, the Jayhawks responded with a 10-2 run to cut the Texas lead to 24-22 with 1:57 remaining in the second quarter. The Horns closed the half with six points, including another Rodrigo triple, to head into the lockers with the 30-22 advantage.
Texas continued to push ahead in the third, taking the 38-26 lead after a senior Empress Davenport jumper headed into the media timeout. The Longhorn underclassmen took over from there, scoring the last seven points for Texas in the third quarter. The Jayhawks used some later rallies to gain some footing, but the Horns held the 45-37 lead with one quarter to go.
The Longhorns never let up in the fourth, taking their largest lead of the night, 54-37, after two free throws from Atkins. Rodrigo added two more shots from downtown in the last six minutes of play, and Texas closed the game, 66-50.
The Horns will play in the semifinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship tomorrow, March 6 against West Virginia. Tip inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena is slated for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on FS1.
