The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
West Virginia
No. 17 Women’s Basketball preview: at West Virginia
01.08.2021 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns continue Big 12 play with a road trip to West Virginia on Saturday.
No. 17/17 Texas (8-1; 2-0 Big 12) at West Virginia (7-2; 1-2 Big 12)
Where: Morgantown, W. Va.
Stadium: WVU Coliseum
Time: 5 p.m. CT
TV: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ (Andrew Caridi, Meg Bulger)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Craig Way, Kathy Harston)
All-time Series: Texas leads, 13-8
• OFF AND RUNNING: Texas looks to continue its strong start to Big 12 play in 2021, as the Longhorns head to Morgantown, W.Va. for their third conference contest of the season. UT is 2-0 in Big 12 play thus far, picking up double-digit wins at Kansas State and last Sunday against Iowa State in Austin.
• MORGANTOWN MAYHEM: The Longhorns hold a 13-7 series advantage over West Virginia all-time, but the two sides have split their eight meetings in Morgantown, with each team winning four times. Texas was bested in last year's road game against West Virginia, 68-63, but had won each of the previous four meetings in Morgantown, dating back to 2015. Five of the eight matchups on West Virginia's home court have been decided by single digits.
• TURNING THEM OVER: Texas' pressure defense has made an impression on the national and Big 12 stats rankings this year. UT forced a season-high 35 turnovers in a win over SMU on Nov. 25, and created 34 turnovers in its Big 12 opener at Kansas State on Dec. 21. As a result, the Longhorns currently rank fifth in turnover margin (+9.11 - best in Big 12) and turnovers forced (23.8 - best in Big 12).
• CREATING OFFENSE FROM DEFENSE: Texas is utilizing its defense to create offense this season, as the Longhorns has scored at least 20 points off turnovers in eight of nine games this season. The Longhorns posted a season-high 39 points off turnovers in the season opener versus SMU, and hit the 30-point mark in three-straight outings against Drake (33 points), at Kansas State (38 points) and against Lamar (32 points).
• COLLIER'S IN CHARGE: Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Charli Collier has put up All-America numbers this season, averaging 23.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She is one of only two players to rank in the top-15 nationally in scoring (currently 15th) and average at least 10 rebounds per game. Collier is one of only five players nationally averaging 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds per contest. Collier's 66 made free throws are the most of any player in Division I and she ranks second nationally with six double-doubles this season. She also ranks fourth in final points (211), eighth in field goals made (71) and ninth in total rebounds (96). 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.
