Dec. 20, 2010
Complete game notes
#23/24 TEXAS (7-3) vs. USF (9-4)
Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 • 7 p.m. Central • BTI Classic
Thomas & Mack Center (18,500) • Las Vegas, Nev.
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: None.
RADIO: KVET-AM 1300 “The Zone” will broadcast Monday’s game between Texas and USF. Jon Madani (pxp) and Carol Ross (analyst) will call the action.
SERIES: First meeting.
NOTABLES
• TITLE MATCH ... Monday’s previously scheduled contest between Texas and USF has become the championship game of the BTI Classic. The Longhorns and Bulls are both undefeated in the Las Vegas tournament after two games apiece. Texas downed SMU (91-73) and UNLV (85-59) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while USF knocked off UNLV (59-54 OT) and SMU (61-55).
• SECOND-HALF SUCCESS ... To say that Texas has been hitting its stride in the second halves of the BTI Classic would be an understatement. UT is averaging 40 points in the first halves compared to 48 in the final stanzas. Furthermore, the Longhorns are limiting their opponents to 29.5 points in the final 20 minutes of the last two games compared to 36.5 in the opening halves.
• CONSISTENCY IS KEY ... Senior guard Kathleen Nash is the lone Longhorn to have reached double-digit scoring in all 10 games this season. She recorded season-highs of 21 points against Northwestern State (Nov. 16) and No. 8/7 Tennessee (Dec. 12). The Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention leads UT with 16.9 ppg through 10 contests.
• WINNING BIG ... All seven of Texas’ wins this season have been by double-digit margins. The Longhorns are averaging 95.1 ppg and a +35.4 scoring margin in their victories. In all 10 contests, UT is toppling its opponents by +20.4 ppg and putting up a Big 12 Conference-best 87.8 ppg.
SERIES VS. USFMonday’s contest marks the first meeting between Texas and USF. The Longhorns will play two straight BIG EAST opponents as they are scheduled to take on Cincinnati in the opening round of the Maggie Dixon Surf ‘n Slam Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 28, in San Diego, Calif.
GOESTENKORS VS. USF
Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors holds a 1-0 record against USF after leading Duke to an 82-50 over the Bulls on Nov. 14, 2004, at the Preseason WNIT Second Round in Durham, N.C.
LAST TIME OUT: AT UNLV (BTI CLASSIC - DEC. 19)
Chassidy Fussell scored 21 points and No. 23 Texas beat UNLV 85-59 on Sunday night for its second consecutive victory at the BTI Classic. Kathleen Nash added 19 points and Ashleigh Fontenette 11 for the Longhorns (7-3), who shot 49 percent from the field - including 56 percent on 3-pointers. Texas held UNLV to 36 percent shooting and outrebounded the Lady Rebels 41-38. The Longhorns led 38-33 at halftime.
GAYLE ECLIPSES SECOND CENTURY MARK
With three blocks against UNLV on Sunday and a career total of 201, junior post Ashley Gayle became just the fourth player in school history to reach 200 or more. Ellen Bayer (289, 1986-90), Ashley Lindsey (250, 2005-09) and Angela Jackson (221, 1994-97) are the only other players to have accomplished the feat.
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
UT dropped two spots in The Associated Press to No. 23 and remained at No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll in the rankings for the fifth week of the season. Having previously faced then-No. 3/2 Stanford (Nov. 28) and No. 25/25 Michigan State (Dec. 5) on the road, Texas most recently met No. 8/7 Tennessee in Austin on Dec. 12. UT is scheduled to meet four additional foes that are currently ranked: No. 2/3 Baylor (Jan. 12 in Austin, Feb. 12 in Waco), No. 8/8 Texas A&M (Jan. 19 in College Station, Feb. 27 in Austin), No. 12/11 Oklahoma (Jan. 16 in Austin, Feb. 19 in Norman) and No. 21/15 Iowa State (Feb. 21 in Ames).
HOT IN DECEMBER
Junior post Ashley Gayle is certainly heating up as winter rolls in. In Texas’ five contests this month, Gayle is leading the starting rotation with 55.9 percent from the field on 19-of-34 shooting. Additionally, she is leading the Longhorns with 8.6 rpg over the last five contests.
Kristen Nash IS BACK
Redshirt senior Kristen Nash returned to the Texas Women’s Basketball roster in their BTI Classic opening-round contest against SMU. Through her two games back in uniform, the forward is averaging 4.0 ppg and 8.0 mpg off the bench for the Longhorns.
QUARTET IN DOUBLE DIGITS
Four Longhorns continue to average double-digit scoring: Kathleen Nash (16.9 ppg), Chassidy Fussell (15.9 ppg), Ashleigh Fontenette (15.4 ppg) and Yvonne Anderson (10.5 ppg). Freshman guard Chelsea Bass is on the cusp of averaging double-figures with 9.5 ppg. Texas is the only team in the Big 12 Conference with three Top 15 scorers in Nash (seventh), Fussell (11th) and Fontenette (15th).
REBOUND ROUNDUP
Texas’ +14 rebound advantage over SMU (48-34) marked the fourth time this season it has out-rebounded its opponent by double digits. UT’s 48 boards were its most since pulling down a season-high 56 against UTPA on Dec. 8. The Longhorns are averaging 45.8 rpg and hold an +8.1 edge over all opponents.
