Feb. 3, 2009
Complete notes [PDF]
#16/18 TEXAS (15-5, 3-3 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (14-5, 3-3 Big 12)
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 • 7 p.m. Central
Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611) • Stillwater, Okla.
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The third-tier game will be delivered to Austin by FSN SW (Time Warner Cable Ch. 54) and available on ESPN360.com. Satellite TV customers in all markets can view the game on DirecTV Ch. 677 and Dish Network Ch. 445. Click here for a complete listing of coverage.
RADIO: KVET (1300 AM Sportsradio The Zone) will broadcast Thursday's game between Texas and Oklahoma State. Fans can also tune into XM Satellite Radio Ch. 231 for all of the action. Craig Way (pxp) and Chris Plonsky (analyst) will call the game.
INTERNET AUDIO: Listen to Texas Basketball games on subscription-based Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast.
SERIES: Texas leads, 21-7. Last meeting: Oklahoma State 75-72 (March 13, 2008; Kansas City, Mo.)
NOTABLES
• FONTENETTE EARNS BIG 12 HONOR - AGAIN ... Ashleigh Fontenette picked up her second Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week honor after recording her first career start as a Longhorn and playing a career-high 34 minutes in Texas' 58-55 win at No. 4/3 Baylor on Feb. 1. She pulled down a career-high eight rebounds, including six in the first half. Fontenette averaged 9.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg and shot .533 from the field (8-of-15) in games contested Jan. 26-Feb. 1. It is the second weekly honor for Fontenette and her second in a three-week span.
• ROAD WARRIORS ... The Longhorns head to Stillwater after defeating their highest-ranked opponent (No. 4/3 Baylor) under second-year head coach Gail Goestenkors. Texas' last road win over a higher-ranked opponent was on Dec. 28, 2003, at No. 2/2 Tennessee.
SERIES VS. OKLAHOMA STATEThursday's contest marks the 29th meeting between state-border foes Texas and Oklahoma State. Texas holds a 21-7 advantage in the all-time series that began on Mar. 11, 1977, with an 80-79 UT win in the AIAW Regionals in Monroe, La. The Horns hold a 8-4 all-time advantage in Stillwater and are 1-2 against the Cowgirls under second-year head coach
Gail Goestenkors.
Series Quick Facts
Overall Series Record - Texas, 21-7
Goestenkors all-time vs. Oklahoma State - 2-2
Most UT points - 90 (Feb. 9, 2002)
Most OSU points - 82 (Jan. 3, 1998)
Fewest UT points - 52 (Feb. 21, 2007)
Fewest OSU points - 42 (Jan. 15, 2005)
In overtime - Texas leads, 1-0
LAST TIME OUT: AT BAYLOR (FEB. 1)
(AP) - Kathleen Nash had 11 points and 10 rebounds and No. 16 Texas bounced back from consecutive losses to beat No. 4 Baylor, 58-55, on Feb. 1. Texas scored the first 11 points of the game and then rallied from a seven-point hole early in the second half. This was highest ranked team the Longhorns have beaten since Gail Goestenkors took over last season. Brittainey Raven hit a pair of free throws to put Texas on top, 53-51, with 2:46 left. With just a second on the shot clock, Kristen Nash scored her only points of the game - a layup that put Texas on top 55-51 with 1:19 left. Kathleen Nash hit two free throws to give the Longhorns a 58-55 lead with 6.6 seconds left. With a chance to tie, the Lady Bears missed a desperation shot as the final buzzer sounded.
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
Texas is ranked No. 16 in the latest Associated Press poll (Feb. 2) and No. 18 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Feb. 3). Texas is 4-2 this season against Top 25 opponents and 1-2 in Big 12 contests.
