After a runner-up finish in the Big 12 tournament a year ago, the Texas women’s basketball team begins their quest for a tournament crown tonight. They reached the conference tournament finals in 2015 despite drawing the six-seed. The Longhorns have carried that hot play at the end of last year into this season and earned what should be an easier road to the championship game this year.
Texas finished the regular season with a 26-3 overall record and a 15-3 conference record, earning the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament.
The Longhorns three losses were against Oklahoma and Baylor twice. The Bears earned the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 tournament with a 17-1 conference record.
Texas had five players receive All-Big 12 recognition at the conclusion of the regular season. Senior center Imani Boyette and sophomore guard Brooke McCarty earned All-Big 12 First Team honors. Sophomore guard Ariel Atkins received All-Big 12 Second Team. Senior guards Empress Davenport and Celina Rodrigo found themselves on the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention list.
Boyette also earned Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first time a Longhorn received the honor. The center finished the regular season as the top shot blocker in the Big 12 and third in rebounding. Boyette needs 22 more rebounds during the post season to become the first Texas player with more than 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocked shots. Her current totals are 1,304 points, 978 rebounds and 290 blocked shots.
The Longhorns didn’t finish the regular season on a high note, losing to Baylor 48-74 and marking their lowest scoring performance of the season. But, as the No. 2 seed, Texas earned a first round bye and plays today, the second day of the tournament. The Longhorns should be well rested without having played in five days.
Kansas had to beat TCU last night to play Texas today. The Jayhawks sophomore guard Lauren Aldridge scored 23 of Kansas’ 81 points to help lead the team to victory. Before yesterday’s game, Aldridge was averaging 10.7 points per game.
McCarty and Boyette enter the game averaging 12 points per game. Against Baylor, McCarty was the only Longhorn to finish the game with double figures in scoring with 12 points. In her last eight games, McCarty scored double digits in six of them. Boyette finished the regular season shooting 51.7 percent from the field. She is averaging 9.1 rebounds per game.
The last time these two schools faced each other, Texas won 70-46. Aldridge led the Jayhawks with 15 points. Boyette led the Longhorns with 16 points, and McCarty scored 13 points.
Tonight’s tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT tonight from Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
