With no wins over a current top-25 team and a tough Big 12 schedule on the horizon, Texas was looking for a big-name win to hang their hat on.

It doesn’t get any more big-name than the defending champs.

After a back-and-forth first half, No. 6 Texas (9-0) pulled away from No. 7 Tennessee (7-2) in the second on their way to a 73-59 victory thanks to double-digit scoring nights from four different Longhorns.

“We’ve been waiting for a game like this,” Texas guard Brittainey Raven said. “We’ve worked hard for this.”

The Longhorns started out the game shooting four-for-five from the field, but shot five-for-26 the rest of the half. An 11-for-14 mark from the free throw line kept Texas on top throughout the half as Tennessee stayed within striking distance in order to head into halftime tied 31-31.

“We withstood their runs and then we’d make a run of our own,” Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors said.

After shooting 29 percent in the first half, Texas stepped up their offense shooting 44 percent in the second. Midway through the half, back-to-back threes from Brittainey Raven and Kathleen Nash continued a 10-1 run that put the Longhorns up nine points.

“Our whole flow on offense really changed in the second half,” Nash said.

Raven finished with a game-high 21 points while Nash chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds. Carla Cortijo and Ashley Lindsey both added 11 points.

Foul trouble proved to be a problem for Tennessee all game. Two players were charged with two or more fouls in the first half, including three each to Glory Johnson, the team’s leading scorer coming into the game, and Angie Bjorklund, who eventually fouled out. Johnson recorded two of her fouls in the first two minutes of the game and was forced to play only three minutes in the half in which she took no shots and managed only one steal.

Johnson looked to make up for lost time early in the second half, scoring nine of the Lady Vols’ first 11 points and tallying four rebounds during the stretch. The freshman would finish with 13 points and nine rebounds, both team-highs.

“I just had to play smarter,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t as physical.”

Despite Johnson’s second half, Texas took advantage of 10 Tennessee turnovers in the half to break open the game, avenging last season’s 92-67 loss to the Lady Vols in Knoxville.

“It’s night and day,” Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt said when comparing the Texas of last year to now. “They’re playing really tough on the defensive end. … It’s tremendous difference from a year ago.”

The win pushes Texas to 9-0, their best start since the 1987 campaign where they earned a trip to the Final Four.

“We are going to be a national power and a team to always be reckoned with,” Goestenkors said of her team’s status.

- Colby White, Daily Texan Staff

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Carla Cortijo’s last second three clanked off the rim, as Texas (21-12, 7-9) fell 75-72 to Oklahoma State (25-6, 11-5) Thursday night at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

Texas came back from a 12-point halftime deficit to take the lead on the Cowgirls in the second half. The lead changed throughout the final ten minutes. However, Cowgirl forward Shaunte Smith took a huge charge with a one-point lead in the final minute to get the ball back for her team. She then was fouled off the inbounds pass and sank both free throws to extend the lead to three.

Texas called timeout and put the ball in the hands of Cortijo for the final play.

“I was looking for Kat Nash, but when she wasn’t open I had to take the shot,” Cortijo said.

Cortijo led Texas with 14, while freshman guard Kat Nash also added 14.

Danielle Green and Andrea Riley both had 23 points for Oklahoma State. Smith grabbed 16 boards and netted 12 points for a double-double.

Texas will find out their NCAA tournament information on Monday. Oklahoma State plays A&M in the championship game.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -   Texas is down 46-34 at halftime against Oklahoma State. However, a 12 point deficit is nothing to this team after the way they came back from 16 at the half last game to beat Baylor.  Point guard Carla Cortijo was on fire last night, scoring 24 points, and has nine in the first half of tonight’s game.

I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to predict that Texas will come back in the second half and win the game. If so, they’ll face Texas A&M on Saturday for the Big 12 Tournament Championship.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Texas (21-11, 7-9) outscored No. 11 Baylor (24-6, 12-4) 52-21 in the second half and went on to win 76-61, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament to play the winner of Oklahoma State and Kansas.

“Thank goodness for the second half,” Texas coach Gail Goestenkors said. “We were playing with a lot of confidence and fed off our energy.”

Point guard Carla Cortijo scored 24 points, while Brittainey Raven netted 16. Forward Earnesia Williams hauled in 13 rebounds.

Texas took the lead with 8:55 to play on a Carla Cortijo three pointer and never looked back.
“I don’t know what got into me tonight,” Cortijo said. “I was feeling it.”

The Bears couldn’t hit a bucket to save their life in the second half.

Texas’ game tomorrow is at 8:30 p.m. The Longhorns have beaten both their potential opponents - the Cowgirls and Jayhawks - once already this season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Behind 14 points from Rachel Allison and 11 from Jessica Morrow, Baylor has jumped out to a 40-24 lead at halftime in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.

Baylor is beating Texas at their own game, scoring at will in transition. Carla Cortijo leads Texas with seven points. Texas’ leading scorer, Brittainey Raven, has been held in check, scoring just two points and shooting one of seven from the field.