Dec. 15, 2009
Complete game notes
#17/21 TEXAS (5-3) vs. Mississippi (6-3)
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 • 7 p.m. Central
Frank Erwin Center (16,734) • Austin, Texas
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: None. Free live video feed at www.TexasSports.tv.
RADIO: KVET-AM 1300 “The Zone” will broadcast Wednesday’s game between Texas and Ole Miss. Craig Way (pxp) and Carol Ross (analyst) will call the action.
SERIES: Texas leads, 5-1. Last meeting: Texas 74-50 (Dec. 7, 2008; Oxford, Miss.)
GAME DAY PROMOTIONS
Buy one ticket, get one free web coupon
Longhorns Kids Court
Post-game autograph session with players and free trading cards courtesy of Lamb's Tire and Automotive
NOTABLES
• BEYOND THE ARC ... Texas is 5-0 this season when out-shooting its opponent from 3-point range. The Longhorns are averaging 6.1 3FG per game. UT recorded 12 3-pointers against Oral Roberts (Dec. 1), including a career-high seven treys by senior guard Erika Arriaran.
• RAVEN’S SEEING DOUBLE ... Senior guard Brittainey Raven recorded the first double-double of her career with a season-high 19 points and career-high 11 rebounds against Tennessee (Dec. 6). She became the second Longhorn to post a double-double this season, joining sophomore Ashley Gayle who accomplished the feat against North Texas (Nov. 20).
• BREAK’S OVER ... After a 10-day hiatus since taking on No. 6/5 Tennessee (Dec. 6), UT is back in action with a two-game, pre-holiday homestand. Following Wednesday’s contest against Ole Miss, Texas will host Texas Southern on Sunday, Dec. 20. UT will then remain idle until Dec. 28 when it takes on Central Michigan in the University of Miami Holiday Tournament.
SERIES VS. MISSISSIPPIWednesday’s contest marks the seventh meeting between Texas and Ole Miss, and UT’s second-consecutive contest against a Southeastern Conference opponent. The Longhorns hold a 5-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 74-50 victory last season in Oxford. In the first meeting between the two schools, UT posted a 69-56 win on Dec. 19, 1981, at the SMU Invitational in Dallas, Texas. The Horns went on to defeat the Rebels in the next three games before falling 88-67 in Oxford, Miss., on Dec. 12, 1988. The Longhorns are 2-0 against the Rebels when meeting in Austin.
Series Quick Facts Overall Series Record - Texas, 5-1
Most UT points - 74 (twice)
Most OM points - 88 (Dec. 12, 1988)
Fewest UT points - 57 (Dec. 30, 1985)
Fewest OM points - 46 (Dec. 30, 1985)
Biggest UT margin - 24 (Dec. 4, 2008)
Biggest OM margin - 21 (Dec. 12, 1988)
In overtime - N/A
FLASHBACK: VS. MISSISSIPPI (DEC. 7, 2008)
Four Longhorns registered double figures, led by Brittainey Raven with 16 points, to defeat Mississippi 74-50 in a match between previously unbeaten clubs. The Longhorns (8-0), who led by as many as 26 points in the second half, had Erika Arriaran with 14 points, Ashleigh Fontenette with 13 and Kathleen Nash with 10. Texas forced 25 turnovers and dominated after the opening 15 minutes. UT led 36-29 at halftime on the strength of a 13-2 run over the final five minutes. The Longhorns put it away in the opening four minutes of the second half with an 8-0 run, building an insurmountable 44-29 lead. The decisive surge was capped by a jump shot by Raven with 16:47 left. Ole Miss (7-1) never got closer than nine points again.
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
Texas is ranked No. 17 in the latest Associated Press poll (Dec. 14) and No. 21 in the latest ESPN/USA Today poll (Dec. 8). Following three non-conference contests against ranked opponents (Connecticut, Mississippi State, Tennessee), the Horns’ are expected to face five Big 12 opponents ranked in the Top 25: No. 6/6 Baylor (Jan. 31 in Austin, March 7 in Waco), No. 13/5 Texas A&M (Jan. 9 in Austin, Feb. 20 in College Station), No. 23/rv Kansas (Feb. 13 in Lawrence), No. 15/16 Oklahoma (Feb. 3 in Norman, Feb. 27 in Austin) and No. 20/23 Nebraska (Jan. 12 in Lincoln).
LAST TIME OUT: NO. 6/5 TENNESSEE (DEC. 6)
Despite a season-high 19 points by Brittainey Raven, No. 6 Tennessee handed No. 17 Texas a 78-58 loss on Dec. 6 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Lady Volunteers limited the Longhorns (5-3) to 30 percent shooting from the field, the lowest figure by any opponent this season. Tennessee shot 52.5 percent. A 3-pointer by Shekinna Stricklen with 7:10 left in the first half capped a 14-2 run, and another 3 by Stricklen sent the Lady Vols into halftime with a 41-24 lead. Tennessee led by at least 20 points for most of the second half. Raven led Texas with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the first double-double of her career. Texas is one of only six schools to hold multiple victories at Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena after winning at “The Summitt” in 1987, 2002 and 2003, but the Lady Vols lead the all-time series 19-12.
VERY BALANCED
Texas is averaging 71.8 points per game with eight of its 10 players accounting for three or more points per contest. Seven of the 10 on the squad are posting 7.0 or more points per game. Additionally, six players are corralling 3.0 or more boards per outing.
HITTING THE BOARDS
Texas has outrebounded four of its last six opponents, after getting beaten on the boards by 11 against No. 1 UConn (36-47). Texas enters Wednesday’s game against Ole Miss with a +3.5 rebounding margin. Junior guard Kathleen Nash is UT’s leading rebounder with 7.4 boards per game, while sophomore post Ashley Gayle is pulling down 6.3 rpg.
