By Blanche Schaefer
LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas guard Ariel Atkins led the Longhorns with 13 points and seven rebounds Wednesday as they defeated Texas Tech, 76-55 in Lubbock.[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)]
With the win, the Longhorns improve to 25-2 overall and 14-2 against teams from the Big 12. It marks the first time since the 2003-04 season that Texas has won 25 games in a season. UT also extended its advantage in the all-time series between the teams to 67-29.
UT’s first-quarter woes struck again. The Longhorns jumped off to a 7-0 lead, but the Lady Raiders scored the next 16 points and ended the period with a 23-16 lead. Texas regained momentum as Atkins ignited a 10-2 run with a jumper to begin the second quarter. Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty followed with a steal that she took the other way for a fast-break bucket. Texas outscored Tech, 22-5, in the period — including eight points from junior center Kelsey Lang — and headed into halftime with a 38-28 lead.
“We got off to a rough start,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said. “We shot the ball well early, (but) then we fell asleep defensively. Texas Tech did a great job of getting out in transition and being aggressive in the beginning of the game, in particular their guard play. We were a little bit flat-footed but we regrouped at the end of the first quarter and I was proud, especially defensively. Kelsey [Lang] gave us a big lift during the first half when we got in foul trouble. Kelsey gave us points and opened up plays for our guards.”
Lang, however, deflected some of her coach’s praise to the UT guards.
“I think our guards did a great job looking up the floor and passing up the floor,” Lang said. “They were able to get it to me quickly, and not being set up on a double-team, it makes it easier for me, so I think the guards did a great job.”
Part of UT’s success was because of the Longhorns’ dominance on the boards, as Texas enjoyed a 41-27 advantage in rebounds.
Atkins led off the third quarter with a jumper, and the Longhorns continued to score throughout the half. McCarty turned another steal into a fastbreak basket in third. Sophomore guard Tasia Foman hit her stride in the second half, setting a new personal high for conference games with nine points, including a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
McCarty and Lang finished with 11 and 12 points, respectively. Japreece Dean and Ivonne CookTaylor led Texas Tech with 17 and 15 points, respectively.
While the Longhorns’ victory did not include any dominant individual statistical performances, Aston said that as the regular season nears its end, any conference victory is a good one.
“It’s a good team effort for us,” Aston said. “It’s the end of February and everyone is tired, and I think anytime you can win in the Big 12, it’s a positive.”
The Longhorns return to Austin for Senior Night and the last home game of the season at 7 p.m. Saturday against TCU.
[/s2If]
[s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)]
[article-offer]
[/s2If]
Discover more from Horns Illustrated
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.