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April 3, 2012
Aston hired as women's basketball coach
The first time Karen Aston came to Texas to coach women’s basketball, she left the University of North Texas to get here.
And now, after a six-year absence, she’s following the same path again.
Aston, the former Longhorns assistant coach who was responsible for the recruitment of the core of Texas’ 2003 Final Four team, now gets her chance to lead the entire program.
The 47-year-old former head coach of North Texas was introduced Tuesday as Texas’ next head coach. She succeeds Gail Goestenkors, who resigned/retired on March 19.
Why Aston?
“Karen has been a winner wherever she’s been,” UT women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky said. “She’s an aggressive recruiter that operates with total integrity, and players that have come through her system have always been impressive with how hard they play. Karen’s teams have always found ways to overachieve.”
Aston’s contract at Texas runs through the 2017 season.
Aston, who was an assistant at Texas from 1998 to 2006, led the Longhorns’ recruitment of several of the program’s top players of the past 10 years, including Tiffany Jackson, Erika Arriaran, Stacy Stephens and Heather Schreiber.
After leaving Texas in 2006, Aston spent one season as Baylor’s associate head coach, under Kim Mulkey. She spent four years as the head coach of Charlotte —- leading the 49ers to four straight postseason appearances and the 2009 Atlantic 10 tournament championship —- and last season at North Texas, where she turned around a 5-25 team from 2011 into a 15-16 squad in 2012.
“When I moved back to this state last year, part of that reason was to return to the scene of Texas recruiting, because I think Texas basketball is some of the very best out there,” Aston said. “Being a Longhorn means excellence. It’s everything that every person in this state wants to be.”
Aston inherits two notable recruits for next season —- Duncanville shooting guard Empress Davenport and 6-7 post Imani Stafford, from Los Angeles.
They’ll blend in with returning players Chassidy Fussell, Cokie Reed, Chelsea Bass, Cassie Peoples and Tiffany Moore. Texas went 18-14 this season, falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
A little about Aston:
Currently the head coach at the University of North Texas.
47 years old
Coached under Jody Conradt as a Texas assistant from 1998-2006, and also is a two-time assistant at Baylor (1994-96, 2006-07), including a one-year stint as Mulkey’s associate head coach in 2007; Aston has coached under three Naismith basketball hall of fame coaches (Conradt, Mulkey, Sonja Hogg)
Former head coach at Charlotte (2007-11)
In her first season at UNT, led a team that had gone 5-25 in 2011 to a 15-16 mark in 2012
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April 2, 2012
UT will introduce new women's coach Tuesday
UPDATE: Texas has called an 11 a.m. press conference on Tuesday to announce the new head coach.
North Texas’ Karen Aston remains the overwhelming favorite.
A little about Aston:
Currently the head coach at the University of North Texas.
47 years old
Coached under Jody Conradt as a Texas assistant from 1998-2006, and also is a two-time assistant at Baylor (1994-96, 2006-07), including a one-year stint as Mulkey’s associate head coach in 2007; Aston has coached under three Naismith basketball hall of fame coaches (Conradt, Mulkey, Sonja Hogg)
Former head coach at Charlotte (2007-11)
In her first season at UNT, led a team that had gone 5-25 in 2011 to a 15-16 mark in 2012
The University of Texas Board of Regents, meeting via teleconference Monday morning, authorized women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky to negotiate an employment contract with a women’s basketball coach.
However, the regents did not mention a possible candidate when they reconvened from executive session into an open meeting.
The only agenda item during the 14-minute meeting was the hiring of a women’s basketball coach.
The new coach still is believed to be Karen Aston, a former assistant under Jody Conradt. Aston also was an assistant with Baylor’s Kim Mulkey. The coach of the Lady Bears, whose team plays for the national championship Tuesday night, announced over the weekend that Aston told her she is taking the Longhorns job.
Plonsky was not available for comment after the regents met Monday.
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March 17, 2012
West Virginia tops Texas 68-55
NORFOLK, Va. - Taylor Palmer came off the bench to score 18 points and West Virginia defeated Texas 68-55 in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Constant Center.
Texas (18-14) could not penetrate West Virginia’s aggressive defense, shooting just 28 percent from the field (19 of 68). Center Ashley Gayle, playing her last college game, led the team with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Texas trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, but cut the margin to 51-48 on a three-pointer by Yvonne Anderson with 5:40 remaining. Ashleigh Fontenette had a chance to tie on UT’s ensuing possession, but her three-pointer rattled off the rim.
West Virginia (24-9) went on an 8-0 scoring spree over the next three possessions to pull away. The Mountaineers outscored Texas 17-7 after Anderson’s three-pointer.
This also marked the final college game forLonghorn seniors Ashleigh Fontenette (10 points) and Yvonne Anderson (7 points, 6 rebounds).
This was UT’s fourth straight first-round exit in the NCAA basketball tournament.
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March 12, 2012
Horns a 9th seed in women's tourney
The Texas women will be a No. 9 seed in this year’s NCAA women’s tournament.
The Longhorns (18-13), placed in the West Region, will meet No. 8 seed West Virginia in the opening round of the tournament, at 10 a.m. Saturday in Norfolk, Va.
The winner of that game would face either No. 1 seed Stanford or 16th-seeded Hampton.
If it’s Stanford, it’ll be a coming full circle type of second-round matchup. Texas lost 72-59 to the Cardinal in the second game of the season, back on Nov. 11.
Texas has lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament for three straight years.
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August 23, 2011
Coach G, on Summitt: 'Stunned, absolutely stunned'
Longhorns women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors said she was “stunned, absolutely stunned” to hear about Pat Summitt, the legendary Tennessee coach who has revealed that she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia.
Summitt, 59, says she will continue to coach the Lady Vols even though she knows she’ll have “limitations.”
Texas is scheduled to play at Tennessee on Dec. 4.
Goestenkors and Summitt spent three days together last month watching the U.S. national team in Colorado Springs, sharing meals and evaluating players.
“Pat has rheumatoid arthritis, and I could see it was a strain for her to walk,” Goestenkors said Tuesday. “You could tell that she has slowed down. But mentally, she was sharp as a tack.”
Goestenkors, who has known Summitt for about 25 years, said she was not surprised to hear the Tennessee coach intends to continue coaching.
“She has always loved challenges and is very competitive, on and off the court,” she said. “I know she’s going to take this challenge and attack it full-force. She’s got great assistants, and I know they’ll help her when she needs it.”
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February 24, 2011
Nash will wear a protective mask
After breaking her nose for the second time this month in Monday’s overtime loss at Iowa State, senior women’s player Kathleen Nash has decided to wear a protective mask for the remainder of the season.
Before practice Thursday, the 6-2 guard said she doesn’t want to risk further damage. Nash, whose nose was broken by a male practice player on Feb. 3, had steadfastly refused to wear a protective mask in games, saying it is too uncomfortable.
That changed Monday, when Nash was hit on the bridge of her nose by an opponent’s elbow during overtime of the Iowa State game. Nash doubled over in pain while game officials checked video to see if the elbow was deliberately thrown.
The hit was accidental, they ruled, and Nash stayed in the game, finishing with a team-high 15 points.
Before Thursday’s practice, Nash’s nose was visibly bruised and swollen.
Nash has played without a mask for six games, beginning with an 80-68 victory over Kansas on Feb. 5. She did wear a protective mask in practice, though.
Nash averages 14.1 points per game and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds a game.
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December 29, 2010
Texas women edge Cincinnati, 80-77
SAN DIEGO —- Chassidy Fussell scored 20 points, including a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left, to help No. 23 Texas beat Cincinnati 80-77 in the Maggie Dixon Surf ‘n Slam Classic on Tuesday night.
Yvonne Anderson, who had a team-high 21 points for the Longhorns (9-3), dribbled the ball to the top of the key and sent a perfect bounce pass to the right of the arc, where Fussell made her fourth 3-pointer of the game.
The Bearcats’ desperation shot at the buzzer fell short.
Jeanise Randolph had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Cincinnati, which also got 20 points from Shareese Ulis.
Kathleen Nash had 15 points and nine rebounds for Texas.
The game was tied seven times with nine lead changes. Cincinnati (6-5) battled back from a 10-point deficit in the second half before falling short.
The Longhorns will face host San Diego on Thursday in the championship game.
— By The Associated Press
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October 5, 2010
Cokie Reed out for the year
Sophomore post Cokie Reed, who was named to last year’s Big 12 All-Freshman Team, will miss the upcoming season for the Texas women’s basketball team, it was announced Tuesday.
Reed underwent surgery to remove an extra bone and repair a tendon on her right foot last Friday, women’s athletic trainer Tina Bonci confirmed.
Reed averaged more than 16 minutes a game as a freshman last year, averaging 8.8 points and 4.6 rebounds.
“My heart goes out to Cokie and our entire team,” head coach Gail Goestenkors said. “Cokie made some huge strides this summer, and we were looking forward to her becoming an impact player for us this season.”
Texas opens its season Nov. 12 against Mississippi Valley State, the first of four straight home games before the Longhorns’ first big test of the season, at Stanford on Nov. 28.
