 "Photo: Lauren Gerson/The Daily Texan")
The Longhorns hope that Tuesday’s game in San Antonio will not be their last trip to the Alamo City, which just so happens to also be hosting the Final Four in April.
The short drive down Interstate Highway 35 is nothing compared to the cross-country flight for the defending national champion Huskies, who don’t mind getting a sneak peek of where they intend to be at season’s end.
Texas has had trouble with the Huskies since their series began in 2003 losing all four meetings, but head coach Gail Goestenkors is ready to end the skid.
“We’re excited [for UConn],” Goestenkors said. “I look at it as a great opportunity. Little things we have been working on are trying to get us prepared for UConn.”
Last time the two teams met was in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, in which the Huskies eased past the Longhorns in Goestenkors’ first year at Texas.
There are plenty of familiar faces who were a part of the loss which ended the 2008 season, including current senior Earnesia Williams who was one of the lone bright spots in the 89-55 massacre.
Williams scored 12 points against the UConn, whose season ended in the Final Four.
In 2008, the Huskies success had much to do with their defense that held top scorer Brittainey Raven to a season low four points.
While Raven and company were having difficulties scoring, UConn shot 60 percent from the field, including Maya Moore, who scored 22 points as a freshman against the Longhorns.
Only five players remain from the Texas team that fell to the Huskies two years ago, while the other five are ready to try to get revenge for their upperclassmen teammates.
“We just have to come out and play hard and play our game,” said sophomore Ashley Gayle, who has never played against Connecticut.
Goestenkors, who has had some success in her career against Connecticut’s head coach Geno Auriemma owned a 2-2 record during her stint at Duke. But she knows what her team will be up against come Tuesday night.
“They are expected to repeat,” Goestenkors said. “We are looking forward to the challenge.”
The game between Texas and Connecticut is schedule to tip off at 8:30 p.m. or 30 minutes following the end of Tennessee and Texas Tech, which precedes the rematch.
Both games are a part of “ESPNU’s Road to the Championship.”
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