Nov. 9, 2008
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
AUSTIN, Texas -- Junior guard Brittainey Raven posted a game-high 17 points to lead No. 13 Texas to an 86-45 victory against the Houston Jaguars in an exhibition game Sunday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center. The Houston Jaguars are a traveling team comprised of former collegiate players.
Raven converted 6-of-9 field goals, including a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range, and added seven rebounds in 19 minutes. She was one of four Longhorns to reach double figures in scoring. Senior forward Ashley Lindsey recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while junior guard Erika Arriaran tallied 10 points. Sophomore guard Kathleen Nash added 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
"This is just the first game of a very long journey. There is a lot to work on and improve on, but overall, I'm satisfied with our intensity," Texas head coach Gail Goesntenkors said. "I think we all feel better having this game under our belts. It was good to see everyone on the court and to have a healthy team. Today was a good experience for the freshmen. Although they played like freshmen, I saw some good things that are promising."
All 11 Longhorns, including freshmen Yvonne Anderson, Ashleigh Fontenette and Ashley Gayle, saw a minimum of six minutes of action in the opening half. Texas shot 41.7% (15-of-36) from the field and out-rebounded the Jaguars 28-14 in the first half. Lindsey led UT with 12 points and seven boards in the opening 20 minutes.
Texas used an early 9-0 run that featured scoring from Lindsey, Carla Cortijo and Raven to take an 11-2 lead after less than four minutes of play. The Jaguars cut the Longhorns' lead to seven (11-4) at the 14:18 mark after a pair of free throws from Chandi Jones, but that was as close as they would come for the remainder of the contest.
Lindsey went to the charity stripe midway through the half for a pair of baskets that sparked a 7-0 run to build UT's lead to 25-8 with 7:47 remaining. The Jaguars cut the deficit to 28-12 at the 5:42 mark after a pair of baskets from Umeki Webb and Keke Harris, but the Longhorns used a 9-2 run over the final 2:21 for a 39-19 halftime lead.
The Texas defense came on strong in the second half, as the Longhorns held the Jaguars to 22.2% (8-of-28) shooting in the final 20 minutes. UT allowed Houston just 11 points in the first 10:37 of the second half while building a 62-29 lead at the 9:23 mark. The Horns then closed the game on a 24-16 run.
Brandy Jones paced Houston with 15 points off the bench, converting 5-of-14 field goals on the afternoon. Webb added seven points, four rebounds and five steals for the Jaguars.
UT recorded a 63-30 advantage on the boards, including a 26-9 margin on the offensive glass. The Longhorns also registered a 30-14 advantage in points in the paint.
Texas opens the 2008-09 regular season with a home tilt against Dayton on Saturday, Nov. 15 as part of the three-day World Vision Classic. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Erwin Center.
POSTGAME NOTES
· Texas shot 40.3% (29-of-2) from the field while holding Houston to 25.0% (16-of-64).
· Ashley Lindsey recorded the lone double-double of the game at the 17:12 mark in the second half with her 10th rebound. Lindsey has amassed nine double-double in her career at UT, including six last season.
· Erika Arriaran returned to the court for the first time since Jan. 10, 2007 (left knee injury). In 19 minutes of play, Arriaran posted 10 points (4-of-14), three rebounds, two steals and one assist.
TEXAS QUOTES
HEAD COACH Gail Goestenkors
Opening statement: It's good to get it under our belts. We knew there'd be a lot of turnovers, there always are in your first game, and you're trying to put things together. It was really good to see everybody out there and everybody healthy. It was good for the freshmen, they played like freshmen I thought at times but then I also saw some really good things as well. They're all going to help us and it's good to get Erika back who had been out for a year and a half. This is just the first game of a very long journey. There is a lot to work on and improve on, but overall I'm satisfied with our intensity. Obviously our turnovers are the biggest issue that we have right now. I thought we did a good job on the boards. That was an emphasis for us, but we definitely need to take care of the ball.
On Ashley Lindsey: I thought she looked great in the first half and then in the second half she wasn't really a factor. I know she hurt her knee a little bit in that first half, but we need for her to be really consistent. We've got to work on that consistency.
On the World Vision Classic later this week: We wanted a test and we'll get an early test with three games in three days. We'll definitely have to rely on our depth and I feel like one of our strengths on this team is depth. I'm really looking forward to it and I know the players are as well. The good thing is all three teams are playing three games in three days so there should be no disadvantage. I
On Yvonne Anderson: She played like a freshman at times on the offensive end but defensively I thought she did some great things. She's really similar to Erneisha Bailey in that she's a physical guard who likes to take charges and dive after the ball. She'll settle down on offense as time goes on.
JUNIOR GUARD Erika Arriaran
On playing for the first time in a few years: I was really excited, but I was also really nervous and I think I was thinking too much. I don't feel like I played the way I should have played. I know that as a shooter you're going to have off days and you're going to have on days. I knew that every shot I took, the next one was going to go in so I needed to keep that mindset and my teammates were helping me out. It feels really good to get back out on the court. I just wish I performed better for our team.
SENIOR FORWARD Ashley Lindsey
On today's game: It felt great to get out there and actually play a game against a good team like Houston.
JUNIOR GUARD Brittainey Raven
On today's game: I felt good. I think we all felt good. We've been anxious to get out on the court and play an actual game. Today we were really focused on getting out there and playing. Working on our defense and show what we need to work on.
On the freshmen: They got out there and they had more focused then I thought especially with it being their first game.
HOUSTON JAGUARS QUOTES
HEAD COACH JAMES KINCAID
On his team's play: There was no hustle, zero. When Texas is beating us by 41 points, we don't have enough pride to get out there and dive for a loose ball or anything, it's disappointing. We play every day on our tour so our ladies are tired but bottom line is you have to have some pride. I tried to rotate people in and get people fresh and we just couldn't get it done.
On Texas: Texas looked great, they have some really young players and I think over the next few years you're going to see an even stronger team as the years go by.
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