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May 27, 2010
Big 12 rules women's hoops attendance
The Big 12, buoyed by the like of historical and recent women’s basketball powers like Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, once again led the nation in women’s hoops attendance, the NCAA’s number crunchers announced Thursday.
The Big 12 drew more than one million fans for the fifth time, and set a national overall attendance record for the second straight year. And it led the country for the 11th straight year.
Texas, which drew 78,539 total fans and averaged 4,909 every home game, ranked seventh in the Big 12 and 17th nationally.
Here’s a look at the top five conferences for the 2009-10 season, in terms of attendance:
1. Big 12: Total — 1,091,289; Average — 5,247
2. SEC: Total — 740,993; Average — 4,005
3. Big Ten: Total — 735,453; Average — 3,997
4. Big East: Total — 778,916; Average — 2,996
5. ACC: Total — 568,184; Average — 2,719
As far as the Big 12 goes:
1. Iowa State: Total — 177,002; Average — 9,316
Iowa State ranked third nationally.
2. Oklahoma: Total — 122,902; Average — 7,681
The Sooners ranked sixth nationally.
3. Nebraska: Total — 118,232; Average — 7,390
The Huskers ranked seventh nationally.
4. Baylor: Total — 122,550; Average — 7,209
Baylor ranked eighth nationally.
5. Texas Tech: Total — 129,896; Average — 6,837
Tech ranked 10th nationally.
6. Texas A&M: Total — 72,165; Average — 5,155
The Aggies were 15th nationally.
7. Texas: Total — 78,539; Average — 4,909
The Horns ranked 17th nationally.
8. Kansas State: Total — 60,137; Average — 4,009
K-State was 25th nationally.
9. Kansas: Total — 68,892; Average — 3,772
10. Oklahoma State: Total — 45,891; Average — 2,699
11. Colorado: Total — 43,324; Average — 2,407
12. Missouri: Total — 27,347; Average — 1,609
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May 5, 2010
Horns assistant coach headed to Tennessee
Mickie DeMoss, who spent 18 years as Pat Summitt’s assistant coach at Tennessee and another four years as Kentucky’s head coach before joining Gail Goestenkors at Texas in 2007, is leaving the Horns to rejoin the Vols as an assistant.
“In her three years with us, Mickie has helped build a strong foundation for the future of Texas women’s basketball,” Goestenkors said Wednesday in a statement. “We understand her desire to return home at this stage of her career, and Tennessee is where she considers home …”
DeMoss, 54, went 22-34 in her four seasons at Kentucky, leading the Wildcats to one NCAA tournament berth and two WNIT appearances.
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April 12, 2010
Jackson's father, AAU coach dies
Marques Jackson, longtime AAU club coach and father of former University of Texas All-America basketball player Tiffany Jackson, has died.
The program director of DFW Elite, Jackson helped develop many girls basketball players, including his daughter Tiffany, a member of the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Among the girls who have gone through his Elite team are Texas senior Brittainey Raven, Texas juniors Kathleen and Kristen Nash, Texas freshman Cokie Reed, Baylor freshman center Brittney Griner and Texas A&M’s Takia Sparks.
Jackson died Sunday morning. He was 46.
DFW Elite gained recognition when the team, led by Raven, won the Adidas Showtime Nationals in Atlanta. Two years later the club signed with Nike and continued to prosper in national tournaments.
A funeral service will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, in Dallas. A wake service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the church on 3715 South Westmoreland Road.
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April 8, 2010
Raven drafted by WNBA's Atlanta Dream
Brittainey Raven was the 33rd pick of the WNBA draft Thursday, going to the Atlanta Dream in the third round.
The Longhorn guard is the ninth Texas player to be drafted by the WNBA, which has been in existence since 1997.
“To hear my name called to play in the WNBA is a dream come true,” Raven said. “I’ve worked for this moment my entire life, and I’m grateful and honored to have the opportunity to take my game to the next level with the Atlanta Dream.”
Raven, a rare, four-year starter, is No. 12 on UT’s all-time scoring list. She averaged 14.6 points per game her senior year, with 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
“Brittainey is so athletic, and this is a league that depends on speed and quickness which are two of her specialties,” Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors said. “She not only plays offense and runs the floor, but she has a very good mind for the game of basketball. Brittainey will fit in very well with the Atlanta Dream.”
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March 4, 2010
Baylor's Griner suspended for UT game
Baylor’s Brittney Griner has been suspended for Sunday’s game against Texas after she was ejected during Wednesday night’s 69-60 win over Texas Tech for punching a Red Raiders player.
The Big 12 is deciding whether to suspend her for more than just Sunday’s game.
Griner reportedly broke Jordan Barncastle’s nose in the second half, after the players began pushing each other in the low post. Griner punched Barncastle in the face. She was ejected from the game.
The first time Texas and Baylor played this season, Griner had 21 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in Texas’ 61-50 win in Austin on Jan. 31.
On Thursday, Barncastle’s father — Doug Barncastle — said he was unsure about Jordan Barncastle’s playing status for the rest of the season. He’s coaching the Martin’s Mill High School girls basketball team in this week’s UIL state tournament.
Martin’s Mill won its Class A state semifinal on Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate,” Doug Barncastle said of the punch, speaking to Rick Cantu after Martin’s Mill’s win. “I don’t think this is a bright spot in women’s basketball.”
Before heading to Texas Tech, Jordan Barncastle led Martin’s Mill to state championships in 2006 and 2008.
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February 26, 2010
Nash will return for fifth season
Senior forward Kristen Nash will return next season, it was announced today.
Nash, who will graduate in May, received a medical redshirt for her 2006-07 season, when she suffered a season-ending stress fracture on her foot.
It means that she and her younger sister, Kathleen Nash, will both be seniors next year.
“We’re so happy that Kristen has decided to come back for her fifth year,” head coach Gail Goestenkors said. “We feel like she’s really just beginning to blossom as a player.”
Nash has started three games this year, averaging 4.4 rebounds a game with 10 steals, 16 assists and 17 blocks. She averages about 15 minutes of playing time a game.
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July 21, 2009
Longhorn women to face UConn, Tennessee
Texas women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors called her 2009-10 schedule released Tuesday “one of the most difficult schedules I have ever had.”
The Longhorns will face defending champion Connecticut as part of the ESPNU Road to the Championship doubleheader on Nov. 17 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The nonconference schedule also includes three games against Mississippi State, USC and Rutgers at the Paradise Jam Tourney in the Virgin Islands.
Texas’ traditional matchup against Tennessee is set for Dec. 6 in Knoxville.
The season begins Nov. 13.
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March 17, 2009
Broken finger won't sideline Cortijo
Texas point guard Carla Cortijo fractured her left index finger in three places last week, but she is expected to play Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Coach Gail Goestenkors said Tuesday that Cortijo, a senior, will have surgery to repair her finger after the basketball season.
Cortijo, who is right-handed, broke her finger late in the final minute of the Longhorns’ dramatic win over Missouri in the opening round of the Big 12 Conference tournament. She played a day later, starting in UT’s 59-55 loss to Iowa State, but she scored only five points in 16 minutes.
Texas will meet Mississippi State in the opening round of the NCAAs. The Longhorns returned to practice Tuesday, after taking off three days.
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March 12, 2009
Texas women rally to beat Missouri
Texas turned up the defensive heat late, forcing Missouri to throw away three straight inbounds passes to erase a seven-point deficit and going on to beat the Tigers 62-59 in the Big 12 tournament Thursday.
Missouri led 59-52 after hitting seven straight free throws, but Earnesia Williams hit two free throws, then grabbed a deflected inbounds pass and turned it into a three-point play. After a steal, Carla Cortijo hit a layup then Brittainey Raven scored the game-winning layup with 22.8 seconds left off the third turnover.
Sixth-seeded Texas advances to face third seed Iowa State in a 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal game Friday.
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March 9, 2009
4 Longhorns get women's all-conference honors
Texas guard Brittainey Raven was named second-team, All Big 12 Conference as selected by the league’s coaches.
It was the second straight year Raven made the second team.
In addition, guard Ashleigh Fontenette made the conference’s all-freshmen team.
Point guard Carla Cortjo and guard/forward Kat Nash were named as honorable mentions.
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March 5, 2009
4 Longhorns earn all-academic, all-conference
Sophomore Kat Nash earned first-team all-academic, all-conference for Big 12 women’s basketball.
Three other Longhorns — Kristen Nash, Earnesia Williams and Aubry Cook — were selected to the second team. Kat and Kristen Nash are sisters.
First-teamers have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.2 for the past two semesters, while those who make the second team must earn a minimum of 3.0. Players also must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s games to earn a spot.
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February 15, 2009
Texas beats Iowa State for 5th straight win
Earnesia Williams’ layup with 25 seconds to go allowed Texas a come-from-behind, 55-52 road win over Iowa State Sunday.
The game was sealed at 10 seconds, when Carla Cortijo hit two free throws.
It was the Longhorns’ fifth straight victory, allowing them to move into a tie for third-place with Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference standings.
Texas is 19-5 and 7-3. Iowa State dropped to 18-6 and 6-4. It was the Cyclones’ first loss at home this season.
Guard Erika Arriaran, coming off the bench, scored 16 points, with 13 of them coming in the second half. The Longhorns’ bench outscored Iowa State’s subs, 39-4.
