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March 3, 2012

This season, Women's Basketball seniors Yvonne Anderson, Ashleigh Fontenette and Ashley Gayle have taken ownership of the Longhorns as the team's three captains. And as head coach Gail Goestenkors' original recruits to the UT, their fingerprints are all over the program.

As they prepare for their final home game in burnt orange, TexasSports.com caught up with each of them to reflect on their careers and look ahead to what's still to come.

Yvonne Anderson
On playing in her final game at Frank Erwin Center: It's going to be a great matchup between some pretty hard playing teams. It still hasn't hit me that it's senior night. I'm sure that it will once all our families come to town. I think it's just going to set up a great atmosphere for a great night of basketball.

On whether competing with A&M is her ideal Senior Day game: I think you could say that. It's the last time for the foreseeable future that Texas will play A&M anyways, and the last time that I'll play in the Erwin Center versus our greatest rival, in my opinion. I'm pretty excited for this game. I don't know if you can tell.

Ashley Gayle

On what she's learned during her time at Texas: I think I've learned to be much calmer on the floor-not to let a lot of things get to my head and not to take things my coaches say too personally. I think I've learned to relax and remain calm. That's been my main thing this season-just to kind of chill out.

On the highs and lows of her UT career: There have been a lot of highs. I've had a lot of great teams and big wins. Last second shots-those are always your highs. Your lows, of course, are having to see your seniors go out of the NCAA tournament in the first round. That's always a low because you feel for your seniors. This year is my time. I think I've had a lot more highs than lows.

On her father, Mike Anderson, head coach at Arkansas, attending Sunday's game: This year, he hasn't seen my play in any games. It's pretty special. I don't want to put any more pressure on myself. I'm excited that he's going to get a chance to watch me this season. Usually, he comes to the Big 12 Tournament, but he won't be able to this year. So the fact that he gets to come on our senior night versus A&M is pretty exciting.

Ashleigh Fontenette
On playing at Frank Erwin Center for the last time: I think it's going to be great. We get to face our big-time rival for our last home game. There are going to be a lot of emotions in the game. I think it's going to be fun to watch.

On the potential to sweep A&M in her senior season: We struggled in our first couple years playing against them. Now that we have that first win, we know what we need to do. We just need to execute the game plan.

Ashleigh Fontenette

On what she is most proud of in her career at Texas: I think trying to get this program back on track. We've started turning the corner, and we're going in a different direction from the past. I think they're (the program) going to definitely build on this going into the next couple of years.

On how she's grown during her time at UT: I think coming in, I didn't really know what to expect, but now I think we've all grown up. I learned a lot at UT through academics and athletics. It's amazing how far I've come.

On the highs and lows of her career at Texas: I would think one of the highs would be my sophomore year. We went on such a strong run in the conference. I think we won six straight. This year, we've struggled at times, but now I feel like we're back on a high. I think we've turned a corner.

Ashley Gayle
On taking the court at Frank Erwin Center for the last time: I'm actually really excited. I'm trying not to get emotional. I'm sure it won't hit me until the buzzer goes off and I'll think, "Oh my gosh, this is the last game I'll ever player here." I think playing A&M at home and being able to have family come is just really special. It's been a long four years, and it's been a great run. It will be great to share it with my family.

On playing rival A&M on senior day: I think it's great. We, as a school, have a couple rivals: OU and A&M. I think for women's basketball, in particular, our rivals are A&M. Since they're moving conferences next year, not just my team, but every sport, has taken every game or match seriously with them. Everyone is getting really pumped for it.

On how she's developed during her time at Texas: I've learned how to really compete at this level. I've learned how to build friendships, how to depend on people and trust in your teammates, your program and the academic staff. It's been great here. I'm from Las Vegas, so I had no clue what Texas was about. When I got here, it was completely new, but now I'm cruising. It's just been a great experience. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

On the highs and lows of her career at UT: I think the lows have been just getting knocked out in the first game each year in the NCAA tournament. That's not one of our high points. But I think the highs are games like we had against Rutgers (on Nov. 28, 2009) where we hit the last second shot in the Virgin Islands. It was really special to be off the mainland and to play for such a great team. To come out with a win was great. I've been able to travel to Europe and Hawaii and places I probably would not have been able to go to if I hadn't come to Texas.