This will be the fifth meeting between UTPA and Texas. The Horns are 4-0 in the series. The UTPA Broncs are 4-2 coming into this game. They just missed getting a signature when Texas A&M as the Aggies pulled out a 63-61 win. The Broncs have won three games in a row. Both UTPA and Texas are on a three game winning streak. One will end on Wednesday night. Shawnté Goff (# 11, 5-8 Soph. G) is the leading scorer for the Broncs at 18.5 ppg. She is the only player in double figures. She leads UTPA in FGs made and attempted (38-93), FTs made and attempted (30-37), steals (18) and minutes per game (29.0) and is tied for the lead in blocks (5). Among the 12 players that have taken at least 12 shots in the six games played by UTPA, Stephanie Onyeje (# 12, 5-5 Fr. G) has the best FG% at 46.2%. 7 others are hitting between 40.7% and 43.8%. Brittany Bush (#21, 6-1 Sr. F)is second in FGs made and attempted at 21-51. She is the second leading scorer at 8.5 ppg. 31% of the FGs attempted by the Broncs are three pointers. Six Broncs have attempted at least 11 3s. Tonisha Walker (#3, 5-6 Sr. G) at 11-22 (50%), Hildur Kjartansdóttier (#5, 6-2 Fr. F)at 7-15 (46.7%) and Troi Swain (#1, 5-5 Fr. G) at 4-11 (36.4%) are the most accurate from BTA. Goff’s 81.1% from the FT is second on the team to Rickell Preston’s (#24, 5-10 Jr. G) 88.9% (8-9). As a team, the Broncs are hitting a very average 67.9%. Bush is the Broncs leading rebounding with an average of 6.0 rpg. Preston (5.7 rpg) and Kjartansdóttier (5.3 rpg) are second and third, respectively. Three Broncs are averaging at least 2 assists per game. T’Ondria Nolen (#14, 5-7 Sr. G) at 4.7 apg tops UTPA. Goff is second at 2.7 apg. KaeLynn Boyd (#15, 5-5 Jr. G) is third with 2.2 apg. Goff and Bush top UTPA in blocks with 5 each. Goff is the leader in steals with 3.0 spg. UTPA used three different starting lineups in the first three games. They have used the same starting lineup in the past three games. Goff, Bush, Boyd, Kjartansdóttier and Nolan are 3-0 are as starters. No one averages more than 29 mpg (Goff) but 6 players average at least 20 mpg. Two others average in the teens while four more average between 8 and 9 mpg. There are a lot of players in the rotation. Boyd and Bush have started every game this season. Goff, Kjartansdóttier and Nolen have started five of six games. while Walker, Preston and Cha’zaye Wright have one start each. Nine players have played in all six games. Two others have played in five games while three others have played in between two and four games. Horns have four players averaging double figures in scoring with another just off that mark. Leading the way in scoring are Kelsey (12.7 ppg), Nneka & Ariel at 12 ppg and Brooke (11 ppg). Empress is at 9.3 ppg. Those five are joined by Brianna in reaching double digits in FG attempts. Kelsey is tops in FGs made and attempted at 18-33. Nneka is second in FGs made (15) and fourth in attempts (25). Nneka (60.0%) and Kelsey (54.5%) are the leaders in FG%. Three others are hitting between 42 and 46%. As a team, the Horns are at 43.4% from the field. Brooke’s 3pt shooting spree against UCLA propelled her to the lead in 3pg shooting: 7-14, 50.0%. Ariel at 2-5 (40.0%) is the only other player to hit more than one trey. Both Tasia and Brianna are 1-1 from BTA. Ariel finally missed a FT during the UCLA game but her 16-18 (88.9%) is tops in FTs made and attempted. Nekia and Tasia each have hit 2-2 FTs. Nneka (6-12) and Empress (6-11) are the others that have reached double digits in FT attempts. Brady (7-9, 77.8) is just off that threshold. The team is hitting a very average 68.2% on FTs but did hit over 73% in both the exhibition and against Stanford so they can shoot FTs better than they are doing now. Nekia’s 10 rebounds in the first game is still the top average although she has not played in the last two games. Nneka is averaging 8.3 rpg while Kelsey adds 7.0 rpg. Four players are averaging at least 2 assists per game: Empress (2.7), Brady (2.5), Celina (2.3) and Nekia (2.0). Brianna has an average of 1.7 apg. Horns have two players with four steals: Kelsey and Ariel. Three others have 3 steals each. Seven players are averaging at least one steal a game. Horns have nine blocks in three games. Kelsey has five, Nneka and Tasia two each. Horns are averaging 15.3 TOs a game, a big improvement over last season so far. Only