Texas returns home Wednesday for a game against Oklahoma State.
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February 8, 2009
Texas whips Texas Tech
Texas, using revenge as motivation, cruised to a 77-46 victory over Texas Tech Sunday at the Erwin Center.
The Longhorns lost on the road to Tech to kick off Big 12 Conference play a mmonth ago. Officials negated a Texas three-point basket with three seconds to go that likely would have won the game.
Sunday’s game never was in doubt, especially after the Longhorns used a 29-9 run to close the first half.
The margin was UT’s largest over Tech in 19 years.
Forward Earnesia Williams, who lost her starting job three games ago, led all scorers with 16 points. Reserve guard Erika Arriaran also was in double figures with 11 points. Kat Nash also scored 10.
The win was UT’s third straight. The Longhorns are 17-5 and 5-3 in Big 12 Conference play. Tech fell to 13-9 and 3-5.
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February 5, 2009
Texas coasts to win over Oklahoma State
Longhorn guard Brittainey Raven broke out of her scoring funk Thursday in leading Texas to an easy, 91-74 road win over Oklahoma State.
Raven scored 26 points after failing to register in double figures in the previous four games.
Freshman guard Ashleigh Fontenette scored 16 points with a perfect evening of shooting. She was six of six from the field, with three treys, while converting her only free-throw attempt. Carla Cortijo and Kat Nash each scored 15 points.
Texas killed the Cowgirls with outside sharpshooting. The Longhorns hit 13 three-pointers, which is the second-best total in school history. They were one trey from tying the school record set against Houston in 1994.
The Longhorns also played excellent defense on Oklahoma State guard Andrea Riley, who had been averaging 23 points a game. Riley scored 20, but she made only 10 of her 30 attempts.
No. 16 Texas has picked up two straight Big 12 Conference road wins to up its record to 16-5 and 4-3. Oklahoma State, which was nationally ranked until two weeks ago, fell to 14-6 and 3-4.
The Longhorns return to play Sunday with a home game against Texas Tech.
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February 1, 2009
Texas women upset Baylor
WACO — The Texas women’s basketball team knocked off fourth-ranked Baylor Sunday, 58-55.
Coach Gail Goestenkors juggled her lineup, starting two freshmen and using another as her first player off the bench.
It worked, as the Longhorns broke a two-game losing streak, coincidentally, to nationally ranked opponents.
Sophomore Kat Nash’s two free throws with 6.6 seconds remaining gave the Longhorns a three-point lead. Jessica Morrow’s three-point shot for the Bears missed at the buzzer.
Texas, ranked 16th, improved to 15-5, while evening its conference record to 3-3. The Longhorns have won three straight against Baylor, dating back to last season.
The Bears, losers of their past two games, dropped to 17-3 and 5-2.
Nash and Carla Cortijo each had 11 points for the Longhorns.
Ashleigh Fontenette, a newcomer to the starting lineup, had a career-high eight rebounds with nine points and two steals. Ashley Gayle started at center, helping with the defense on the Bears post players who were a combined seven of 32 from the field.
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January 10, 2009
Tech slips past UT women
LUBBOCK — Texas Tech center Dominic Seals broke a tie with a layup with 7 seconds to play to lift the Lady Raiders to a 65-62 victory over No. 8 Texas on Saturday afternoon at the United Spirit Arena.
Texas had an opportunity to tie or regain the lead in the final seconds, but an offensive foul against Texas forward Kathleen Nash — who did not have the ball — ended UT’s bid for victory.
Tech’s Tiny Henderson capped the scoring with a free throw with 1.5 seconds to go. Texas guard Carla Cortijo’s shot from 60 feet as the buzzer sounded fell short.
Texas rallied from a 13-point deficit in the final six minutes, tying the game on a pair of free throws by Nash with 16.4 seconds to play.
It was the Big 12 opener for both teams. Texas fell to 12-3 overall. Texas Tech improved to 10-4.
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December 15, 2008
Longhorn women crack top 5, send Vols tumbling
Texas’ big win over Tennessee on Sunday sent the Longhorn women moving up one spot in the AP poll, to fifth, and sent the Volunteers in the opposite direction.
For the first time in 211 weeks, Tennessee isn’t ranked in the top 10; the Vols were ranked 11th this week.
Meanwhile, Texas moved into the top five for the first time since Dec. 27, 2004.
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November 5, 2008
Longhorn women ranked 13th by coaches
Gail Goestenkors will start her second season in Austin with a lucky No. 13 preseason ranking from her fellow coaches. Four other Big 12 teams join the Texas women in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll top 25 — Oklahoma at No. 7, Texas A&M at No. 10, Oklahoma State at No. 15 and Baylor at No. 17.
Connecticut, Stanford, Rutgers, North Carolina and Maryland make up the coaches’ preseason top five.
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October 29, 2008
Top recruit from Montana checks out UT
One of the nation’s best high school basketball players will make an official visit to Texas this weekend to learn about Coach Gail Goestenkors’ Longhorns.
Joslyn Tinkle, a 6-3 post from Missoula, Mont., is the nation’s No. 10 college prospect, according to ESPN.com. She ranks as the No. 5 post in the country.
This summer Tinkle was one of four high school players selected to play on the USA Basketball’s 18-under team that compete in Buenas Aires, Argentina.
Her parents both played basketball at the University of Montana. Wayne Tinkle, who is 6-10, is now Montana’s head basketball coach. Lisa Tinkle, 6-3, and her husband combined for more than 2,900 points when the played for the Grizzlies.
Joslyn Tinkle has made All-State the past two years in Montana and is averaging close to 20 points a game this season.
One scouting report lists her as an outstanding three-point shooter who can play the wing in college.
According to ESPN, she is also considering Duke, Stanford, Oklahoma and Georgia.
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October 16, 2008
Coach unveils clothing line
The University Co-Op will be a fashionable spot Friday with the introduction of the Gail Goestenkors Signature Collection.
The Longhorn basketball coach will be on hand at 3 p.m. as her players Carla Cortijo and Kathleen Nash model her line of “casual and career” clothing.
“I’m always up for a new adventure,” said Goestenkors, who is believed to be the first NCAA Division I basketball coach to have her own clothing line.
Longhorn assistant coach Mickie DeMoss predicted the venture will be highly successful.
“It all depends on how it succeeds on a national level,” DeMoss joked. “She can reach out nationally and even within some of the European countries. I’m thinking Paris, London, some of the bigger fashion cities.”
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October 8, 2008
Horns picked second in Big 12 women's hoops
The Big 12 women’s basketball coaches poll came out today — and it looked a lot like the men’s poll. Oklahoma was the top pick, followed by Texas. The Longhorns were one of five teams to pick up first-place votes.
Here’s how they voted (first-place vote in parentheses):
Team…………………………….Points
Oklahoma (7)……………..124
Texas (1)……………………95
Iowa State (2)………………93
Baylor (1) ……………………89
Texas A&M………………….85
Oklahoma State (1)………79
Kansas State……………….71
Nebraska……………………56
Kansas……………………….41
Texas Tech……………….36
Colorado…………………..18
Missouri……………………15
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August 12, 2008
Reserve hoopster Niqky Hughes to transfer
“I decided that I needed to be in a more positive environment and liked the new coaching staff at UNT,” Hughes told the Dallas Morning News. “I will be closer to home and it will be a more positive environment. I will be starting completely new with a new coaching staff.”
The 6-1 Hughes was high school star at Waxahachie but averaged only 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in her time at Texas, playing first for Jody Conradt and then for Gail Goestenkors.
“The staff and I wish Niqky nothing but the best of luck,” Goestenkors said in a statement.
She must sit out the upcoming season and then will have two years of eligibility remaining.
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August 11, 2008
Goestenkors: Trip to China is all business
Luciana Chavez of the Raleigh News & Observer reports that U.S. guard Katie Smith gave assistant coach Gail Goestenkors all the credit for the Americans’ 45-point thrashing of host China.
“It was all her,” Smith said of the coach who scouted the Chinese team for the Americans.
Chavez, who covers Duke, was catching up with the Blue Devils’ former coach in a story she filed today. After Beijing, Goestenkors will be gearing up for her second season as Texas’ coach.
The China trip isn’t about sightseeing or having fun, Goestenkors is quoted as saying.
“This time around it’s business,” said Goestenkors. “We haven’t had time to do anything outside of practice, games, scouting. It’s been videos every day, meetings every day. The last time we came, we had free time to see Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall. This time around, no.”
Goestenkors also expressed interest in head coaching duties for a future U.S. squad at the Olympics. “I want to continue to learn,” Goestenkors said. “You have the opportunity to see new places and do new things. You work with other great coaches you can learn from. And I always bring back some great things when I come home, at Duke and now at Texas.”
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July 25, 2008
Texas women's basketball sets schedule
A day after its Big 12 schedule was set, the Texas women’s basketball team announced its full 2008-09 schedule.
Gail Goestenkors’ second season in Austin will include an annual grudge match with Tennessee, the defending national champs, on Dec. 14 in the Erwin Center.
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April 23, 2008
Two Longhorns subs to transfer
Texas guard Crystal Boyd and forward Rachel Rentschler announced Wednesday that they will be transferring at the end of the semester. Neither player has decided on a new school.
