The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Women’s Basketball rolls past SMU in Schaefer’s debut, 90-51
11.25.2020 | Women's Basketball
The 39-point margin of victory was the largest for the Longhorns in a season opener since 1987
AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday afternoon in Texas women's basketball's first game in 262 days, junior forward/center Charli Collier registered her 17th career double-double (25 points, 12 rebounds) and sophomore guard Celeste Taylor added 24 points to help power the Longhorns (1-0) past SMU (0-1) in both teams' season opener at the Frank Erwin Center, 90-51.
The 39-point margin of victory was the largest for Texas in a season opener since beating Northern Arizona back on Nov. 17, 1987, by 59 points, 93-34. UT's defense played a major role against the Mustangs by creating 35 turnovers that led to 39 opponent points.
After suffering through early foul trouble, Collier responded by scoring 23 points and grabbing seven boards over the second half. Taylor carried the load for the Burnt Orange & White during the first stanza by totaling 17 of her 24 tallies, while junior guard/forward Audrey Warren added 10 of her 12 total points.
Freshman forward DeYona Gaston was terrific in her collegiate debut as the Pearland, Texas, product missed a double-double by just one board after totaling 10 points and nine rebounds to go with a team-high five blocks. Rookie guard Ashley Chevalier added a squad-leading five assists during her first game on the Forty Acres. Sophomore guard transfer Karisma Ortiz also managed 10 points as five Longhorns reached double figures against SMU.
Texas wasted no time in taking control against the Mustangs by jumping out to a 20-8 lead at the end of the first quarter before extending it to 42-22 at the half.
Any hopes SMU had of fighting back into the contest evaporated during the third quarter as the Longhorns outscored the Mustangs, 31-12, as Collier took charge by scoring 18 points (6-for-9) while Taylor added seven.
UT's lead eventually grew as large as 49 points at 90-41 on an Ortiz three-pointer with 5:04 left, before SMU closed the contest on a 10-0 run.
Texas Women's Basketball Postgame Notes
SMU 51, Texas 90
November 25, 2020
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Team Notes
- With the win, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer extended a streak as all five head coaches in Longhorns history have now won their program coaching debut.
- Texas' 39-point margin of victory was its most in a season opener since the Longhorns beat Northern Arizona back on Nov. 27, 1987, by 59 points, 93-34.
- Texas' defense forced a staggering 35 turnovers, marking the first time that the Longhorns have forced at least 35 turnovers since nabbing 37 against Sacramento State on Nov. 27, 1994. UT converted all those turnovers into 39 points.
- The 39-point margin was also the largest for Texas in a home opener since 2016 when the Longhorns defeated Houston Baptist by 52 points, 98-46.
- This marked Texas' first game in 262 days since beating Oklahoma State back on March 8, 2020, 63-52.
- Texas improved to 43-4 all-time in home openers (have won nine in a row) and 35-12 in season openers (21-2 in Austin).
- Texas improved to 36-3 in its all-time series against SMU and has now won four straight over the Mustangs.
- Registered her 17th career double-double by totaling 25 points and 12 rebounds.
- The 25 points were good for Collier's sixth career 20-point effort.
- The junior forward/center posted a perfect 9-for-9 effort from the free-throw line
- Set a career high with eight steals, breaking her old mark of seven done at Kansas State in 2020
- Her 24 points were the second-most for her in a single-game in her career and marked her third career 20-point effort
- Tied a career high with nine FG made (9-for-18), equaling her output from a 2020 match-up against Oklahoma
- It was quite a collegiate debut for Gaston as she missed a double-double by one board with 10 points and nine rebounds
- Posted a team-leading five blocks against the Mustangs
- Tied her career high with seven rebounds, equaling her mark established against Michigan back in 2018
- Tied her career high with three assists, the fifth time Warren has reached that mark in her career.
- With 10 points, she reached double figures for the third time in her career and the first time at Texas (transferred from Penn State)
- Posted a team-best five assists in her collegiate debut
