The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
3-0
McNeese State
0-3
No. 11/8 Women's Basketball rolls past McNeese State, 96-40
11.15.2018 | Women's Basketball
Freshman Charli Collier's career-high night paced the Longhorns.
Box Score (PDF) | Notes | Photo Gallery
Freshman Charli Collier set a new career-high in scoring, recording a 15-point and six-rebound performance, as No. 11/8 Texas (3-0) defeated McNeese State (0-3), 96-40, on Thursday night at the Frank Erwin Center. Graduate transfer Danni Williams also posted her best outing in Burnt Orange, contributing 14 points while shooting at a 4-for-6 clip from three-point range.
In her first career start for the Longhorns, Collier made her impact immediately, quickly chipping in five points as Texas built a nine-point lead, 15-6, by the 4:44 mark of the first quarter. Crisp passing and fast-break opportunities contributed to an efficient first quarter for the Longhorns who shot 61.9 percent from the field and 80 percent (4-5 3FG) from three-point range. Texas ended the last 2:06 of the quarter on an 11-2 run to take a 30-12 lead after the first stanza of play.
Texas' swarming defense prevented McNeese State from getting into any kind of rhythm, holding the Cowgirls to just 21.2 percent shooting from the floor and 8.3 percent (1-12 3FG) from three. The Longhorns also forced McNeese State to commit 13 first half turnovers, which Texas converted into 14 points as the Longhorn lead quickly ballooned to 29, 48-19, by the end of the first half.
The Longhorns started the second half with the same energy they began the game with, capitalizing on the offensive end while keeping McNeese State in check on defense as the Longhorns jumped out to a 13-4 run by the 4:56 mark of the third quarter, 61-23. The Cowgirls would only score one more point for the rest of the quarter as Texas' lead would increase to 50, 74-24, entering the final period of play. McNeese State would have their greatest offensive output in the fourth quarter but it would come too late as the Longhorns would march on to their third consecutive victory with a 56-point rout of the Cowgirls.
KEY STATISTICS
- The Longhorns used the starting lineup of Jada Underwood, Collier, Lashann Higgs, Sug Sutton and Williams for the first time this season.
- Collier had career-highs all around. The freshman scored a career-high 15 points, including knocking down her first three-point shot of the season. Collier also supplied a career-high five blocks and two steals in 24 minutes of action.
- Sutton filled the stat sheet, scoring 10 points, pulling down five rebounds, dishing out five assists, while also chipping in two steals in 22 minutes of play.
- The Longhorns had a well-balanced scoring performance as six players scored in double figures, the most all season. Further, every Longhorn that saw court time scored at least two points.
- Texas recorded 21 steals against McNeese State, tying the sixth-most steals in a game since December 14, 2011, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- The freshman trio of Collier, Audrey Warren and Joanne Allen-Taylor continued to impress. All three players saw a career-high in points and minutes played: Collier (15 points, 24 minutes), Warren (10 points, 20 minutes) and Allen-Taylor (11 points, 18 minutes). Warren also had career-highs in rebounds (5), steals (3) and assists (2).
- The Longhorns bench unit out-scored McNeese State's starting unit 42-40.
- Texas outscored McNeese State 58-18 in the paint.
- The Longhorn defense capitalized on Cowgirl miscues, converting McNeese State's 30 turnovers into 34 points while also cashing in on fast-break opportunities, out-scoring the Cowgirls 25-2 in such instances.
TEXAS HEAD COACH KAREN ASTON
"I thought we did try to play through everything tonight. That was one really encouraging thing, I thought. We never really had lapses of lack of effort. There were lapses of lack of detail sometimes, but it's always a good thing to see a team really play hard the whole game."
McNEESE STATE HEAD COACH KACIE CRYER
"I was pleased with our effort. I know our score doesn't show it but I really felt like we played well tonight. I'm proud of our girls. We did some really good things. We're growing from game to game and, as a coach that's what I want to see, especially with the young group that I have. They battled. They didn't look shell-shocked and they never gave up. I was really proud with of our effort."
UP NEXT
Texas will travel to Estero, Fla., on Friday, Nov. 23, when it plays Quinnipiac as a part of the three-game Gulf Coast Showcase. Tip-off on Friday is slated for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be available on radio at 105.3 FM.