Coach Gail Goestenkors, who is in Beijing with the U.S. national women’s basketball team: said: “I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to coach both Rachel and Crystal this season. I wish them only the very best in their future endeavors and playing careers.”
Boyd played two years at Texas, all in a reserve role. This season she averaged 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 8.7 minutes per game.
Rentschler, as a freshman this season, played in 34 of 35 games, averaging 11.8 minutes, while averaging 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest.
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April 19, 2008
Two recruits are Parade All-Americans
Two Texas women’s basketball signees — center Ashley Gayle and guard Yvonne Anderson — have been named Parade magazine All-Americans. The magazine will unveil its full list in Sunday’s edition.
Both players made the fourth team.
Gayle also was selected as a McDonald’s All-American, and notched six blocked shots in the all-star game, which was conducted during the women’s Final Four. She was the only signee in the Big 12 Conference to achieve the honor,
Gayle, who is from Las Vegas, closed her prep career with three straight triple doubles. In the state championship game, she scored 18 points, with 16 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.
Anderson played the past two seasons in Columbia, Mo,, after her father was named basketball coach at Missouri, She averaged 23.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, three assists and three steals per game as a senior.
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April 11, 2008
Goestenkors set to work with Olympic team
Texas women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors heads to Chicago this weekend — hope she’s not booked on American Airlines — for a three-day training camp of the U.S. Olympic team. Goestenkors is one of three assistants to U.S. head coach Anne Donovan.
After the training camp in Chicago, the U.S. team heads to China for the Good Luck Beijing Tournament April 19-26.
The U.S. squad is led by Lisa Leslie and Katie Smith.
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March 25, 2008
Connecticut eliminates Texas in NCAAs
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The Texas women’s basketball team discovered Tuesday night that it’s difficult to compete against perfection.
Connecticut, the top-seed in the NCAA tournament, played near flawless basketball against the Longhorns, roughing them up in an 89-55 victory.
It was the worst NCAA defeat in school history. The previous low was a 25-point loss to Louisiana Tech in a 1984 Elite Eight game.
The eighth-seeded Longhorns ended their season with a 22-13 record. Connecticut goes into the Sweet 16 at 34-1.
Guard Carla Cortijo led Texas with 18 points, with forward Earnesia Williams scoring 12.
Connecticut guard Maya Moore, the likely national freshman of the year, led her team with 24 points. During a key stretch in the first half, Moore knocked down three straight treys.
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March 24, 2008
Women's basketball tipoff set
BRIDGEPORT. Conn. — If you’re a Texas women’s basketball fan, keep your remote control handy Tuesday night when the Longhorns take on Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
ESPN2 was supposed to carry Sunday night’s game against Minnesota in its entirety within the state of Texas. However, the network often cut away to the Tennessee game with its “whip around” coverage. Meanwhile, ESPNU carried all of the game.
Tuesday’s game with the Huskies is also set for ESPN2. But it is also expected to be on ESPNU. Chances are, there probably won’t be as much whip around coverage, considering Connecticut, an ESPN darling, is the tournament’s top seed.
Tip off is tentatively scheduled for 8:30 p.m. central time. It will come 20 minutes after the completion of the Kansas State-Louisville game, which tips at 6:17.
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March 23, 2008
Longhorns trample Golden Gophers
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The Texas women’s basketball team, after a two-year absence from the post-season, mauled Minnesota, 72-55 Sunday night.
The eighth-seeded Longhorns advance to Tuesday’s second round against Connecticut, the tournament’s top seed. Earlier in the evening, the Huskies beat Cornell 89-47.
Texas guard Brittainey Raven led Texas with 19 points. She was joined in double figures by guard Erneisha Bailey, who scored 16. Bailey is the lone Longhorn to have participated in the NCAA tournament.
Minnesota guard Emily Fox was the lone Golden Gopher with any success against Texas. She scored 23.
The Longhorns took a 32-18 lead at halftime with excellent defensive play. Minnesota shot only 17.9 percent from the field. That’s the second worst percentage in a half by any Texas opponent this season. The 18 points were the fourth fewest points allowed by Texas in a half this season.
The Texas win — the Longhorns 22nd of the year — allowed the Big 12 Conference to go 8-0 in first round NCAA games,
The tipoff for the Longhorns-Connecticut game is set for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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Texas women lead Minnesota at half
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The Texas women’s basketball team finished the first half against Minnesota with a 32-18 halftime lead.
The two are playing in a first-round NCAA game, hoping for the chance to play Tuesday against top-ranked Connecticut. The Longhorns are the eighth seed of the Greensboro region; Minnesota is the ninth seed.
Guard Brittainey Raven leads Texas with nine points, while guard Erneisha Bailey has eight with four rebounds. Center Ashley Lindsey has been quiet offensively, but she’s had four blocked shots.
Minnesota’s 18 points are the fewest the Longhorns have allowed since their Big 12 opener against Nebraska, Jan. 9. The Cornhuskers scored 17 that half.
The Gophers also shot only 17.9 percent from the field. That’s the second lowest by a Texas opponent in any half played this season. The opponent low was the 17.1 percent shot by Lamar.
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March 14, 2008
Conradt joins Vitale as Naismith honoree
She’s been out of the game for a year, and the awards keep coming for former Texas coach Jody Conradt.
On Friday, she and broadcaster Dick Vitale were named the 2008 recipients of the Naismith Women’s and Men’s Outstanding Contributor to Basketball awards.
The awards, created in 1982 and given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, honor significant lifetime achievements to the game. Conradt certainly qualifies for that one, given her role in the modernization and popularization of women’s basketball.
(We’ll let others comment on Dickie V’s merits.)
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March 13, 2008
Texas falls in Big 12 semifinals
Guard Carla Cortijo’s last-second, three-point attempt fell short Thursday night, ending Texas’ run in the Big 12 Conference tournament.
The seventh-seeded Longhorns lost to third-seeded Oklahoma State, 75-72. The third-seeded Cowgirls will meet fourth-seeded Texas A&M for the conference tournament title Saturday night in Kansas City.
The Longhorns (21-12) will return to Austin to await their NCAA tournament assignment. Changes are, Texas improved its seeding in the NCAAs by reaching the Big 12 semifinals. The Big 12 is ranked the toughest league in the country by all RPI services. Meanwhile, the Longhorns were 6-6 against ranked teams.
Texas overcame a 16-point, first-half Oklahoma State lead. That’s the same lead No. 2 seeded Baylor owned over the Longhorns in the quarterfinals. Texas won that game by 15.
Texas had four players in double figures — Cortijo and Kat Nash each had 14 with Earnesia Williams scoring 12 and Brittainey Raven 11.
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March 12, 2008
Texas upsets Baylor in quarterfinals
Texas, down by 16 points at halftime, knocked off Baylor 76-61 in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference women’s tournament.
The Bears became the first two seed not to make the conference semifinals in Big 12 tournament history. The Longhorns, seeded seventh, are 21-11. The victory over 10th-ranked Baylor was their sixth over a top 25 team — third over a top 10 squad — this season.
Point guard Carla Cortijo, with 24 points, fueled the Texas comeback. Guard Brittainey Raven had 16 and center Ashley Lindsey scored 15.
Forward Earnesia Williams turned in her best defensive effort of the year with six steals and 13 rebounds to go along with her eight points and five assists.
The Longhorns play in Thursday’s semifinals against the winner of the Kansas-Oklahoma State game. The tournament already has lost the top two seeds in Kansas State and Baylor. Fifth-seeded Oklahoma didn’t survive the opening round.
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March 7, 2008
Raven earns Big 12 honors
Texas sophomore Brittainey Raven was chosen Friday for second-team all-Big 12 honors.
A whopping 10 conference players made the all-Big 12 first team, and a more basketball-like five were chosen for the second team.
Among the first-teamers was Del Valle product Angela Tisdale of Baylor. See the whole list here.
Kansas State’s Deb Patterson was named coach of the year, and Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris was chosen as player of the year.
Other superlative winners:
Newcomer of the year: Dominic Seals, Texas Tech
Freshman of the year: Danielle Robinson, Oklahoma
Defensive player of the year: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Sixth man award: Morenike Atunrase, Texas A&M
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March 5, 2008
Texas puts 3 on Big 12 women's academic team
Three Longhorns were named to the academic all-Big 12 women’s basketball team Wednesday.
Kristen Nash, a sophomore education major, was a first-team selection by virtue of having a GPA of 3.2 or better. Teammates Carla Cortijo and Earnesia Williams were named to the second team, signifying GPAs over 3.0.
Across the Big 12, 27 players received first-team status, and 10 made the second team.
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February 20, 2008
Women's hoops recruit Ashley Gayle makes all-America teams
The honors are piling in for Texas signee Ashley Gayle, a 6-4 post player from Las Vegas.
She was named a McDonald’s All-American on Tuesday, meaning she will participate in the annual prep all-star game March 26. Gayle is the only Big 12 signee to make the McDonald’s squad and is the sixth Longhorn recruit so honored in six years.
She’ll also play in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association High School All-American Game in April at the Women’s Final Four.
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January 29, 2008
'Giant Steps' for Conradt tonight
Jody Conradt is traveling to Orlando, Fla., today to receive a Giant Steps Award from the National Consortium for Academics and Sports, a group that pushes for greater balance between the on- and off-court sides of college athletics.
