Texas women’s basketball rebounds with 68-44 victory over Northwestern State

By James Schleicher / Editor

AUSTIN, Texas — A few days removed from its first loss of the season, to No. 11 Tennessee, the No. 8 Texas women’s basketball team returned to the friendly confines of the Erwin Center and took care of business against Northwestern State by beating the Lady Demons, 68-44.

“I definitely think that our team has a bit of a hangover from the Sunday loss,” head coach Karen Aston said. “We did not have as much energy level as we’re going to have to have as we move forward on Sunday, and then obviously into conference play.”

Team leader and senior Guard Ariel Atkins said [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]the lull could possibly be attributed to the stress of finals.

“We’re young team, and I don’t think we necessarily think we know how to bounce back when something is hitting us, no matter what direction it’s coming from,” Atkins said. “I just think our team hasn’t figured out how to muster up the energy we need to prepare.”

Coming off the bench for the Longhorns, 6-foot-4 junior forward Jatarie White led the the team in scoring with 15 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.

“Coach made it a big priority for the post players to make sure that we’re burying our opponents because of our height advantage,” White said. “So (in the) second half we had to make sure we paid attention to that.”

Atkins scored 13 points and collected seven rebounds. She came into the game averaging 14.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this season.

Sophomore Jada Underwood also put up double-digit points with 11.

Thanks to the Longhorns stepping out to an early 17-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, and then continuing to hold that lead, Aston had the ability to give each of her 10 available players double-digit minutes in the game.

The Longhorns played without their usual floor general, senior guard Brooke McCarty, who did not play in the game due to a hip injury (day-to-day). According to Aston, McCarty remains questionable at this point and there is no timetable for her projected return to the court. Junior forward Jordan Hosey (concussion – day-to-day) and Khaléann Caron-Goudreau (stress injury to right foot — out indefinitely) also sat out due to injury.

Defensively, the team achieved some of the goals Aston said she hoped they would, including holding Northwestern State under 50 points. The Longhorns held the Lady Demons to a 28.1 percent shooting on field goals in the game.

“I wasn’t displeased with our defense tonight,” Aston said.

With the win, UT improves its record to 8-1, and hosts Florida State at 11:30 a.m. Sunday before starting the Big 12 part of the schedule Dec. 28 at Oklahoma. Texas beat Florida State, 92-88, last season in a double-overtime win in Tallahassee.

“I just don’t think we have the intent that we were playing with for a really long time,” Aston said. “When I say ‘playing’ I mean in practice, and not just games. We need to get it back on Sunday if we’re going to perform against a really good team in Florida State, but also as we move forward for conference play.”

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