The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Louisiana Tech
Women's Basketball preview: Louisiana Tech
12.01.2020 | Women's Basketball
It's an early season battle of unbeatens as the Longhorns welcome the Lady Techsters to the Erwin Center on Wednesday night.
Women's Basketball Preview
Texas [2-0] vs. Louisiana Tech [2-0]
December 2, 2020
Where: Austin, Texas
Arena: Frank Erwin Center [16,540]
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: Longhorn Network [Alex Loeb, Andrea Lloyd]
Video Stream: LINK
Radio: TexasSports.com [Craig Way, Kathy Harston]
Live Stats: LINK
All-Time Series: Louisiana Tech leads 8-3
NOTES
• Collier's in Control: Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Charli Collier is truly en fuego right now, averaging an NCAA Division I-leading 34.5 points-per-game while ranking in a tie for first in the nation in double-doubles (two), second in total points (69), sixth in field goals made (22) and seventh in rebounds-per-game (14.0). During her most recent start against North Texas, Collier scored a career-high 44 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, marking the first time a Big 12 player had scored 44 points and grabbed at least 15 boards in a game since at least 1999-2000. For her opening week efforts, she earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors (Nov. 30) for the second time in her career.
• Overwhelming Offense: After the first two games of the season, the Longhorns currently lead the Big 12 Conference and rate seventh in the nation in scoring offense at 98.0 points-per-game. UT also tops the conference in team field-goal percentage (51.1%) with junior forward/center Charli Collier guiding the Longhorns at 73.3%. Texas has scored 196 total points over its opening two contests in 2020-21. That's the third-most points over the opening two games in program history (1978-79 - 210 points; 2010-11 - 204 points).
• That's a LOT of Turnover: Texas' defense has already made an impression on the national and Big 12 stats. UT forced 35 turnovers against SMU, marking the first time UT secured that many since nabbing 37 against Sacramento State back on Nov. 27, 1994, and followed that up with 23 more turnovers against North Texas. As a result, Texas currently leads the Big 12 in both turnovers forced (fourth in NCAADI - 29.0 tpg) and turnover margin (ninth in NCAA DI - +12.0). Sophomore guard Celeste Taylor has helped power the defensive charge with 12 steals, good enough to lead the league and tie Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Paige Allen for the national lead.
• Two Legendary Programs: Texas (6th -1,109 wins) and Louisiana Tech (4th - 1,141 wins) enter Wednesday's contest boasting two of the top six all-time program win totals in NCAA Division I history. The Lady Techsters lead the series over the Longhorns by an 8-3 margin. UT is 1-3 all-time against LA Tech in Austin, but won the most recent meeting between the two teams at the Frank Erwin Center back on Nov. 30, 2017, 88-54.
