The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
25-9
No. 6/6 Stanford
31-5
No. 14 Women’s Basketball Falls in Sweet Sixteen to No. 6 Stanford, 77-66
03.24.2017 | Women's Basketball
Texas’ season ends with its third-consecutive Regional Semifinal appearance.
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior Ariel Atkins posted a team-high 18 points as No. 14/15 Texas Women's Basketball (25-9) fell to No. 6/6 Stanford (31-5) in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2017 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament inside Rupp Arena on Friday night, 77-66.
This season marked the 30th all-time NCAA appearance for Texas, making it one of only four programs to accomplish the feat. The Longhorns end their season with their third-consecutive NCAA Sweet Sixteen, the first time since the 2002-04 seasons.
Texas holds a 40-29 record (.580) all-time in the NCAA tournament, including an 8-4 mark under Texas head coach Karen Aston.
Atkins complimented her 18 points with four rebounds. Freshman Joyner Holmes followed suit with 15 points and seven rebounds while senior Kelsey Lang brought down a team-high 12 boards.
As a team, Texas shot 40 percent (26-65) from the field while Stanford totaled a 42.4 shooting percentage (25-59). The Cardinal outrebounded the Longhorns, 41-35.
No. 2 seed Stanford was led by senior Erica McCall with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Squared at four apiece, the Cardinal pushed ahead to as many as seven (16-9) after a jumper at the 3:22 mark. The Horns closed on an 8-2 push, six points of which came off the hands of Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau, to close the opening quarter, 18-17 Stanford.
Atkins fired off the first seven points for the Horns to hand Texas its first lead of the night, 24-22, with 6:19 remaining in the half. After a Stanford triple evened things at 29 at the 2:54 mark, the Longhorns went on a 7-0 streak to hold the 36-29 edge at halftime.
Two quick triples from the Cardinal made it a one-point game (36-35 Texas) at the 9:05 mark of the third. Stanford knocked down another three-pointer with 3:02 remaining to take the lead (47-45) and closed on a 12-5 run to hold the advantage through three stanzas, 54-49.
After trading shots at the start of the closer, Stanford held the 61-57 lead headed into the final media timeout. The Cardinal knocked down 14 of its last 17 points from the charity stripe to end Texas' tournament run, 77-66.
