Jan. 1, 2010
Complete game notes
#17/22 TEXAS (9-3) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-9)
Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 • 11 a.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,734) • Austin, Texas
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised by the Longhorn Sports Network. Kevin Eschenfelder (pxp) and Chris Plonsky (analyst) will call the action. The game will be broadcast in the state of Texas only by Fox Sports Southwest.
RADIO: KVET-AM 1300 “The Zone” will broadcast Saturday’s game between Texas and UAPB. Craig Way (pxp) and Carol Ross (analyst) will call the action.
SERIES: First meeting
GAME DAY PROMOTIONS
• FREE admission on 'Kids Day'
• Show your Jan. 2 Men's Basketball vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ticket at the box office and receive one free general admission ticket to the Women's Basketball game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
NOTABLES
• PASSING IT AROUND ... Following a season-high 24 assists in their 91-42 win over Texas Southern on Dec. 20, the Longhorns recorded 20+ assists for the second-consecutive game when they dished out 21 against Central Michigan (Dec. 28). Texas is averaging 14.5 apg overall, and 19.0 apg over the last three games. Additionally, three Longhorns have recorded 30+ assists this season, including Ashleigh Fontenette (39), Brittainey Raven (35) and Erika Arriaran (32).
• WINNING THE BOARDS ... Texas has outrebounded its last three opponents by double-digit margins. The Longhorns pulled down 50 or more boards in both games of the Wyndham Miami Holiday Tournament, including a season-high 56 against Miami (Dec. 29). UT is averaging 44.1 rpg, and junior guard Kathleen Nash leads the Horns with 7.9 rpg.
• HORNS ARE PERFECT ... Texas is perfect this season when shooting 40 percent or better from the field (9-0), outshooting its opponent from 3-point range (9-0), leading at the half (8-0) and when three or more players score in double figures (7-0).
SERIES VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFFSaturday’s contest marks the first meeting between Texas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Horns have posted a 12-1 record against current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference entering Saturday’s game (1-0 vs. Alcorn State, 2-1 vs. Prairie View A&M, 4-0 vs. Southern, 5-0 vs. Texas Southern). The last time Texas faced a SWAC opponent came in a 91-42 victory against Texas Southern in Austin on Dec. 20, 2009.
LAST TIME OUT: MIAMI (DEC. 29)
Kathleen Nash had 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 17 Texas to a 76-65 victory over Miami in the Wyndham Miami Holiday Tournament championship on Dec. 29. Brittainey Raven added 17 points for Texas (9-3), which outrebounded the Hurricanes 56-37 and went 9 for 18 from 3-point range. The Longhorns have won four straight since their 78-58 loss at No. 4 Tennessee on Dec. 6. Shenise Johnson scored 17 points and Riquna Williams had 16 for Miami (10-2), which shot 35 percent from the field. Diane Barnes finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Texas, which led 42-35 at halftime, shot 41 percent from the field.
SUCCESS IN MIAMI
Senior guard Brittainey Raven and junior guard Kathleen Nash put on quite the show in Texas’ wins over Central Michigan and Miami during the Wyndham Miami Holiday Tournament in Coral Gables, Fla. Nash recorded her first double-double of the season with 22 points and 14 rebounds in the Horns’ win over Miami (Dec. 29), and Raven scored a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds in the victory against Central Michigan (Dec. 28). Raven was tabbed the tournament MVP by averaging 21.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg, while Nash made the all-tournament team with 20.0 ppg and 10.5 rpg.
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
Texas is ranked No. 17 in the latest Associated Press poll (Dec. 28) for the fifth-straight week, and No. 22 in the latest ESPN/USA Today poll (Dec. 29) for the second-straight week. Following three non-conference contests against ranked opponents (Connecticut, Mississippi State, Tennessee), the Horns’ are expected to face five Big 12 opponents ranked in the Top 25: No. 5/5 Baylor (Jan. 31 in Austin, March 7 in Waco), No. 10/10 Texas A&M (Jan. 9 in Austin, Feb. 20 in College Station), No. 13/14 Nebraska (Jan. 12 in Lincoln), No. 14/15 Oklahoma (Feb. 3 in Norman, Feb. 27 in Austin) and No. 21/rv Kansas (Feb. 13 in Lawrence).
