University of Missouri
Texas
No. 24 Mizzou Falls at Texas, 63-54
1/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2006
AUSTIN, Texas - The 24th-ranked Mizzou women were held without a field goal for the final 11 minutes, 20 seconds, and Texas reeled off 19 of the game's final 21 points to post a 63-54 win in Big 12 Conference action Saturday night at the Frank Erwin Center.
The loss snaps a 12-game winning streak for the Tigers (13-3, 3-1 Big 12), who were dealt their first loss since Nov. 19 at Arkansas State. Texas (8-6, 2-2) picks up its second straight win at home.
Junior forward Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) canned four 3-pointers to lead the Tigers with 14 points; she was joined in double-figure scoring by senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) and junior forward Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS / Kansas State), who each added 12 points.
Texas was led by 15 points from Ashley Lindsey. The Longhorns' All-American, Tiffany Jackson, who was held to just two first-half points, finished with 10 and a game-high 13 rebounds.
"I'm extremely disappointed. This was the worst I've seen us play this season," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "We lost this game when we lost our poise. We had to adjust to things, we didn't, and that's our fault. We rushed through everything, and took quick shots. You have to give credit to Texas, though, for taking advantage."
Both defenses set the tone in the early going, as the only field goal between the teams came on a steal and coast-to-coast layup for Brooks to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead after the first media timeout. Texas took a 6-4 lead with back-to-back baskets, and they tried to take advantage when senior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) was sent to the bench with two quick fouls. Yet sophomore Kassie Drew (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro HS) sank a 3-pointer on Mizzou's next trip down the floor.
After a Brooks layup, Texas went on a quick 9-2 run - with a pair of baskets each by Nina Norman and Lindsey - to take a 15-11 lead. Brooks played a large part in Mizzou storming back with an 11-3 run of its own when she had solo fastbreaks with steals on back-to-back possessions.
Texas continued its poor shooting, going without a field goal for nearly four minutes near the end of the first half. Mizzou took advantage with a 9-0 run and a 37-25 lead with 1:58 to go in the half; the Tigers led 37-30 at halftime.
Savant nailed her third 3-pointer of the game to start the second half and give the Tigers another 10-point lead, but Mizzou misfired on its next four shots and Texas scored eight of the game's next 10 points to pull back within four (42-38) with 15:33 to play.
N'Garsanet was just 0-for-1 from the field at this point, but she and Savant combined for Mizzou's next four buckets - including Savant's fourth trey of the night - to take a 51-40 lead with 13:07 to go. After a pair of UT baskets, Bond hit a backdoor layup with 11:20 left to keep the lead at nine (53-44).
From that point, Mizzou missed its next nine shots, and Texas rolled off the game's next 16 points. That included a bucket inside from Lindsey with 6:15 to go to give the Longhorns its first lead since midway through the first half.
The Tigers return home on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff against Colorado at Mizzou Arena. Tickets are available by visiting the Mizzou Arena Box Office, calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in mid-Missouri) or going online to www.mutigers.com. The team will be introduced to fans at Mizzou Arena Monday night during the first half of the Mizzou-Kansas men's basketball game.
