Boyette leads No. 5 Texas women past Texas Tech, 86-62
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Sometimes Imani Boyette lacks the assertiveness necessary to dominate. Other times she's hurt by foul trouble.
Then there are games like Saturday night.
Boyette had 24 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks and No. 5 Texas beat Texas Tech 86-62 to remain undefeated.
The 6-foot-7 senior was the big star as the Longhorns (13-0) won their first two Big 12 games. She had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks in the opener at West Virginia on Wednesday night.
Boyette converted 9 of 13 shots and 6 of 7 free throws against Tech. Though Tech has nobody in its rotation taller than 6-2, Boyette said there was no special plan to get the ball more to her than other Longhorns.
''But my teammates were passing me the ball in good position,'' Boyette said.
The 6-5 Kelsey Lang added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Longhorns.
''Our bigs were a huge presence,'' coach Karen Aston said. ''Probably the difference in the game.''
But not the only presence. Guards contributed as well. Empress Davenport scored 14 points, Ariel Atkins had 11, and Brianna Taylor grabbed 10 rebounds.
''Our guards did a really good job of moving the ball around the perimeter and getting the ball inside whenever it needed to get inside and taking shots when they were open,'' Lang said.
Even so, Boyette and Lang made life the most difficult for the Red Raiders, who were outscored 44-16 in the paint.
''They make it tough to get to the rim,'' Tech coach Candi Whitaker said.
Freshman guard Japreece Dean led Texas Tech (9-4, 0-2) with 21 points, but she shot primarily from the perimeter. Dean, who is from the Austin area, played in front of friends and family.
''I was really nervous,'' Dean said.
But that did not adversely affect her.
''Fearless,'' Whitaker said. ''Japreece Dean was definitely not a freshman today.''
Texas led 36-29 at halftime, thanks primarily to the work of Boyette and Lang inside.
Boyette scored nine points during the first 5 minutes. She did not score again in the half, but Lang, her backup, had 11 points. The pair combined to grab 16 rebounds in the half. Lang turned one into a basket that barely beat the buzzer as the half ended.
The Longhorns led 59-45 after three quarters. Boyette again played a big role, scoring 10 points and assisting on a basket by Atkins that stretched the lead to 15 late in the period.
Lang scored only two points in the quarter but set a screen that freed Celina Rodrigo to launch her second 3-point basket of the game when Tech still trailed by single digits.
TIP-INS
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders missed their first six shots, committed two turnovers and trailed 9-0 before finally scoring more than four minutes into the game. ... Texas is the first ranked opponent that the Red Raiders faced this season. The Red Raiders have not defeated a ranked team since beating No. 22 Kansas on Jan. 19, 2013.
Texas: The Longhorns' 13-0 record matches last season's start for third-best in school history and best since they were undefeated NCAA champions in 1986. ...The Longhorns have won five straight games against Texas Tech.
BREAKING SLUMP?
Texas has been mired in a shooting slump from 3-point range. The Longhorns hit 8 of 45 in their three games before facing Texas Tech on Saturday. They missed 7 of 8 in the first half against Tech but hit 3 of 6 in the second half.
''I think the shot selection was a little bit better in the second half,'' coach Karen Aston said.
UP NEXT
Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma State on Wednesday night.
Texas hosts Iowa State on Wednesday night.
