Dec. 29, 2010
Complete game notes
#23/RV TEXAS (9-3) at San Diego (9-3)
Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010 • 10 p.m. Central • Maggie Dixon Surf ‘n Slam Classic
Jenny Craig Pavilion (5,100) • San Diego, Calif.
GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
TELEVISION: None.
RADIO: KVET-AM 1300 “The Zone” will broadcast Thursday’s game between Texas and San Diego. Craig Way (pxp) and Carol Ross (analyst) will call the action.
SERIES: Texas leads, 2-0. Last meeting: Texas 81-79 (Dec. 30, 2007; San Diego)
NOTABLES
• BLOCK PARTY ... Junior post Ashley Gayle led UT’s block party against Cincinnati with a career-high 10 swats. Gayle’s feat stands as the second-best single-game individual record in school history, while the Longhorns’ 14 blocks against the Bearcats ties for second. Ellen Bayer (1986-90) holds the single-game record with 14 against Texas Tech on Jan. 2, 1990 and the Longhorns’ 16 blocks against the Lady Raiders remains the all-time school record.
• TOURNAMENT TESTED ... Thursday’s championship game against San Diego marks the second time in its last three games that Texas has played for a tournament title. Exactly 10 days ago (Dec. 20), the Longhorns downed USF 83-65 to claim the BTI Classic Championship in Las Vegas.
• ‘THE FRESHMAN WITH ICE IN HER VEINS’ ... Texas radio announcer Craig Way dubbed Chassidy Fussell as ‘the freshman with ice in her veins’ when she nailed a trey from the right corner with 1.3 seconds remaining in Tuesday’s 80-77 win over Cincinnati in the Surf ‘n Slam Classic. Fussell reached 20+ points for the fifth time in her young career, including a career-best four baskets from long distance.
• SOMETHING ABOUT DEC. 30 ... Texas holds a spotless 2-0 record against San Diego when the teams meet on Dec. 30 in the championship game of the Maggie Dixon Surf ‘n Slam Classic. The Longhorns won championship games on the same date in 2006 and 2007. Additionally, head coach
Gail Goestenkors led Duke to the same championship title - also against San Diego - on Dec. 30, 2005.
SERIES VS. SAN DIEGO
Thursday’s contest marks the third meeting between Texas and San Diego in the Surf ‘n Slam Hoop Classic. The Longhorns hold a perfect 2-0 record against the Toreros, and both previous victories have occurred on the same date as Thursday’s competition - Dec. 30 (2006 and 2007).
Series Quick Facts
Overall Series Record - Texas, 2-0
Most UT points - 81 (Dec. 30, 2007)
Most USD points - 79 (Dec. 30, 2007)
Fewest UT points - 73 (Dec. 30, 2006)
Fewest USD points - 45 (Dec. 30, 2006)
Biggest UT margin - 28 (Dec. 30, 2006)
Biggest USD margin - N/A
In overtime - N/A
GOESTENKORS VS. SAN DIEGO
Thursday’s contest marks the third meeting between Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors and San Diego. Coach G led the Longhorns to the Surf ‘n Slam Classic crown with an 81-79 win over the Toreros on Dec. 30, 2007, after previously guiding Duke to a 119-52 win in the same tournament championship game on Dec. 30, 2005.
LAST TIME OUT: VS. CINCINNATI (DEC. 28)
Chassidy Fussell scored 20 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left, to help No. 23 Texas beat Cincinnati 80-77 in the Maggie Dixon Surf ‘n Slam Classic. Yvonne Anderson, who had a team-high 21 points for the Longhorns, dribbled the ball to the top of the key and sent a perfect bounce pass to the right of the arc, where Fussell made her fourth 3-pointer of the game. The Bearcats’ desperation shot at the buzzer fell short. Kathleen Nash had 15 point and nine rebounds for Texas. The game was tied seven times with nine lead changes. Cincinnati (6-5) battled back from a 10-point deficit in the second half before falling short.
A CHECK OF THE POLLS
UT returned to The Associated Press poll (Dec. 27) in the No. 23 ranking for the seventh week of the season. The Longhorns are also receiving votes in the latest edition of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll (Dec. 28). UT is scheduled to meet four additional foes that are currently ranked in the polls when Big 12 Conference play begins on Jan. 8, 2011: No. 2/2 Baylor (Jan. 12 in Austin, Feb. 12 in Waco), No. 7/5 Texas A&M (Jan. 19 in College Station, Feb. 27 in Austin), No. 15/14 Oklahoma (Jan. 16 in Austin, Feb. 19 in Norman) and No. 20/19 Iowa State (Feb. 21 in Ames).
ANDERSON LIGHTS UP
Junior guard Yvonne Anderson scored a career-high 21 points (9-of-16 FG, 2-of-5 3FG, 1-of-1 FT) while connecting on a career-best nine field goals in Texas’ 80-77 win over Cincinnati. Anderson notched double-figures for the second time in as many games after recording 15 points against USF (Dec. 20) and is averaging 11.8 ppg on the season.
TURNOVER TURNAROUND
Despite averaging 17.6 turnovers per game, Texas has continued to trim its mistakes over the last four games. UT committed a season-low nine turnovers against UNLV (Dec. 19), just 10 against Cincinnati (Dec. 28) and 14 in games against SMU (Dec. 18) and USF (Dec. 20). In the span of the last four games, the Longhorns have averaged 11.8 tpg, nearly six less than their season average.
IN THE BIG 12 ...
In the most recent edition of the Big 12 Conference standings (Dec. 28), junior post Ashley Gayle ranks second with 9.8 rpg and 4.3 bpg. Senior guard Kathleen Nash ranks third in free throw percentage (.902, 46-51) and fourth with 32.9 minutes per game. Junior guard Ashleigh Fontenette is tied for third in the league with 2.9 spg.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Senior guard Kathleen Nash is the lone Longhorn to have reached double-digit scoring in all 12 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 16.7 ppg through 12 contests.