Brady and Nekia have not played in all three games. Brady missed the first game due to a right wrist injury and Neka has missed the last two games due to illness. Brady Hopefully, Nekia will recover soon. The starting lineup the last two games has consisted of Kelsey, Nneka, Ariel, Empress and Celina. The other five: Krystle, Brooke, Brianna, Tasia and Lilley, have all gotten into all three games. Nine players are averaging double digit minutes. Kelsey (32.0 mpg) and Empress (30.0 mpg) are the only ones reaching the 30 mpg line. Five average at least 20 mpg. Lots of balance in playing time, with some dictated by foul trouble. Horns have four players averaging double figures in scoring with another just off that mark. Leading the way in scoring are Kelsey (12.7 ppg), Nneka & Ariel at 12 ppg and Brooke (11 ppg). Empress is at 9.3 ppg. Those five are joined by Brianna in reaching double digits in FG attempts. Kelsey is tops in FGs made and attempted at 18-33. Nneka is second in FGs made (15) and fourth in attempts (25). Nneka (60.0%) and Kelsey (54.5%) are the leaders in FG%. Three others are hitting between 42 and 46%. As a team, the Horns are at 43.4% from the field. Brooke’s 3pt shooting spree against UCLA propelled her to the lead in 3pg shooting: 7-14, 50.0%. Ariel at 2-5 (40.0%) is the only other player to hit more than one trey. Both Tasia and Brianna are 1-1 from BTA. Ariel finally missed a FT during the UCLA game but her 16-18 (88.9%) is tops in FTs made and attempted. Nekia and Tasia each have hit 2-2 FTs. Nneka (6-12) and Empress (6-11) are the others that have reached double digits in FT attempts. Brady (7-9, 77.8) is just off that threshold. The team is hitting a very average 68.2% on FTs but did hit over 73% in both the exhibition and against Stanford so they can shoot FTs better than they are doing now. Nekia’s 10 rebounds in the first game is still the top average although she has not played in the last two games. Nneka is averaging 8.3 rpg while Kelsey adds 7.0 rpg. Four players are averaging at least 2 assists per game: Empress (2.7), Brady (2.5), Celina (2.3) and Nekia (2.0). Brianna has an average of 1.7 apg. Horns have two players with four steals: Kelsey and Ariel. Three others have 3 steals each. Seven players are averaging at least one steal a game. Horns have nine blocks in three games. Kelsey has five, Nneka and Tasia two each. Horns are averaging 15.3 TOs a game, a big improvement over last season so far. Only Brady and Nekia have not played in all three games. Brady missed the first game due to a right wrist injury and Neka has missed the last two games due to illness. Brady Hopefully, Nekia will recover soon. The starting lineup the last two games has consisted of Kelsey, Nneka, Ariel, Empress and Celina. The other five: Krystle, Brooke, Brianna, Tasia and Lilley, have all gotten into all three games. Nine players are averaging double digit minutes. Kelsey (32.0 mpg) and Empress (30.0 mpg) are the only ones reaching the 30 mpg line. Five average at least 20 mpg. Lots of balance in playing time, with some dictated by foul trouble. Projected starters based on the last game: [pre] Texas UTPA Nneka (6-1 Sr. F) Bush (6-1 Sr. F) Kelsey (6-5 Soph. C) Kjartansdóttier (6-2 Fr. F) Ariel (5-11 Fr. G) Nolen (5-7 Sr. G) Empress (5-7 Jr. G) Goff (5-8 Soph. G) Celina (5-8 Jr. G) Boyd (5-5 Jr. G) [/pre] Neither UTPA post averages more than 7.2 ppg. They will have their hands full in looking to stop or at least slow Kelsey and Nneka. Not to mention keeping them off the boards. For the Texas guards,clamping down on Goff will be the main concern. Empress should get the first crack at her. Brianna is likely to come off the bench to spell Empress on Goff. And the rest will take a turn as well. Nneka and Kelsey will need to be aware that Kjartansdóttier is the second best 3pt shooter for UTPA. The Texas guards will need to watch out for Walker coming in off the bench. She is the Broncs best 3pt shooter. UTPA will need to slow down the Texas fastbreak and inside game to have a chance to pull off the upset.[pre] TEAM STATISTICS Texas UTPA -------------------------------------------------------------- SCORING.................. 