TEXAS TEAM NOTES (MIAMI)
• Texas improved to 2-1 all-time against Miami and 1-0 in the BankUnited Center.
• Head coach Gail Goestenkors is now 5-0 all-time against Miami.
• Texas used the starting lineup of Arriaran, Raven, Ka. Nash, Williams and Gayle for the first time this season ... UT has now used three starting rotations through 12 games.
• UT made six or more 3-point baskets for the sixth-straight game and for the eighth time this season ... Texas has recorded nine or more treys in three games this year.
• Texas used a 14-0 run to open the second half and build a 21-point lead, its largest of the game, at 56-35 with 16:45 remaining.
• All 10 players contributed points for the third time this season (North Texas, Nov. 20; Texas Southern, Dec. 20).
• UT held its seventh opponent to at least 10 points below its season scoring average (Miami was averaging 82.0 ppg entering game against Texas).
• UT recorded a season-high 56 rebounds ... has now outrebounded its opponent by 10 or more for the sixth time this season (56-37, +19) ... Texas’ 19+ rebounding margin was its largest of the season ... UT recorded 50 or more rebounds for the second-consecutive game and third time this season.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - Kathleen Nash
• Named to the Wyndham Miami Holiday All-Tournament Team.
• Scored 20 or more points for the third time this season and the eighth of her career.
• Recorded her first double-double of the season with 22 points (8-of-11 FG, 4-of-6 3FG, 2-of-2 FT) and 14 rebounds ... marks her seventh career double-double.
• Led UT in rebounding for the fifth time this season and 32nd time in her career ... 14 rebounds tied her career mark set at Texas Tech on Jan. 10, 2009.
• Matched her season-high with four 3-point baskets for the third time this season.
HITTING THE BOARDS
Texas has outrebounded seven of its opponents this season, including its last three by double-digit margins. Texas enters Saturday’s game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a +6.2 rebounding margin. The Longhorns pulled down a season-high 56 boards against Miami en route to defeating the Hurricanes in the championship game of the Wyndham Miami Holiday Tournament (Dec. 28-29). Junior guard Kathleen Nash is UT’s leading rebounder with 7.9 boards per game, while sophomore post Ashley Gayle is pulling down 7.4 rpg.
LONG RANGE SUCCESS
Texas is 8-0 this season when out-shooting its opponent from 3-point range. The Longhorns shot a season-high 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from beyond the arc against North Texas (Nov. 20), and have five or more 3-point baskets in 10 of their 12 games, including a season-high 12 3FG against Oral Roberts (Dec. 1).
STREAKIN’
Senior guard Brittainey Raven concluded her second 10+ made free throw streak of the season when she missed her first attempt against Texas Southern (Dec. 20). Raven’s 14-straight made free throws began against Rutgers (Nov. 28) and spanned four games against Oral Roberts (2-of-2), Tennessee (4-of-4) and Ole Miss (5-of-5). Earlier in the season, Raven strung together 16-consecutive free throws in a three-game span. Through 10 games, Raven is hitting a 79.5 percent (35-of-44) from the line. Additionally, Raven has scored in double figures for 16-straight games dating back to March 4, 2009.
HORNS AT HOME
Now in its 33rd year of play in the Frank Erwin Center, Texas has posted an all-time record of 409-72 (.850) in the building. Texas has an all-time 75-51 (.595) mark against AP Top 25 teams at home, and boasts a 5-5 (.500) record under third-year head coach Gail Goestenkors. The Horns have won 27 of their last 34 home contests under Coach G.
BALANCED EFFORT
Texas is averaging 74.9 points per game with nine of its 10 players accounting for three or more points per contest. Six are also posting 6.0 or more points per game. Additionally, seven players are corralling 3.0 or more boards per outing.