Conradt, the Hall of Fame basketball coach who retired after last season, will be one of seven people and groups honored at a banquet tonight. The others are Rutgers basketball coach Vivian Stringer, former soccer player and broadcaster Julie Foudy, Army veteran Johnnie Williams, siblings and Boston University athletes Brittany and A.J. Detwiler; Montclair State basketball player Maurice Torres; and the Miracle League organization.
Conradt is the fourth Longhorn-related winner of an award from the group, joining track coach Bev Kearney; former women’s athletics director Donna Lopiano and former football player Priest Holmes.
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January 8, 2008
Memorable first trip for Goestenkors
Coach Gail Goestenkors’ first Big 12 road trip has been memorable, and her Longhorns have yet to even tip off against Nebraska.
The memories were made when the team charter slowly skidded about 20 yards off the runway after it landed in Lincoln Tuesday evening.
There were no injuries. But emergency personnel nearly had the team exit the plane by using a chute. Since the skid was in such slow motion, there wasn’t much panic.
Firemen eventually brought over a set of stairs. The plane needed to be towed, since it was stuck, three-feet deep in the snow and mud, and about 500 yards away from its intended gate.
UT and Nebraska meet Wednesday night at 7.
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November 1, 2007
Mergerson dismissed from women's basketball team
New Texas women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors has dismissed senior center Mariana Mergerson from the team.
The team made the announcement about 30 minutes before the start of Texas’ first exhibition game, against Trinity.
The team did not explain the reasons for dismissing the 6-foot-3 center from Duncanville, who also had left the team last December.
“Coach Goestenkors informed me regarding Mari’s change of status on the team,” women’s athletics director Chris Plonsky said in a statement released by the team. “We support this decision. Mari’s departure concerns program standards. Those standards are historically high for basketball and for all of our programs here at Texas, as are the expectations we have for commitment from our student-athletes. We hope Mari continues to pursue her undergraduate degree at Texas.”
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October 10, 2007
Paris is preseason player of year; no Horns honored
The Longhorns do not have anybody on the preseason All-Big 12 women’s team that was selected by the head coaches, not even among the six players listed for honorable mention.
Oklahoma center Courtney Paris, the preseason player of the year, heads the team. She is joined by Takia Starks and A’Quonesia Franklin of Texas A&M, Jackie McFarland of Colorado and Kelsey Griffin of Nebraska.
Tyra White of Texas A&M is preseason freshman of the year. Dominic Seals of Texas Tech, who transferred from South Plains College, was picked as newcomer of the year.
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Women's hoops recruits to visit
Destini Hughes, the No. 17 ranked senior in the country — and the second-best point guard — according to HoopGurlz.com., has a visit to the University of Texas scheduled for this weekend. Hughes is from Kennendale High, where her father, Vance, is the girls’ basketball coach.
Longhorn coach Gail Goestenkors will receive another point guard next weekend, Yvonne Anderson of Columbia, Mo. Anderson is ranked the No. 42 senior in the nation.
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August 23, 2007
Cortijo back at UT
Carla Cortijo, after announcing plans to transfer to St. Johns, has reenrolled at Texas for the fall semester.
The Texas registrar’s office confirmed Thursday that Cortijo will take fall classes, which start next week.
Cortijo, who will be a sophomore, was the team’s starting point guard last season. She decided in late spring to move to New York to be closer to family.
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June 29, 2007
The Coale case: OU prez says he was misinterpreted
Let’s call it the Coale Case in a Hot Rivalry. That would be the festering matter of whether Texas tried to court Oklahoma’s Sherri Coale to be its women’s basketball coach.
The latest news came Friday afternoon when Oklahoma University president David Boren — the man who started this dust-up — issued a statement saying that his comments had been misinterpreted when he was quoted by The Associated Press. You may remember that Boren was quoted Wednesday as saying, “They offered quite a bit more money than she was making, and she turned them down.”
Boren’s statement Friday said, “I did not ever assert that Sherri Coale was offered any other job. I made a general statement that Sherri Coale, if she would allow herself to be considered, would have many opportunities to go other places. I noted as only an example that the new Texas coach was offered a much higher salary than Sherri Coale now receives. My statements were clearly misinterpreted. My point was she could have numerous opportunities if she would allow herself to be considered, but she is very loyal to OU.”
Texas women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky has said she did not speak to Coale about the Longhorn coaching job, much less make an offer. She’s very happy to have Gail Goestenkors, thank you.
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June 27, 2007
Were Texas' eyes on Coale?
Gail Goestenkors might not have been Texas’ first choice to replace Jody Conradt as the Longhorns’ women’s basketball coach, University of Oklahoma president David Boren suggested Wednesday.
In announcing that OU regents approved raises for several coaches, Boren said Sooner women’s coach Sherri Coale was offered the Texas job.
“They offered quite a bit more money than she was making, and she turned them down,” Boren told The Associated Press. “When people do things like that voluntarily all the time for you, you shouldn’t just take them for granted, because she could have gone to Texas for more money than even this contract.”
OU increased Coale’s salary from $550,000 to $800,000. Texas is paying Goestenkors $1 million.
UT women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky declined comment.
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May 16, 2007
Cortijo is transferring to St. John's
Carla Cortijo, Texas’ starting point guard, is transferring to St. John’s University.
New Texas women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors made the announcement Wednesday.
“It has been hard for Carla to be so far away from her family,” Goestenkors said in a statement released by the athletic department. “This transfer provides an opportunity for Carla and her family to reconnect, and we wish her the best.”
“While we’re sorry to lose an individual of Carla’s caliber and will miss her contributions, I understand that young student-athletes must do what they believe is in their best interest. We’re focused on moving ahead with our rebuilding process, and I look forward to working with the players who are committed to our University of Texas program.”
Cortijo, who made the Big 12’s all-freshmen team last season, will have to sit out 2007-08
This past season, she started 20 of the 30 games she played, averaging 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and a team-high 4.9 assists per game. In league play, Cortijo averaged 8.3 points and 5.8 assists per game.
Cortijo is a native of Puerto Rico, but she spent two years of high school at Bellaire, in the Houston metropolitan area.
With Cortijo gone, Texas has two players who could run the offense — Erika Arriaran and Brittainey Raven.
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May 11, 2007
More Goestenkors hires
New women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors has added two to her staff — assistant coach Lakale Malone and special assistant Shaeeta Williams.
Malone spent five seasons as an assistant at Nebraska, this year helping guide the Cornhuskers to a 22-10 record. She also served as the team’s recruiting coordinator for the past three years. Before Nebraska, Malone also was an assistant at Bradley and Wagner. The native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was a four-year letterwinner at from 1996-99. She spent a year as an accountant/auditor in Nashville before starting her career as a coach.
“LaKale understands the Big 12 Conference, understands all aspects of recruiting and what it takes to build a program,” Goestenkors said. “LaKale has great knowledge of the game, a tremendous work ethic and great passion — all those traits which will be essential for us in our quest to win championships.”
Williams played for Goestenkors at Duke from 1993-98. She was a special assistant to Goestenkors for the past six years. She’ll serve as Goestenkors’ summer camps director and video coordinator.
Malone and Williams are the second and third members of Goestenkors’ UT staff, joining assistant coach Gale Valley. Goestenkors still has two hires remaining to complete her staff — an assistant coach and an associate athletic director for basketball operations.
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May 2, 2007
Coaching staff update
It looks like new women’s coach Gail Goestenkors won’t be bringing any more of her former assistants with her to Austin.
Goestenkors hired Gale Valley, who had been on her staff for 15 years, earlier this week. But Shannon Perry, another assistant under Goestenkors, will stay at Duke and join the staff of new Blue Devils coach, Joanne McCallie.
Tia Jackson, Goestenkors’ third assistant in Durham, is the new head coach at Washington.
Goestenkors has said she also is considering two former assistants under Jody Conradt — Travis Mays and Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil.
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April 30, 2007
Goestenkors hires first assistant
Gale Valley, who was Gail Goestenkors’ long-time assistant at Duke, is following her boss to Austin.
Goestenkors hired Valley, Monday. She is the first hire for Goestenkors, who took over for Jody Conradt a month ago.
Valley spent 18 years at Duke, 15 of them with Goestenkors. She has been one of Goestenkors’ top recruiters as well as her floor coach. She has worked with both guards and posts during her career.
Valley will start immediately.
Goestenkors still has two more hires to fill out her staff of assistants.
In her first nine years at Duke, Valley coached the guards and then moved to coach the post players the next five years. In 2002-03, she moved back to working with the guards.
“I’m extremely pleased that Gale Valley will be joining me at Texas,” Goestenkors said in a statement. “She is an excellent recruiter and has tremendous knowledge of the game. Gale has worked alongside me for many years, and we have a great understanding of each other and a trusted friendship. She will be integral in helping rebuild the great tradition of Texas basketball and helping bring us to national prominence.”
Like Goestenkors, Valley is a Michigan native. She graduated from Michigan State in 1981. She also has been an assistant at San Jose State and Vermont.
She and Goestenkors were instrumental in signing four recruiting classes which were ranked No. 1 in the country.
