Jan. 15, 2009
Complete notes [PDF]
#16/17 TEXAS (13-3, 1-1 Big 12) vs. Colorado (8-6, 0-2 Big 12)
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 • 7 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,755) • Austin, Texas
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: None. Live video stream at TexasSports.TV.
RADIO: KVET (1300 AM Sportsradio The Zone) will broadcast Saturday's game between Texas and Colorado. Fans can also tune into XM Satellite Radio Ch. 231 for all of the action. Jon Madani (pxp) and Chris Plonsky (analyst) will call the game.
INTERNET AUDIO: Listen to Texas Basketball games on subscription-based Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast.
INTERNET VIDEO: Watch Texas Basketball home games free on TexasSports.TV. (Note: Due to Big 12 Conference television contracts, home games are available for viewing 72 hours after completion of the game.)
SERIES: Texas leads, 13-4. Last meeting: Colorado 67-52 (Feb. 16, 2008; Boulder, Colo.)
Notables
• TEXAS TWO-STEP ... All fans that join Coach Goestenkors and the women's basketball staff in showing their Texas spirit by wearing denim and cowboy boots on Saturday evening for the Texas Two-Step can purchase a reserved ticket for $10.
• 21 for Fontenette ... With her career-high 21 points against Nebraska (Jan. 14), Ashleigh Fontenette became the first Longhorn freshman to score 20+ points in a game since 2004 when current WNBA standout and UT legend Tiffany Jackson connected for 22 points during her debut season at Nebraska (Jan. 28, 2004). Fontenette is the third Longhorn this season to eclipse the 20+ point mark, joining sophomore Kathleen Nash (five times) and junior Brittainey Raven (six times) in accomplishing the feat.
Series vs. Colorado
Saturday's contest marks the 18th meeting between Texas and Colorado. Texas holds a 13-4 advantage in the all-time series that began with a UT victory on Jan. 17, 1982, at a neutral site. The Buffs won last year's meeting, 67-52, in Boulder. Prior to the Feb. 16, 2008 meeting, the Longhorns won eight-straight contests in a seven-year span. The Longhorns hold a 6-1 advantage against Colorado in Austin.
Last Time Out: Nebraska (Jan. 14)
(AP) - Ashleigh Fontenette scored a career-high 21 points to lead No. 16 Texas to a 74-60 win over Nebraska on Wednesday night. Kathleen Nash had 20 points and six rebounds, and sparked a late first-half surge for the Longhorns (13-3, 1-1 Big 12). Texas went on a 9-0 run in the final 1:17 of the half to go into the break down 33-32. Nash scored seven of the nine points in the final 45 seconds. The Longhorns then outscored Nebraska 17-5 in the first seven minutes of the second half to take a 49-38 lead. The Cornhuskers (9-6, 0-2) closed the gap to 62-57 with just under four minutes remaining in the game, but Texas went on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes.
A Check of the Polls
Texas is ranked No. 16 in the latest Associated Press poll (Jan. 12) and No. 17 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Jan. 13). Texas compiled a perfect 3-0 record against Top 25 opponents during the non-conference season after first topping then-No. 25/20 Old Dominion 78-44 (Nov. 17) and later handing then-No. 7/10 Tennessee 73-59 (Dec. 14) and then-No. 21/21 Arizona State 81-71 (Dec. 18) back-to-back losses in Austin.
Horns at Home
Now in its 32nd year of play in the Frank Erwin Center, Texas has posted an all-time record of 402-68 (.855) in the building. Texas has an all-time 77-48 (.616) mark against AP Top 25 teams at home, and boasts a 5-2 record under second-year head coach Gail Goestenkors. The Horns have won 10 consecutive games at home, a streak that dates back to their 70-55 win over Texas Tech on Mar. 5, 2008.
