Texas Defense Picks Up When Offense Tails Off

Texas Coach Jody Conradt said her No. 5-ranked team is finding out that, even if it doesn’t shoot well, there are other ways to win.

Overcoming four-for-20 shooting to start the game, the Longhorns pulled away in the second half for a 71-58 victory Saturday over No. 10 Georgia at Austin, Texas.

“We really turned the defensive tempo up after halftime,” said Conradt, whose Longhorns (10-1) recorded their 25th consecutive home victory.

With Texas leading, 49-47, in the second half, Tiffany Jackson triggered a 20-7 run when she made the first of her four steals and passed to Nina Norman for a layup. Kala Bowers followed with a steal and a layup. Texas then added two more steals on consecutive Georgia possessions. Texas’ lead was up to 69-54 with 1:30 left.

Heather Schreiber had 25 points and nine rebounds for Texas. Christi Thomas had 14 points for Georgia (7-2), but both she and Kara Braxton were on the bench with four fouls each during much of Texas’ run.

Texas forced 16 turnovers and made seven steals.

No. 3 Duke 105, Northwestern State 53 -- Alana Beard scored 19 points to lead the Blue Devils (7-1), who reached the 100-point mark with three minutes to play at Bossier City, La. Amanda Bennett led Northwestern State (5-3) with 23 points.

No. 15 North Carolina 77, South Carolina 53 -- Freshman Ivory Latta scored 16 points in her return home to South Carolina to lead the Tar Heels (9-1) at Myrtle Beach, S.C. Iva Sliskovic’s 16 points led the Gamecocks (8-2).

No. 16 Louisiana State 97, Southeastern Louisiana 47 -- Doneeka Hodges scored 20 points at Baton Rouge, La., to lead the Tigers (8-2) to their seventh consecutive victory. Tish Guy scored 11 points for the Lions (3-3).

No. 18 Ohio State 67, St. John’s 53 -- The Buckeyes (6-1) led by as many as 17 in the first half of their victory in the first round of the Buckeye Classic at Columbus, Ohio. Angie Clark had 15 points for the Red Storm (4-5).

No. 19 Utah 51, Weber State 38 -- The Utes (7-3) extended their home winning streak to 21 with the victory over the Wildcats (2-7) at Salt Lake City.

No. 22 Texas Christian 81, Florida State 68 -- The Horned Frogs (7-1) defeated the Seminoles (5-3) in the Malibu Beach Classic at Pepperdine.

No. 23 Auburn 54, Army 37 -- Natasha Brackett scored 20 points as the Tigers (8-2) defeated the Black Knights (6-2) at West Point, N.Y.