BREAKING IT DOWN
Team Comparison Averages
UT - OSU
Scoring 1487 - 1418
Points per game 74.3 - 74.6
Scoring margin +18.7 - +16.1
Field goals-att 539-1201 - 500-1183
Field goal pct .449 - .423
3-point FG-att 110-287 - 135-403
3-point FG pct .383 - .335
3-pt FG made per game 5.5 - 7.1
FT-att 299-411 - 283-405
FT pct .727 - .699
FT made per game 15.0 - 14.9
Rebounds 838 - 773
Rebounds per game 41.9 - 40.7
Rebounding margin +7.6 - +0.2
Assists 309 - 261
Assists per game 15.5 - 13.7
Turnovers 345 - 282
Turnovers per game 17.3 - 14.8
Turnover margin +2.7 - +4.9
Assist/turnover ratio 0.9 - 0.9
Steals 202 - 190
Steals per game 10.1 - 10.0
Blocks 120 - 50
Blocks per game 6.0 - 2.6
LEADING THE LEAGUE
With Big 12 Conference action underway, the Longhorns find themselves atop the league in two statistical categories (Feb. 2). Through all games, UT leads the league in free-throw percentage (299-of-411, .727) and blocked shots (120, 6.0 bpg). UT also ranks in the top three in the following categories:
Category - Rank
Scoring offense - 3 (74.3 ppg)
Scoring margin - 2 (+18.7)
FG % defense - 2 (.350, 413-of-1181)
3-point FG percent - 2 (.383, 110-of-287)
Rebounding offense - 3 (838, 41.9 rpg)
Defensive rebounds - 2 (555, 27.8 drpg)
Assists - T2 (309, 15.5 apg)
Steals - 3 (202, 10.1 spg)
UT is one of two schools in the league to rank in the top five in both scoring offense (No. 3, 74.3) and scoring defense (No. 5, 55.7), and both 3-point FG percentage (No. 2, .383) and 3-point FG percentage defense (No. 5, .288).
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
The big statistical difference in Texas' 15 wins and five losses this season can be traced to the defensive end of the court. In its 15 wins, Texas has held opponents to an average of 51.0 points per contest and a combined 31.8 percent FG shooting, including a 58-of-231 (.251) mark from three-point range.
FRESHMEN FAIRING WELL
Texas' freshmen class has responded well to the pressures of the Big 12, as Ashleigh Fontenette and Ashley Gayle lead the league rookies in steals and blocked shots. Fontenette leads the league freshmen in conference only games with 2.33 spg, while Gayle ranks atop her class with 1.83 bpg.
FONTENETTE BETTER IN BIG 12 PLAY
In her first collegiate season, Ashleigh Fontenette has been much more productive and efficient since the start of Big 12 Conference play. During UT's six league contests, Fontenette is averaging 8.8 ppg on 22-of-42 (.524) shooting from the field in 24.8 minutes per contest.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Texas has held its opponents to an average of 55.7 points per contest and a combined 35.0 percent FG shooting, including an 84-of-292 (.288) mark from 3-point range. UT has held 15 of its 20 opponents to under 40 percent FG shooting and seven to under 30 percent FG shooting. The Longhorns rank 17th nationally in field-goal percentage defense.
TEXAS DEPTH
Through 20 games, the Longhorns have showcased the team's depth with seven different leading or co-leading scorers and 10 different leading rebounders. Junior Brittainey Raven has been the team's leading or co-leading scorer in nine games, while sophomore Kathleen Nash has held the title in six games and junior Erika Arriaran in three. Seniors Earnesia Williams, Carla Cortijo and Ashley Lindsey were also Texas' top scorers against Dayton (Nov. 15), UTEP/Baylor (Dec. 28/Feb. 1) and Oklahoma (Jan. 25), respectively. Freshman Ashleigh Fontenette was the youngest 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 nine games followed by sister Kristen Nash and senior Ashley Lindsey, who have each led four times this season.
THREE-POINT SUCCESS
Texas has converted 38.3 percent (110-of-287) from beyond the arc. UT is 9-1 on the season when shooting 40 percent or better from three-point range. The Horns recorded a season-high 5-of-9 performance (.556) against Arizona State (Dec. 18) and have shot 40 percent or better in two of their last five games (vs. Nebraska, Jan. 14; vs. Colorado, Jan. 17).
