No. 25 Women's Basketball looks to continue home winning streak on Saturday
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 25 ranked Texas women's basketball team will face its toughest home opponent of the young season Saturday when 4-0 Oral Roberts comes to the Frank Erwin Center for a 2 p.m. contest. The Longhorns (4-1) are off to their best start in three seasons. Texas is paced by the play of National Player of the Year candidate Tiffany Jackson. The 6-3 senior forward has helped UT to its strong start by averaging a double-double with team-bests of 21.0 ppg and 11.2 rebounds per contest. The All-America candidate also leads the squad in steals (17, 3.4 spg) and is second in assists with 15 (3.8 apg). Sophomore guard Erika Arriaran contributes 11.4 ppg and is an impressive 18-for-20 from the foul line, hitting at a 90 percent clip. Arriaran is third in assists with 11 (2.2 apg). Both Texas and Oral Roberts are two of the stronger defensive teams in November play. Jody Conradt's Longhorns are holding the opposition to 57.6 points per game, as UT has out-scored its opponents by a +15.4 ppg margin (73.0 ppg for the Horns). Oral Roberts relies on its defense as well, enjoying a +26.0 points-per-game advantage over the opposition (84.2 ppg for the Golden Eagles to 58.2 ppg for the opposition). Oral Roberts was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Mid-Continent (Mid-Con) championship, while 6-2 senior forward Elisha Turek was tabbed Mid-Con Preseason Player of the Year after earning First Team All-Conference accolades in each of her first three seasons. The Golden Eagles sport a big roster and are led by 6-3 sophomore forward Jenny Hardin (19.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Turek (16.8 ppg, team-high 10.3 rpg), 6-0 sophomore guard Mariana Camargo (12.8 ppg), 5-11 senior guard Katie Langford (8.8 ppg) and 6-1 senior guard/forward Sarah Davidson (7.0 ppg). Hardin had a game-high 24 points with three steals and Turek added 19 points and seven rebounds in Wednesday's 88-46 win over Southern. The annual "Orange Santa" toy drive is underway on the UT campus. Fans bringing an unwrapped toy to the Erwin Center for the Oral Roberts game will receive a free general admission ticket to the game. Tickets (season, single game, group and mini-packs) for all Texas basketball games are available for purchase in the following ways: via the internet at TexasBoxOffice.com; via phone at (800) 982-BEVO or (512) 471-3333; at the Erwin Center Box Office during business hours and one hour prior to game-day tip-offs; and the UT Athletics Ticket Office in Bellmont Hall ( Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. CT ).
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