Texas Tops Long Beach Despite Distractions

It was a night full of distractions for the University Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team. 

They entered the game in the middle of final exams.  They opened the game receiving their Big 12 Championship rings from last season.  Midway through the game they had the annual Teddy Bear Toss.  And at the end of the game, they met with head coach Vic Schaefer’s friend and mentor, Gary Blair. 

And between all that the Longhorns defeated Long Beach State University 106-to-62. 

Schaefer wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance, but he accepted it.  “It was a typical final exam game.  Not a lot of focus.  I was disappointed, we had a bad shoot around and that’s how we played.”  He went on to say, “We had four kids that had 15 of our 21 turnovers…. To me that’s just a real bad sign of not being focused.” 

The Longhorns appeared focused in the first half, holding Long Beach to nine points in each frame.  Texas biggest run came in the second quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points.  The Longhorns took a 57-to-18 lead into the locker room at the half. 

Schaefer should have been pleased with Texas’ control of the boards, out-rebounding LBS 56-to-27.  The Longhorns pulled down 26 offensive rebounds producing 31 points.  Texas also forced 30 turnovers, resulting in 38 points. 

The list of what didn’t please Schaefer was much longer.  Texas committed 21 turnovers, resulting in 19 points for LBS.  The team only generated 14 assists, half of those coming from Madison Booker.  LBS out-scored them 25-to-19 in the final period, due mostly to Schaefer’s use of players from the bench.  The Longhorn’s continuing problem at the charity stripe continued, converting on only 60% of chances. 

Taylor Jones led the Longhorns with a double-double: 21 points and 10 rebounds.  Rori Harmon had 17 points.  Booker tallied eight points, seven assists and five rebounds. 

It was a reunion, of sorts, for Long Beach State head coach Amy Wright.  Wright was a point guard under Schaefer at the University of Arkansas.  Wright’s team was led by Savannah Tucker with 22 points.  Overall, they shot only 37% from floor and 30% from beyond are arc. 

A highlight of the night was the return of DeYona Gaston.  Gaston sprained her ankle in a pre-season exhibition game and had yet to return to the floor.   Opining on Gaston’s return Schaefer said, “She came in tonight and stuff happened.  I mean, she made things happened.  I mean it, she got offensive boards, she got stick-backs, she had a great pass.  She just knows the game like that’s a veteran kid.  It’s great to have her back.  I’ve missed her.” 

Gaston contributed 9 points and five rebound in 14 minutes on the floor.