Texas Depth
Through 16 games, the Longhorns have showcased the team's depth with six different leading or co-leading scorers and nine different leading rebounders. Junior Brittainey Raven has been the team's high scorer in nine games, while sophomore Kathleen Nash and junior Erika Arriaran have had the title in three games apiece. Seniors Earnesia Williams and Carla Cortijo were also Texas' top scorers against Dayton (Nov. 15) and UTEP (Dec. 28), respectively. Freshman Ashleigh Fontenette was the latest Longhorn to lead the squad after posting a career-high 21 points against Nebraska (Jan. 14). On the rebounding side, Ka. Nash has led in six games followed by sister Kristen Nash and senior Ashley Lindsey, who have led four times each this season.
Dominant Defense
Texas has held its opponents to an average of 54.3 points per contest and a combined 33.2 percent FG shooting, including a 70-of-249 (.281) mark from three-point range. UT has held 13 of its 16 opponents to under 40 percent FG shooting and six to under 30 percent FG shooting. The Longhorns rank fourth nationally in field-goal percentage defense.
Passing it Around
The Longhorns have nearly doubled their opponents in assists through 16 games this season. Texas has recorded 266 assists to its opponents' 156, with senior guard Carla Cortijo dishing out 95. Cortijo has recorded double-digit assists in two games this season (12 vs. Saint Mary's, Nov. 16; 10 vs. Nebraska, Jan. 14). As of the most recent NCAA rankings on Jan. 12, Texas was averaging 16.6 apg, a mark that ranks 18th nationally.
Williams On Point
Senior forward Earnesia Williams has been efficient this season, to say the least. Williams currently leads the team in field goal percentage (44-of-81, .543) and has been perfect from the field in three contests this year (4-of-4 FG -- Dayton, Nov. 15; 5-of-5 FG -- No. 21 Arizona State, Dec. 18; 4-of-4 FG -- Lamar, Jan. 3). Williams has connected on 50 percent or more of her shots in 11 of 15 contests while improving her shooting percentage nearly 14 percent from last season (97-of-241, .402).
Raven Leading the Longhorns
Junior guard Brittainey Raven is living up to her Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention billing, as she has put together 11 double-digit performances in 16 games. Additionally, Raven has led the Longhorns in scoring in nine games and leads Texas with an average of 14.6 ppg.
The Ashleys Dominate
At 6-4, freshman Ashley Gayle shares the title of Tallest Longhorn with senior Ashley Lindsey. The pair share duties in Texas' frontcourt defense and have the potential to be serious threats to offensive attacks. Lindsey is closing in on Texas' all-time blocks record while Gayle plays above the rim with a flat-footed, non-step vertical reach of 10-2. Lindsey's vertical jump reaches an even 10 feet. Through 16 games, the Ashleys have combined for 76 of Texas' 104 blocks.
Rebounding Rundown
Texas has outrebounded its opponents in all but three of its 16 games. The Longhorns sport a +10.2 rebound margin (43.2-33.1) and have recorded at least a +10 advantage in nine contests. UT posted a season-high 52 rebounds in its 73-59 win over Tennessee on Dec. 14, and most recently outrebounded Nebraska 34-30 in Austin on Jan. 14.
Three-point Success
Texas has converted 39.5 percent (94-of-238) from beyond the arc. UT is 8-1 on the season when shooting 40% or better from three-point range. The Horns recorded a season-high 5-of-9 performance (.556) against Arizona State (Dec. 18).
Horns' Bench Making an Impact
Texas has displayed its depth early in the 2008-09 season, as its bench has outscored the opponents' bench 478-267. The Longhorns have held their opponents' subs to single digits in five games this season: vs. Dayton (37-8), vs. #25/20 Old Dominion (33-9), vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (34-9), vs. Furman (33-9) and vs. Lamar (26-9). The Longhorn bench is outscoring its opponents' by an average of 30-17. Freshmen guards Yvonne Anderson and Ashleigh Fontenette lead the Longhorn bench with 5.4 ppg.