230 431 Points per game........ 78.7 71.8 Scoring margin......... +12.0 +12.3 FIELD GOALS-ATT.......... 89-198 149-384 Field goal pct.......... .434 .388 3 POINT FG-ATT........... 13-42 42-120 3-point FG pct.......... .310 .350 3-pt FG made per game.. 4.3 7.0 FREE THROWS-ATT.......... 45-66 91-134 Free throw pct.......... 682 .679 F-Throws made per game. 15.0 15.2 REBOUNDS................. 137 237 Rebounds per game...... 45.7 39.5 Rebounding margin...... +12.4 -4.8 ASSISTS.................. 43 90 Assists per game....... 14.3 15.0 TURNOVERS................ 46 101 Turnovers per game..... 15.3 16.8 Turnover margin........ +2.0 +9.2 Assist/turnover ratio.. 0.9 0.9 STEALS................... 24.0 63 Steals per game........ 8.0 10.5 BLOCKS................... 9.0 16 Blocks per game........ 3.0 2.7 WINNING STREAK........... 3 3 Home win streak........ 1 3 ATTENDANCE............... 2466 1414 Home games-Avg/Game.... 1-2466 3-471 SCORE BY PERIODS: 1st 2nd OT Total ------------------------------ ---- ---- ---- ----- Texas...........................111 107 12 230 Texas-Pan American............ 233 198 - 431 [/pre] Texas will have a slight height advantage inside. The Broncs like to run off rebounds and steals. They have played and lost to two ranked teams—DePaul (93-70) and Texas A&M (63-61). Just about a third of their FGs attempted come from BTA. They take good care of the ball while turning over opponents just over 9 more TOs than they commit. Statistically, there is not much difference between the two teams. Horns will, as they so far, look to establish their inside game. Look for the Horns to apply pressure all over and to run their guards in and out to keep them fresh. UTPA will look to run but look more for the 3 instead of going inside first. The UTPA posts are able to score but neither are the scorers that Kelsey and Nneka are. Horns will need to lock down the 3pt line. Both teams run a man defense as their primary defense so this could be an interesting game to watch to see how our posts do one on one. Both will run so this could turn into a track meet although I do believe the Horns have the edge here in speed and numbers. Several UTPA players from Central Texas will probably have good groups supporting them. Shawnté Goff is from Copperas Cove. Stephanie Onyeje is from Pflugerville High School, the same school as Nneka. Troi Swain is from McNeil HS in Austin. This may be the shortest road trip their family and friends will take to see them this season. Game time is 7 pm this Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. The game will be televised on the Longhorn Network. KVET 1300 AM will carry the radio broadcast.
Texas AM played this team and almost loss. But to me,not trying to be funny towards AM. They don't have a good offense. They will not beat Texas, when we play them. Texas should win this game. Hookem'
From the McAllen Monitor: Broncs women set to battle No. 6 Longhorns Reminds me of something Abe Lemons would have said:
That quote is great from their coach. Any idea what a team like them gets paid to come play? 20k? I have no clue.
UTPA was a tougher game than expected. Texas had trouble hitting shots in the first from anywhere, the field (36.0%), from BTA (0.0%) and the FT line (53.3%). The good thing was that the defense was very good as UTPA ended the first half at 27.6% from the field, 12.5% from BTA and did not attempt a FT. Kelsey and Nneka carried the team in the first half. The rest of the team helped out in scoring the second half. Kelsey dominated with 20 pts on 10-13 from the field and had 7 rebs. Brianna was skying for rebounds all game. She ended up with a team high 11. Nneka had five blocks, including one in the second half that almost landed in my lap. Brady and Tasia had 10 pts apiece. There will be a lot for the coaches to go over tomorrow during the video review of the game. UTPA reminded me a bit of A&M and Rutgers of past days with their pressure. They created a lot of TOs simply by being able to get a hand in the way and knocking the ball loose. They ended up with 8 steals. It was a rough game for the Horns. Hard to say how much of that was due to UTPA and how much was due to the Horns' simply having a letdown after the California games. The good thing was that as poorly as the Horns played they pulled out the game, pulling away midway through the second half and not letting the lead drop into single digits. One thing the coaches may be happy with: Horns outrebounded UTPA 59-27. I don't recall the Horns ever doubling up an opponent on the board.
