Texas women suffer second straight defeat

The 20th-ranked Texas women’s basketball team suffered its second straight loss in the Maggie Dixon Surf ’n Slam Classic on Sunday afternoon in San Diego. The Longhorns fell to Central Michigan 73-65 in the consolation game on the heels of their 86-63 defeat by Iowa on Friday.

Texas (7-4) took an eight-point lead midway through the first half, but the Chippewas (6-6) went on a 15-0 run to pull ahead and carry a sevenpoint edge into intermission.

Texas cut the lead to four early in the second half before Central Michigan built the lead back up to as many as 14 points with 11 minutes to play.

The Longhorns could draw no closer than seven until the final minute, when they cut the gap to four. But the comeback fell short as Central Michigan hit its free throws down the stretch and forced a final Texas turnover in the closing seconds.

The Longhorns were unable to overcome 24 turnovers and 23 team fouls despite outshooting and outrebounding the Chippewas.

Texas freshman center Imani McGee-Stafford had an impressive 18point, 16-rebound performance; it was her fifth double-double of the season. Longhorn guard Chassidy Fussell added 17 points and five rebounds. Nneka Enemkpali and Empress Davenport each had eight points for Texas.

Central Michigan guard Niki Diguilio led all scorers with 21 points, and all five of her field goals were 3-pointers.

The Longhorns will start conference play against Iowa State at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Ames and then return home to face rival Oklahoma at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.