The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Women’s Basketball preview: vs. No. 6/6 Baylor
03.12.2021 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns meet the Lady Bears in the semifinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship on Saturday.
Texas (18-8; 11-7 Big 12) vs. No. 6/6 Baylor (23-2; 17-1 Big 12)
Where: Kansas City, Mo.
Arena: Municipal Auditorium
Date: Saturday, March 13
Time: 12 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ (Chuckie Kempf, Brenda VanLengen)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Craig Way, Kathy Harston)
All-time Series: Texas leads, 58-44
• SETTING THE STAGE: Texas heads into the semifinal round of the 2021 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship with a matchup against top-seeded Baylor on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT. The Longhorns lost both regular season matchups against the Lady Bears this season, but will be looking to avenge those defeats with a spot in Sunday's Championship Game on the line this weekend.
• SERIES HISTORY: Despite losing both regular season meetings, the Longhorns still hold a 58-44 advantage over Baylor in the all-time series between the two schools. The Lady Bears are 3-1 over the Longhorns when the schools face off in the conference tournament, however. Texas and Baylor last met in Big 12 postseason play during the 2018 tournament in a contest that fell the Lady Bears' way, 79-63.
• 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 lead the Big 12 in turnovers forced per game (+19.68) and turnover margin (+5.24). Both marks rank in the top 30 nationally this season.
• 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 13 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). Texas is 9-1 when scoring at least 20 points off turnovers this year.
• CHASING CHARLI: Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Charli Collier has put up All-America numbers this season, averaging 20.9 points (No. 22 nationally/No. 2 Big 12) and 12.2 rebounds (No. 9/No. 2). She ranks second in the country with 17 double-doubles, a mark that is also tied for the Big 12 lead, and is the only Division I player currently averaging at least 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. In addition, Collier ranks 13th in field goals made (185), 10th in final points (522), fifth in free throws made (140), seventh in offensive rebounds per game (4.8) and second in total rebounds (305).