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April 5, 2007
Women's basketball changes
Recently retired women’s basketball coach Jody Conradt will stay on with the athletic department, probably as a fundraiser.
Women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky said Thursday that she and Conradt have yet to iron out details about what the legendary coach will do now that she’s retired from her on-court duties.
Kathy Harston, Conradt’s assistant for 18 years, will be retained by the athletic department. Plonsky said she’ll probably work in academics.
Travis Mays and Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil plan on interviewing with new coach Gail Goestenkors, who was introduced at a press conference Thursday morning. Both are overseeing the team’s off-season conditioning program and are recruiting.
Goestenkors will be leaving Austin for Atlanta, Thursday. She’ll be honored there for winning the Naismith national coach of the year trophy. She’ll leave for Italy, Friday, but will be back for the first talent evaluation allowed by the NCAA.
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Goestenkors will make a million at Texas
New Texas women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors will make $1 million this season, making her the second highest paid coach in the country, behind only Tennessee’s Pat Summitt.
The Texas System regents approved Goestenkors’ contract this morning. Goestenkors was introduced to the public during a press conference this morning. She was greeted by UT cheerleaders and just about every coach in the men’s and women’s athletic department.
Goestenkors’ contract calls for her to make a base salary of $337,500; a salary supplement of $90,000; $150,000 in product endorsements; $275,000 for media and public relations; $80,000 for summer camp; $60,000 in deferred compensation and an auto stipend of $7,500.
In addition, she’ll receive a $20,000 raise beginning in Sept, 2008.
She is also eligible for $270,000 in incentives.
She can receive an extra $25,000 for winning the Big 12 Conference regular season and for claiming the league tournament title. A top seed in the conference south division will earn her $15,000, as will as earning a top four seed in the NCAA tournament.
A win in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament is worth $10,000. A Sweet 16 or Elite Eight appearance calls for $15,000. Final Four and championship games pay $25,000. If Texas wins it all under Goestenkors, it’s worth $25,000.
She’s also eligible for coach of the year bonuses for recognition in the conference and nationally.
Goestenkors is eligible for another $50,000 in academic bonuses — $20,000 for meeting the NCAA minimum score on the academic progress report; $15,000 if her team’s graduation rate exceeds to the overall student body at UT and $15,000 in the team meets a minimum grade point average.
She’ll also receive memberships to a country club and the UT Club and use of a dealer car.
Summitt makes $1.125 million a year. Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma earns $988,000 in guaranteed money. However, he has a separate product endorsement deal with Nike. That amount is not public.
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April 4, 2007
Goestenkors won't bring entire staff
It’s unclear what Gail Goestenkors plans to do in regards to her new staff of assistant coaches at Texas.
But she won’t be bringing one of her assistants to Austin. That’s because Tia Jackson is expected to be named head coach at Washington. The 34-year-old Jackson had been on Goestenkors staff for the past two years.
There have been 20 head coaching jobs at Division I-A women’s programs come open in the past five weeks. Only a handful have been filled.
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Jackson fifth pick in WNBA draft
Texas’ Tiffany Jackson just heard her name called in the WNBA draft. The New York Liberty made Jackson the fifth pick of the first round.
The draft is being conducted in Cleveland.
Jackson was the first player selected from the Big 12 Conference, with Baylor’s Bernice Mosby picked one slot later.
Duke’s Lindsey Harding, coached by new Longhorn leader Gail Goestenkors, was the first pick.
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April 3, 2007
It's official -- Goestenkors to Texas
Duke athletic director Joe Alleva has confirmed that Gail Goestenkors has resigned to take the job as Texas women’s basketball coach.
Meanwhile, she won’t be officially introduced as the newest Longhorns coach until Thursday morning.
In a statement released to the media this afternoon, Alleva said Goestenkors told him about her decision to leave.
Alleva said: “During the last week and throughout her entire time at Duke, we addressed everything that Gail requested in order to remain our coach for the duration of her career. In the end, it came down to her seeking a new challenge at this stage in her career and her life. We respect her decision and wish her the best of luck in her new role.”
Goestenkors, 44, will replace Jody Conradt, who retired March 12 after 31 years at Texas. Conradt’s 900 victories rank second, all-time, in college basketball history. Goestenkors has 396 wins, but is well on her way to much higher victory totals given hr recent success. Her Duke teams have won at least 30 games in each of the past seven seasons, an NCAA record. The Blue Devils were undefeated in the regular season this season before losing to Rutgers in the Sweet 16. Rutgers plays for the national championship tonight.
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Nothing official on Goestenkors
If reports are true coming out of Durham, Gail Goestenkors apparently is waiting to call Texas until after she tells her team.
A person with direct knowledge of the coaching search said that at mid-afternoon local time, women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky was saying nothing was official regarding Goestenkors coming to Texas.
The Duke student newspaper has reported that Goestenkors will meet with her team starting at 3:30 p.m. today, local time.
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Source: Goestenkors is coming to Texas
Gail Goestenkors has decided to leave Duke to become Texas’ next women’s baketball coach, said a source with knowledge of the decision, The Associated Press is reporting.
Goestenkors, 44, was said to be informing Blue Devil players this afternoon in a team meeting, the Duke student newspaper is reporting.
Goestenkors has built Duke into a women’s basketball powerhouse, winning seven Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year awards and compiling a career record there of 396-99.
She visited Texas last week, when the offer was made.
Officials at the University of Texas would neither confirm nor deny the report. At mid-day, Longhorn officials had no plans to call a press conference Tuesday. Goestenkors has said she would tell her team first before announcing her decision.
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Goestenkors to Texas?
The Duke student newspaper is now reporting that Gail Goestenkors has accepted the Texas job. The newspaper is quoting an unnamed source within the school’s athletic department, saying Goestenkors will tell her team at a meeting in about two hours.
A Texas athletic department spokesman said he could not confirm or deny the story.
Here’s a new update. The athletic department spokesperson for the Duke’s women’s team said he is still trying to confirm whether the story is true.
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Not much new on Goestenkors
As of mid day Tuesday, Texas officials had no plans to call a press conference to announce the hiring of Duke coach Gail Goestenkors.
Chris Plonsky, women’s athletic director, has returned to Austin from a three-day stay in Cleveland, site of the women’s Final Four and coaches convention. Jody Conradt, who retired March 12, was honored Monday at a luncheon for her 900th victory. Conradt is also on her way home to Austin.
Goestenkors was in Cleveland today. It is unclear whether she’ll stay for another day, since she has two players set to be drafted by the WNBA Wednesday. The draft also takes place in Cleveland.
Goestenkors told reporters in Cleveland: “I’m still working through it. I’ve got all the facts and figures, and now, it’s just a matter of feeling it with my heart, trying to wade through how my heart feels and making sure it’s consistent. Sometimes you can become emotional, especially after the tough loss that we had and then I’ve been on the go as well.”
Just going by Goestenkors’ schedule, it would seem like Wednesday is the only clear day she has for some time to make a public announcement. Barring a change in plans, she’s set to go to Atlanta with Lindsey Harding for the Naismith Trophy presentation. On Friday, she leaves for Rome for a trip with USA Basketball. Goestenkors has made it clear she wants to first tell her team of her plans before making them public.
Duke has countered Texas’ offer, although details were not revealed. She would love a marketing director to help boost attendance. And she has asked for the team to be able to use a charter service on road trips. Better practice times also have been a concern.
Joe Alleva, Duke athletic director, was in Cleveland with a large group from the school, supporting Goestenkors as she accepted a coach of the year award. Some have suggested that the countering process started before Texas contacted Duke for permission to speak with Goestenkors. There have been an unprecedented 19 head coaching jobs come open in Division I-A over the past month. Michigan State, Iowa State and Arizona State already have extended the contracts of their coaches to make sure they won’t leave.
“I think Gail is one of the best coaches in the country,” Alleva told reporters in Cleveland. “We want Gail to stay at Duke University. We’re going to do whatever we need to do to make her stay.”
Alleva tried to stay in contact with Goestenkors throughout her two-day stay in Austin last week.
Texas has talked only to Goestenkors. No other name has been mentioned to the search committee.
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March 30, 2007
All is quiet on the Goestenkors' front
Duke’s Gail Goestenkors is still planning on heading to the Final Four today as she contemplates a lucrative job offer from Texas.
It’s still unclear whether Goestenkors has met with Duke athletic director Joe Alleva. The top-seeded Blue Devils were upset in the Sweet 16, but Duke still is sending a large contingent to Cleveland for the Final Four festivities.
Alleva now has decided to go in a show of support for Goestenkors and the women’s basketball team. The athletic department has taken out an ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer to congratulate Goestenkors for her success at Duke and her honor as national coach of the year.
We now have an update on whether Chris Plonsky, Texas women’s athletic director, will be flying to Cleveland as well. She is on Saturday. Plonsky long ago had cleared her calendar to be able to attend, but was unsure earlier in this week if she would go.
Cleveland is also the site for the women’s basketball coaching convention. With 19 Division I-A coaching openings in the past month, they’ll be a lot of schmoozing going on in the hospitality areas.
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March 29, 2007
Goestenkors a no-show at Duke rally
Duke’s Gail Goestenkors didn’t make an appearance Thursday night at a student rally organized in her honor.
