The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
FSG Academy
Women's Basketball Downs FSG Academy, 88-56
08.16.2017 | Women's Basketball
Junior post Jatarie White records her second consecutive double-double.
Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights | Horns in Italy Central
PONTE BUGGIANESE, Italy – Five Texas players scored in double figures Wednesday, including the second consecutive double-double from junior post Jatarie White, as the Longhorns posted an 88-56 win against FSG Academy of Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, at the San Pertini Sport Center in Ponte Buggianese, Italy.
White was Texas' leading scorer and rebounder with 16 points and 12 boards. Sophomore guard Alecia Sutton followed with 14 points, while freshman guard Chasity Patterson scored 12. Freshmen Rellah Boothe and Destiny Littleton scored 11 points each, while junior forward Olamide Aborowa brought down 10 rebounds.
"Again, a lot of new faces, so the chemistry is something we're building," Texas head coach Karen Aston said. "I thought they looked a little more calm today. The young players looked a little more confident than they did the other day. We shot the ball better and made better decisions. [FSG Academy] changed defenses and I was pretty pleased that we recognized them and were able to get into offense. They're playing a lot of games, so I'm sure they had some fatigue that set in. They set a lot of screens, which was really good for us because our young players haven't guarded situations like that. We were able to make some changes and I was able to see how we reacted to those changes, which was good for us."
As a team, Texas (1-1 on Italy tour) shot 45.5 percent (35-of-77) from the floor, including seven three-pointers made. The Longhorns brought down 56 rebounds and came up with nine steals, including five swipes by Sutton. Every Texas player who saw action in the contest scored at least two points and seven different players contributed to the squad's 17 assists.
The two teams battled evenly to begin the game until five consecutive points from junior forward Jordan Hosey sparked a 9-0 run by the Longhorns that put them ahead 16-7 at the 2:30 mark of the opening quarter. With Texas ahead 16-10, Boothe connected on a pair of free throws and Patterson drained a three to give the Longhorns a 21-10 advantage with 1:23 left in the first quarter. Texas ended the period with a 21-12 advantage.
The Longhorns scored the first 10 points of the second quarter, including four each from Sutton and White, to move in front by 19 points (31-12) with 6:40 left until intermission. With Texas in front 31-14, the Longhorns went on a 10-2 run to take a 25-point advantage at 41-16 that was capped off by a three-pointer from Littleton at the 4:44 mark of the second period. From there, FSG Academy connected on three consecutive baskets to cut their deficit to 41-22 with 2:50 remaining in the frame. The Longhorns took a 46-22 edge into the locker room at halftime.
Texas kept building on its advantage out of the intermission to move ahead 55-24 at the 4:30 mark of the third quarter. That's when FSG Academy strung together an 11-4 run of its own, capped off by an Anne van Vlijmen three-pointer, to cut within 24, 59-35, with 2:10 left in the third period. The Longhorns scored seven of the final nine points of the frame, including back-to-back baskets by Sutton and Hosey in the final minute. Texas held a 66-37 advantage after three quarters.
Texas opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets by Patterson and Sutton that stretched its advantage to 33 points (70-37) and the Longhorns would never look back.
Texas returns to action on Saturday when it faces Basket Costa, an Italian club team based in Costa Masnaga, Italy. Tip-off is slated for 11:30 a.m. CT at the Costa Masnaga Sport Center in Costa Masnaga, Italy.
POST-GAME QUOTES
TEXAS HEAD COACH KAREN ASTON
"Again, a lot of new faces, so the chemistry is something we're building. I thought they looked a little more calm today. The young players looked a little more confident than they did the other day. We shot the ball better and made better decisions."
On what Texas saw from FSG Academy that will prove to be helpful to its development …
"The changing of defenses and I was pretty pleased that we recognized them and were able to get into offense. They're playing a lot of games, so I'm sure they had some fatigue that set in. They set a lot of screens, which was really good for us because our young players haven't guarded situations like that. We were able to make some changes and I was able to see how we reacted to those changes, which was good for us."
On the improved play of sophomore guard Alecia Sutton …
"I thought she was much better today. We had a little conversation on the bus about how she's got to get back to going downhill and being the aggressive guard that she was really before she left for USA Basketball. The thing about going away from your team for a month is that you obviously play a different system. She was in a different role for USA Basketball, so she's having to adjust back to what we expect her to do here for Texas. Without Brooke in the games here, she has taken the brunt of the responsibility for leading the team and she almost had to remind herself of who she is."
On the team's comfort level in Wednesday's game against FSG Academy …
"I thought they all looked more comfortable. Khale was really solid, but you wouldn't probably see a lot statistically. Mide had 10 rebounds. I thought the freshmen looked much better. They all looked more calm. They did the things that they do pretty well. I thought Destiny Littleton was really good and gave us a lift at the point position. Rellah was better. I think across the board, the freshmen looked a lot more comfortable, as did Mide and those that maybe didn't get the minutes last year."
On what she and her team focus on before the next game on Saturday against Basket Costa …
"Having a good time. We're over here to learn and enjoy the culture in Italy, and we've really enjoyed ourselves with that. The players have had a good time, the staff has had a good time, and you just want to continue to relax, enjoy the experience and not get too stressed out about what's happening in basketball. On a side note to that – teaching moments. The moments that are coming during the games are helpful. I think the film will be helpful as we move forward in the fall. I think this has been a great experience for us."
SOPHOMORE GUARD ALECIA SUTTON
On Wednesday's 88-56 win against FSG Academy …
"Today we just finished better. Last game, we didn't finish our shots and that's what put us in a hole. We finished today, we made good passes and played as a team. I think that was the big difference between today and Monday."
On her improved comfort level in Wednesday's game as compared to Monday's game …
"I felt a lot more comfortable. The first game, I hadn't been practicing with them [because of USA Basketball commitments]. I wasn't really comfortable. But this game I was comfortable. I watched film with Coach [Karen Aston] before the game. She gave me a few tips and I just came out and played how she told me to."
On what the coaches emphasized based on Monday's game vs. TK Hannover …
"We talked about turnovers and finishing and just playing as a team, making extra passes. That's what we did today. We tried to limit the turnovers, but in the second half it was kind of bad. We limited our turnovers and made more assists than turnovers in the first half, and that's what put us up against this team."
On the team's newcomers …
"I think our freshmen are doing a great job. We don't put a lot of pressure on them because these are just games that we are using to try to get better. Destiny, Chasity, Rellah – and Jatarie – all of our new people, they're doing really good and helping our team a lot."
On what the team will focus on heading into Saturday's game against Basket Costa …
"We will just try to limit our turnovers in both halves, not just one half, and continue to play as a team. We need to rebound the ball and do what we did today in the next game."
