 "Photo: Paul Chouy; The Daily Texan")
SATURDAY: No. 12 Texas at No. 14 Texas A&M
WHERE: Reed Arena (College Station)
WHEN: 11 a.m.
ON AIR: FOX Sports Net; 1300 AM The Zone
Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors typically has a checklist of things that need to be done before every game.
Usually it’s playing sound defense, protecting the boards, playing at a high tempo or even making free throws when they count the most.
This Saturday’s main point on the agenda? Keeping Texas A&M guard Takia Starks from putting on another stellar performance .
Just over two weeks ago, Starks torched the Longhorns for 26 points, with 21 points coming in the second half, in what was a one-sided victory for the Aggies.
“She single-handedly took it to us,” Goestenkors said after the game. “That was tough for us, and we were just trying to play catch-up the rest of the way.”
Just two days ago, the Longhorn, had a similar problem with another explosive scorer.
Oklahoma State’s Andrea Riley went off for 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Cowgirls to a 58-55 upset victory.
“It was a great team win but when it comes to the end of it, we have a big time player and Andrea came through at a big time for us,” Oklahoma State head coach Kurt Bidke said.
Now the Longhorns (19-6, 7-4) will have to find a way to hold another streaky scorer.
No. 14 Texas A&M team is looking to regain its swagger after losing two of its last four games and one can bet Starks will be a major factor for the Aggies (19-5, 7-4).
Starks came out of the locker room after halftime with fire in her eyes during her performance in Austin, as she scored seven of the Aggies’ first nine points in the second half.
Starks took the team on her shoulders, while the Longhorns struggled to stop her from driving to the basket or getting space for jumpers. Even when the Longhorns had a hand in her face, she made shots.
This isn’t the first time she has throttled defenses in the second period. Reading defenses has become a skill of hers.
“The second half has been my half the whole season,” Starks said. “I come out aggressive and basically adapt to the defense.”
Starks’ halftime adjustments has put her sixth in the Big 12 in scoring with a team-leading 15.9 points per game.
The Longhorns have shown improvement since their struggle against the Aggies. Texas managed to reel off five straight wins after the matchup, including two quality wins against then-No. 4 Baylor and then-No. 16 Iowa State, who are still ranked in the top 25.
Meanwhile, Starks has kept up the intesity. After scorching Texas, she followed up the performance with a 17 point, five steal and five rebound outing in a win over Kansas. Two weeks later she recorded 20 points in a loss to Texas Tech where she played all 40 minutes.
Starks has shown she has the speed to beat defenders off the dribble, but her hustle as been an assest. Against Oklahoma State, Texas’ effort was there but still wasn’t enough to pull out a win, a bad sigh for guarding Starks.
“That was one of our keys to the game — to win all hustle plays,” Goestenkors said after the Oklahoma State game. “I really felt like they won most of the hustle plays. It’s a little disheartening, because we take a great pride in our hustle and effort.”
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