Ariel Atkins scored 16 points and No. 8 Texas used an overwhelming first quarter Saturday to cruise to a 92-65 win over No. 22 TCU and maintain sole possession of second place in the Big 12.
The Horned Frogs earned an upset win in their first matchup with Texas in January, but were swamped by the Longhorns in the early going in the rematch. Atkins swished an early 3-pointer and scored eight as Texas led 27-4 after the first quarter. TCU made just one basket and had seven turnovers in the first eight minutes.
Atkins had three 3-pointers and Texas 50-24 by halftime behind pressure defense that strangled the Horned Frogs on offense and blocked seven shots in the first half.
The Longhorns stretched the lead as high as 36 points in the third quarter, even as coach Karen Aston emptied her bench and used multiple lineups on the court.
Brooke McCarty added 16 points for the Longhorns (18-4, 9-2), who trail Big 12 leader No. 3 Baylor by two games. After a mid-season slump, last season's Big 12 player of the year has averaged nearly 14 points over the last six games.
Lauren Heard scored 18 points for TCU (16-6, 7-4), which hasn't beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 2008.
UP NEXT
TCU hosts No. 23 Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
Texas plays at No. 21 West Virginia on Monday.
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