According to a story by the Associated Press, several of Goestenkors’ players addressed about 200 fans and told reporters they hoped she would stay with the Blue Devils and not go to Texas.
Goestenkors wasn’t scheduled to arrive back in Durham until early Thursday evening. The rally, which was organized by students and promoted on the school’s athletic web site, was scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
About 30 minutes before the rally was to start, Goestenkors issued a statement through the Duke athletic department stating that she would take several days to decide whether to stay or take the Texas job.
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Goestenkors will take time to answer Texas
As expected, Duke’s Gail Goestenkors issued a statement Thursday, saying she needed several days to make a decision on whether to take the Texas job.
Goestenkors said: “After returning from my interview at Texas, I am going to now take a few days to think about my decision. I think it is in my best interest to talk with the Duke administration, family and staff before making a decision. I have spent 15 wonderful years at Duke, love the university and what it stands for. It has been very flattering to be considered for the Texas job. I have always admired what a great tradition and program head coach Jody Conradt built over the years.”
Goestenkors arrived in Durham, N.C., late Thursday afternoon, after spending two days in Austin, interviewing and meeting with many members of the Texas athletic department from coaches to fundraisers.
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Goestenkors is on her way home to Duke
Duke’s Gail Goestenkors is on a chartered flight back to Durham, N.C. She’s supposed to arrive in time to be the guest of honor for an on-campus rally tonight conducted by Blue Devil fans who want her to stay at Duke.
The Duke sports information department is supposed to release a statement on Goestenkors’ behalf later this evening. It’s expected to say that she plans on declining comment until she makes a decision on whether to accept the Texas job. But as is the case with any job search for a major coach, all information is fluid and subject to change.
Before she makes any decision official, Goestenkors will first inform members of her team.
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Goestenkors update
Duke’s Gail Goestenkors still was in Austin late Thursday morning but is expected back in Durham, N.C., for an on-campus rally tonight.
She has yet to schedule a meeting with Duke athletic director Joe Alleva, but the two are expected to talk when she returns, either this evening or Friday. She’ll likely tell him that Texas offered a significant salary increase to replace recently retired coach Jody Conradt.
Because Duke is a private school, administrators do not have to reveal salaries. On Duke’s IRS forms, the school lists its top five highest paid coaches in the athletic department. She is not among the top five and the lowest of the those mentioned makes $525,000. Several observers have suggested Goestenkors’ salary is closer to $400,000, which would make her the highest paid women’s basketball coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Texas paid Conradt $540,500, which is believed to be only the fourth highest among Big 12 schools.
Chris Plonsky, Texas women’s athletic director, told the American-Statesman on Thursday, “We are within the process.”
Texas has no plans to call a press conference for today. Goestenkors is scheduled to fly to Cleveland on Friday for the start of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association convention in conjunction with the Final Four. However, she does not have to be in Cleveland until Monday, when she’s scheduled to give a speech and pick up an award as the organization’s national coach of the year.
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March 28, 2007
Goestenkors now in Austin
Duke women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors has made it to Austin for her official interview for the Texas job.
She is expected to meet with the eight-person search committee and other Texas officials.
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March 27, 2007
Goestenkors to interview Wednesday
Duke basketball coach Gail Goestenkors will interview Wednesday for the women’s basketball job at Texas.
A Duke athletic department spokesman told the American-Statesman Tuesday afternoon that Texas is the only school to have requested permission to interview Goestenkors, who has also been rumored for the head coaching vacancy at Florida.
On Monday, Duke athletic director Joe Alleva granted permission to Chris Plonsky, Texas women’s athletic director, to speak with Goestenkors about the Longhorns opening.
Goestenkors, who has been friends with Plonsky for about a decade through their ties with USA Basketball, has been at the top of the wish list since Jody Conradt retired, March 12.
A search committee was formed early last week. They met via teleconference last Tuesday and have been notified of the Goestenkors interview.
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Texas gets permission to talk with Duke coach
Texas officials have asked for — and received — permission to speak with Duke coach Gail Goestenkors about the Longhorn women’s basketball coaching vacancy. The Associated Press out of Durham, N.C., quotes Duke spokesperson Lindy Brown as saying that Texas asked for permission on Monday and that Duke athletic director Joe Alleva had granted the request.
Beginning the night that Jody Conradt announced her retirement, Goestenkors has been mentioned as a leading candidate to succeed Conradt. Her top-ranked Duke team was knocked out of the NCAA tournament by Rutgers in a regional semifinal.
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March 24, 2007
Movement on Conradt's replacement?
The season of Duke coach Gail Goestenkors came to a premature end Saturday in the women’s Sweet 16, with the top-ranked Blue Devils suffering an upset at the hands of fourth-seeded Rutgers.
Count on Goestenkors’ phone to start ringing this week. Texas observers have indicated for the past two weeks that she’s been at the top of the school’s wish list to replace coach Jody Conradt. After 31 years at UT, the 65-year-old Conradt retired, March 12.
However, Goestenkors could be at the top of the Florida wish list as well. Florida has been looking for a coach since early March. But job hirings at the major programs have been put on hold until the top coaches finish their seasons. Louisiana State also is in the market for a head coach.
Meanwhile, Michigan State took its coach, Joanne McCallie, off the market Saturday by signing her to a five-year extension. McCallie, who took the Spartans to the national championship game two years ago, had been a hot prospect.
Another coach to watch might be Arizona State’s Charli Turner Thorne. The third-seeded Sun Devils won Saturday to earn a spot in the Elite Eight.
Duke lost its second game of the season in one of the most devastating ways possible. Star player Lindsey Harding missed two free throws with .1 second to go, allowing Rutgers the 53-52 victory. Rutgers did not gain its first lead until fewer than 30 seconds remained in the game. Coincidentally, having Harding on the roster shows that Goestenkors can recruit in Texas. Harding is from Cypress Fairbanks High School.
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March 15, 2007
Realtors pick Conradt for Most Worthy Citizen Award
Three days after announcing that she was retiring as coach of the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team, Jody Conradt was named Thursday as Austin’s “most worthy citizen” by the Austin Board of Realtors. The group will donate $500 to the charity of Conradt’s choice and will honor her at an April 20 luncheon.
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March 12, 2007
Comments on Conradt? Let's hear 'em.
Many have already found the “post your comment” button below. If you haven’t, we’d love to hear what you have to say about Jody Conradt’s retirement from coaching Monday night.
Tributes? Critiques? Suggestions for a successor?
Columnists Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden will share their thoughts in Tuesday’s editions. First, it’s your turn.
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Conradt resigns
Legendary Texas women’s basketball coach Jody Conradt resigned Monday night, just minutes after being left out of the NCAA women’s tournament for the second consecutive year.
Conradt, a member of basketball’s hall of fame, leaves Texas after 38 years. Just Tuesday, she registered her 900th career victory, joining Pat Summitt as the only coaches in the 900-win club. She leaves with a career coaching record of 900-307.
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Horns don't make NCAA women's tourney
The NCAA women’s basketball tournament field was set Monday night — and Texas did not get the invitation it so wanted.
Instead, eight other teams will play first- and second-round games in the Erwin Center on Saturday and Monday while the host team watches from the stands.
Texas finished the season a disappointing 18-14 and 6-10 in Big 12 play. This is the second straight year that Jody Conradt’s Longhorns did not get an NCAA invite.
Instead, the selection committee opted to send Oklahoma and Louisiana State to Austin for the first two rounds.
Oklahoma received the No. 3 seed in the Dayton Region and will face 14th-seed Southeast Missouri State. In the other Dayton Region games being played here, sixth-seed Marquette will face 11th-seed Louisiana-Lafayette.
In Erwin Center games feeding into the Fresno Region, sixth-seed Xavier will face 11th-seed West Virginia at 7 p.m., followed by third-seed LSU vs. 14th-seed North Carolina-Asheville about 9 p.m. One of those teams will advance to the Fresno Region semifinals.
In other women’s tournament selection news, Texas A&M received the No. 4 seed in the Dallas Region but first must travel to Los Angeles to take on 13th-seed Texas-Arlington in the first round.
Baylor received the fifth-seed in the Fresno Region and will face Tennessee-Chattanooga in Raleigh, N.C.
TCU was given the 10th seed in the Dayton Region, setting up a first-round game against Ole Miss,
Prairie View A&M also made the tournament but drawing No. 1 seed North Carolina in the first round.
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March 6, 2007
Conradt enters 900-win club
Tonight’s Big 12 tournament victory over Missouri lifted Texas coach Jody Conradt into even more rarified air. She becomes only the second coach to reach 900 wins.
Conradt’s record in 38 seasons stands at 900-306 — and, with Texas’ NCAA tournament hopes hanging by a thread, the 900th was a big one. The Longhorns won comfortably 70-57.
Conradt joins Tennessee’s Pat Summit (941 wins) as the only coaches to reach the 900-win mark.
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February 5, 2007
Williams is Big 12 rookie of the week
Texas freshman Earnesia Williams was named Big 12 rookie of the week — her second such honor of the season — after helping the Longhorns down Oklahoma and Kansas State last week. Williams scored 13 points against the Sooners and five against the Wildcats, adding 10 rebounds for the week.
