Dec. 2, 2010
Complete game notes
#17/20 TEXAS (4-1) at #25/25 Michigan State (6-1)
Big 12/Big Ten Challenge • Sunday, Dec. 6, 2010 • 3 p.m. Central
Breslin Center (14,759) • East Lansing, Mich.
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: The game will be televised by the Big Ten Network. Tom Hart (pxp) and Mary Murphy (analyst) will call the action.
RADIO: KVET-AM 1300 “The Zone” will broadcast Sunday’s game between Texas and Michigan State. Jon Madani (pxp) and Carol Ross (analyst) will call the action.
SERIES: Texas leads, 2-1. Last meeting: Texas 80-61 (March 23, 2004; Austin - NCAA Second Round)
NOTABLES
• OWNING THE BOARDS ... Ashley Gayle and Kathleen Nash rank second and third, respectively, among all Big 12 Conference players with 10.4 and 10.0 rpg. Gayle leads the league with 7.4 defensive rebounds per game while Nash’s 20 rebounds against Boston University (Nov. 21) mark a conference best.
• PILING UP THE POINTS ... As of Nov. 29, Texas ranks first in the Big 12 and second among all NCAA Division I schools with 91.2 ppg. UT’s +27.2 scoring margin ranks ninth nationally. Furthermore, Texas is the only school in the league with four Top 20 scorers, including Chassidy Fussell (6th - 18.0 ppg), Kathleen Nash (T-12th - 16.6 ppg), Ashleigh Fontenette (15th - 16.4 ppg) and Yvonne Anderson (T-20th - 13.6 ppg).
• RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES STATE ... Sunday’s contest at East Lansing marks a return home for Michigan natives
Gail Goestenkors and
Gale Valley. Goestenkors was born and raised in Waterford, Mich., and attended basketball camps at Michigan State. Valley is a native of Lapeer, Mich., and graduated from MSU in 1981. A two-year captain for the Spartans, Valley earned four varsity letters (1977-81).
• FRESHMAN FORCE ... Freshman guard Chassidy Fussell is averaging a team-best 18.0 ppg and pulling down 6.2 rpg. Additionally, she is the first true freshman to record five-straight double-digit scoring efforts in the first five games of her Texas career since Cinietra Henderson in 1989.
SERIES VS. MICHIGAN STATE
Sunday’s contest marks the fourth meeting between Texas and Michigan State. The two teams last met on March 23, 2004, when the Longhorns claimed an 80-61 victory over the Spartans in the NCAA Championship Second Round in Austin. Previously, the teams last clashed in the regular season on Nov. 29, 1997 in Austin with MSU pulling off an 80-78 overtime win. UT won the home-and-home series at Michigan State on Nov. 23, 1996, by the score of 82-72. The Longhorns hold a 2-1 all-time advantage over the Spartans.
Series History
Overall Series Record - Texas, 2-1
Goestenkors all-time vs. MSU - 2-0
Most UT points - 82 (Nov. 23, 1996)
Most MSU points - 80 [OT] (Nov. 29, 1997)
Fewest UT points - 78 [OT] (Nov. 29, 1997)
Fewest MSU points - 61 (March 23, 2004)
Largest UT margin - 19 (80-61; March 23, 2004)
Largest MSU margin - 2 (80-78 OT; Nov. 29, 1997)
In overtime - Michigan State, 1-0
GOESTENKORS VS. MICHIGAN STATE
Sunday’s contest marks the third meeting between head coach Gail Goestenkors and Michigan State. Goestenkors led Duke to a 67-52 win over MSU on Dec. 4, 1995 in Durham before defeating the Spartans (86-61; Mar. 26, 2006; Bridgeport, Conn.) in the 2006 NCAA Championship Sweet 16.
THIEVERY
Texas has recorded at least 10 or more steals in each of its first five games, marking its longest stretch since starting the first seven games of the 2003-04 season with at least 10 or more steals. Junior guard Ashleigh Fontenette leads the Longhorns with 25 steals and ranks second nationally with 5.0 spg. Texas also leads the Big 12 Conference with 15.8 spg, a mark that stands fourth-best in the nation.
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
UT moved dropped one spot in The Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls to No. 17 and 20, respectively, in the rankings for the third week of the season. UT will face eight opponents in the regular season who are currently ranked in the preseason polls: No. 2/3 Baylor (Jan. 12 in Austin, Feb. 12 in Waco), No. 3/2 Stanford (Nov. 28 in Palo Alto), No. 7/7 Texas A&M (Jan. 19 in College Station, Feb. 27 in Austin), No. 9/8 Tennessee (Dec. 12 in Austin), No. 11/11 Oklahoma (Jan. 16 in Austin, Feb. 19 in Norman), No. 19/17 Iowa State (Feb. 21 in Ames), No. 24/19 Nebraska (Feb. 15 in Austin) and No. 25/25Michigan State (Dec. 5 in East Lansing).
BIG TEN/BIG 12 CHALLENGE
Ten games are on tap Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4 & 5, in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. The Big 12 currently has a 1-0 lead after Kansas topped Wisconsin in overtime on Nov. 21. The 12th and final game of the 2010 Challenge will be played Dec. 9 when Purdue travels to Texas A&M. The series will also be played in 2011.
LAST TIME OUT: AT NO. 3/2 STANFORD (NOV. 28)
No. 3 Stanford held off 16th-ranked Texas 93-78 on Sunday in a matchup of unbeaten teams. Chassidy Fussell scored 17 points, Kathleen Nash 14 and Ashleigh Fontenette 11 for Texas (4-1). Texas ended the first half with a 15-7 spurt to pull within 49-39 at the break, then scored the first four points of the second half. After a slow start, Texas scrapped its way back into the game helped by nine 3-pointers. This was the first road game of the season for the Longhorns, who have a tough stretch with three out of four games against Top-25 teams - including a home date with No. 4 Tennessee on Dec. 12.
TOUGH STRETCH
The Longhorns are in the midst of a four game span that includes three AP Top 25 opponents. Texas opened the stretch with a 93-78 loss at No. 3 Stanford (Nov. 28) and next faces No. 25 Michigan State (Dec. 5) on the road, as well. UT returns home to take on in-state rival Texas-Pan American (Dec. 8) before hosting No. 4 Tennessee (Dec. 12).
FUSSELL EARNS LEAGUE HONOR
Freshman guard Chassidy Fussell was tabbed the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for games contested Nov. 15-21. Fussell averaged 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in Texas’ wins over Northwestern State (Nov. 16) and Boston University (Nov. 21). Additionally, she became the first true freshman to begin her Longhorn career with three consecutive double-digit scoring efforts since Heather Schreiber in 2001, after putting up 20 points against Boston.
REBOUND ROUNDUP
Senior Kathleen Nash’s pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds against Boston University, becoming the first Longhorn to record 20+ boards since Stacy Stephens pulled down 22 in 2004. Nash ranks second on the team with 10.0 rpg through five contests, while junior post Ashley Gayle is averaging a team-best 10.4 rpg. Texas sports a +10.2 rebounding margin.
STREAKIN’
Senior guard Kathleen Nash has hit at least one three-point basket in each of Texas’ last 17 games. Her streak dates back to Feb. 7, 2010, when she made three treys in an 81-51 UT win over Texas Tech. Nash holds the UT single-season 3-point percentage record (2009-10; 68-of-144, .472) and finished last season ranked third nationally among all NCAA Division I players.