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Jackson makes Wooden Award midseason cut
Texas’ Tiffany Jackson is one of 20 players to make the midseason cut list for the Women’s Wooden Award. The only other Big 12 stars on the list are Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris and Baylor’s Bernice Mosby.
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February 2, 2007
Plonsky named distinguished alum at Kent State
Chris Plonsky, UT’s women’s athletics director, has been named Kent State’s athletics’ distinguished alumnus. Plonsky earned a journalism degree at Kent State in 1979. She was a three-year letter winner in basketball and was captain of the team her junior year.
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January 17, 2007
Travel plans for both Longhorn basketball teams are on thin ice
Travel plans remain uncertain for the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team, which is trying to get to Ames, Iowa, for a game that has already been pushed back to Thursday night.
The Longhorns usually travel the day before the game, but they were unable to get out of Austin on Tuesday, forcing Wednesday’s game at Iowa State to be rescheduled for Thursday.
Now, the charter air service that they were scheduled to take on Wednesday may not be able to get closer than Dallas, perhaps forcing the team to take a bus to Dallas to catch the flight.
The Texas men, meanwhile, have been stuck in Dallas, unable to return to Austin after their three-overtime loss to Oklahoma State on Tuesday night.
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January 16, 2007
Texas women's game postponed
The Texas women’s basketball game at Iowa State has been postponed until Thursday.
The Longhorn women were due to leave at 4 this afternoon for Ames, but the icy weather shelved the flight. The game had been set for Wednesday.
The Longhorns will try and leave sometime Wednesday.
This weather system also forced the postponement of the Texas Tech at Oklahoma women’s game, which had been scheduled for this past Sunday.
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Women can't fly to Iowa at mid-afternoon
There is a chance the Texas-Iowa State women’s game could be postponed.
Folks from Texas and the Big 12 Conference currently are talking via teleconference about the Longhorns’ options. They were set to fly to Ames at 4 p.m. today, but the charter flight was cancelled.
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Longhorn women may be grounded
The Texas women’s basketball team isn’t sure if it will be able to leave today for Wednesday night’s game at Iowa State.
The charter service that the team uses apparently doesn’t have proper de-icing equipment. Coach Jody Conradt said the team is looking into commercial airline options.
The Longhorns still have a day to play with since the game isn’t until Wednesday night.
Once In Iowa, the team will receive a break from the ice. But not the cold. Today’ high in Ames is expected to be 11.
The Longhorn men’s basketball team plays tonight at Oklahoma State and was able to travel on Monday.
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January 8, 2007
Arriaran tears knee ligament, is out for season
Texas guard Erika Arriaran will miss the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in Sunday’s 64-61 victory over Purdue.
Arriaran, a sophomore, was the Longhorns’ second-leading scorer, having started every game this season while averaging 10.5 points.
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November 8, 2006
Texas women ranked 25th in AP preseason poll
The Texas Longhorns are ranked 25th in The Associated Press’ preseason women’s top 25 poll, which was released Wednesday.
The Longhorns, who were ranked No. 12 in last year’s preseason poll, are coming off a 13-15 season where they finished unranked and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997-98.
Maryland, the defending national champion, was the overwhelming choice as the preseason No. 1, receiving 47 out of the 50 first-place votes.
Three other Big 12 schools are ranked, including No. 3 Oklahoma, which received two first-place votes. Texas A&M is No. 14 and Baylor is No. 19.
The Longhorns, who received 113 points, open the season at the Erwin Center at 7 p.m. Sunday against Maryland-Eastern Shore.
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October 12, 2006
Raving about Raven: Texas freshman named tops in Big 12
Big 12 basketball coaches have selected Texas guard Brittainey Raven as the preseason freshman of the year. In addition, Texas senior Tiffany Jackson was selected to the preseason all-Big 12 team for the fourth year.
All-Big 12 women’s basketball preseason honors:
Preseason Player of the Year: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Bernice Mosby, Baylor
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Brittainey Raven, Texas
Preseason All-Big 12 Team:
Lyndsey Medders, Iowa State
Kiera Hardy, Nebraska
Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Tiffany Jackson, Texas
Morenike Atunrase, Texas A&M
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August 18, 2006
Tiffany Jackson on Wade watch list
Longhorn senior forward Tiffany Jackson has been named to the preseason watch list for the State Farm Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year. The 6-3 Jackson has beeen an all-Big 12 first-teamer the past two years and received honorable mention on the AP All-America team.
The full Wade watch list is at www.wbca.org.
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July 6, 2006
NCAA picks Austin for women's basketball tournament in 2010
The University of Texas on Thursday was chosen as a host site for first- and second-round NCAA women’s basketball tournament games in 2010. The women’s Final Four that year will be in San Antonio.
UT will also host first- and second-round women’s games in 2007, which was announced previously.
Future NCAA sites in Texas:
2007 — San Antonio hosts a men’s regional. Dallas hosts a women’s regional. Austin hosts women’s first- and second-round games.
2008 — San Antonio hosts the men’s Final Four, and Houston hosts a men’s regional.
2009 — Lubbock hosts women’s first- and second-round games.
2010 — Houston hosts a men’s regional. San Antonio hosts the women’s Final Four. Austin hosts women’s first- and second-round games.
2011 — Houston hosts the men’s Final Four.
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May 4, 2006
Women's basketball top assistant coach is leaving for Baylor
Karen Aston, associate head coach of the University of Texas women’s basketball team who was responsible for signing seven McDonald’s All-Americans in the past four years, will be named the associate head coach at Baylor on Thursday afternoon.
Baylor has scheduled a press conference for 1 p.m. at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame to introduce Aston as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for Coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson. It is the same position Aston held at Texas.
The 2005-06 class that Aston recruited for Texas was ranked as the nation’s best by the All-Star Girls Report. Next season’s incoming class ranked in the top 10 by all recruiting services.
Aston spent eight years with the Longhorns. She was an assistant coach at Baylor from 1994-96 before spending two seasons as an assistant at the University of North Texas before arriving at UT in 1998.
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January 24, 2006
Tiffany Jackson claims Big 12 honor
Longhorn junior Tiffany Jackson has been named the Big 12 women’s basketball player of the week — the seventh time she’s won the weekly honor.
In leading Texas to two wins last week, Jackson averaged 22.5 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and 3.5 steals. She is one of only three players to be averaging a double-double in Big 12 play.
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December 13, 2005
Knee injury will sideline Cortijo
Injured Texas freshman guard Carla Cortijo is expected to miss 10 to 14 days with a knee injury.
Cortijo, who tore her left anterior cruciate ligament last year, complained of discomfort in the knee and was forced to sit out the Longhorns’ 77-56 victory over Stephen F. Austin last week.
The Longhorns are hopeful Cortijo can avoid surgery and return to the court by the time they travel to face Rutgers on Dec. 30.
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November 9, 2005
Longhorn women sign nation's No. 3 recruit
The University of Texas signed one of the highest rated women’s basketball prospects in the nation for the third time in four years on Wednesday as North Crowley guard Brittainey Ravens signed with the Longhorns.
Raven, a 6-1 shooting guard who is ranked the nation’s No. 3 prospect by Full Court Press, a women’s recruiting service, heads an impressive class that also includes Waxahachie guard Niqky Hughes, Plano West forward Kristin Nash and Kountze guard Gabrille Mattox. Hughes is ranked seventh nationally and Nash is ranked 21st nationally.
The signing of Raven continues an impressive recent trend for the Longhorns. Three years ago, they signed Tiffany Jackson, the nation’s top-ranked propsect and last year they signed Erika Arriaran, also the top-ranked prospect in the nation.
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November 8, 2005
Texas women ranked 12th in preseason AP poll
Already ranked 12th by the coaches, Texas picked up another No. 12 ranking Tuesday in the Associated Press women’s basketball preseason poll.
Duke is No. 1, and Tennnessee is No. 2. Texas will face both in back-to-back games next month.
The Longhorns open exhibition play Thursday night in the Erwin Center.
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November 2, 2005
Coaches rank Texas women No. 12
Texas received a No. 12 ranking in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 preseason women’s basketball poll released Wednesday. The poll is voted on by the nation’s coaches; the Associated Press media poll has not been released.
Texas has a tough road ahead to maintain its ranking. Its schedule includes five teams ranked in the top 10, including a date in Knoxville against No. 1 Tennessee on Dec. 1. Three days later, Texas will host No. 2 Duke.
The Longhorns open their exhibition season Thursday night in the Erwin Center.
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October 13, 2005
Texas women are No. 2 in preseason coaches poll
The Texas women, who begin practice Friday night in the Erwin Center, are the No. 2 preseason choice among the Big 12 coaches. Texas trails only national champion Baylor in the preseason poll released Thursday.
Women’s basketball coaches poll (first-place votes in parentheses):
Baylor (6)
Texas (2)
Texas Tech (4)
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Kansas
Texas A&M
Kansas State
Iowa State
Missouri
Oklahoma State
Colorado
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August 12, 2005
Jackson named Wooden Award candidate
Tiffany Jackson has made the list of 30 preseason candidates for the Women’s Wooden Award, given to the national player of the year in women’s basketball.
Jackson was an All-American last year, her sophomore season.
Senior guard Erin Grant of Texas Tech and senior forward Sophia Young of Baylor are the other Big 12 players on the Wooden watch list.
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