By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The bragging rights belong to Texas - not that the Longhorns were counting.

Texas defeated Arkansas 67-50 in Tuesday's NCAA Tournament West Regional second-round game before 3,097 fans at the University of Cincinnati's Shoemaker Center.

Texas plays Minnesota in Sunday's West Regional semifinals at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif. It will be the program's 10th Sweet 16 appearance.

Arkansas and Texas, former foes in the disbanded Southwest Conference, engaged in their first rematch since 1991. Arkansas' series claim to fame is an 82-77 win in 1990 that snapped Texas' 12-year, 183-game conference winning streak.

"(The players) look at that the same as World War II, like it's back in the history books," Texas coach Jody Conradt said. "We sort of went on the premise that this was the first meeting between the two schools, and this is the game that mattered."

Texas (27-5), ranked No. 5 in the final Associated Press poll, ousted No. 24 Arkansas (22-11) in the paint and on the boards.

Center Stacy Stephens, an All-America candidate, was just shy of a double-double in the first half and finished with 16 points and a team-high 14 rebounds.

Stephens had as many offensive rebounds - six - as Arkansas in the first half.

"It wasn't easy at all," Stephens said. "I was just trying to hit the boards hard."

The Lady Razorbacks had no answer for Texas' inside game, anchored by Stephens, 6-foot-2 forward Kala Bowers and 6-2 forward Heather Schreiber. The three combined for 44 points.

Schreiber fueled Texas with her game-high 20 points.

Texas outrebounded Arkansas 52-36, scoring 18 second-chance points. The Longhorns needed the outlet, because they were shooting only 39.7 percent.

"I think we turned them into a great rebounding team tonight," Arkansas coach Gary Blair said.

Early foul trouble on its top player didn't help Arkansas. For the second time in two games, Arkansas leading scorer Shameka Christon was charged with a foul on the game's first possession.

Christon played only 12 first-half minutes and fouled out with 2:20 to play. She scored a team-high 16.

ARKANSAS (22-11) - Christon 6-14 0-0 16, Wright 0-0 0-0 0, Lewis 4-11 0-0 11, Cherry 3-11 2-6 8, Harper 2-7 0-0 4, Moore 0-0 0-0 0, Peterson 0-1 0-0 0, Vaughn 0-3 0-0 0, Pfeifer 1-4 0-0 2, Harmon 0-0 0-0 0, Nesby 1-1 0-0 2, Vaden 2-7 3-4 7. Totals 19-59 5-10 50.

TEXAS (27-5) - Bowers 3-12 2-4 8, Schreiber 9-15 2-2 20, Stephens 8-12 0-0 16, Carey 3-10 0-0 9, Dillard 3-12 1-2 7, Sare 1-5 0-0 2, Norman 1-5 0-0 2, Reed 0-0 0-0 0, Hastings 1-2 1-2 3, Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-73 6-10 67.

Halftime-Texas 38, Arkansas 29. 3-point goals-Arkansas 7-16 (Christon 4-6, Lewis 3-9, Vaughn 0-1), Texas 3-18 (Carey 3-10, Bowers 0-2, Schreiber 0-3, Sare 0-3). Fouled out-Christon. Rebounds-Arkansas 36 (Vaden 8), Texas 52 (Stephens 14). Assists-Arkansas 10 (Harper 5), Texas 15 (Carey 6). Total fouls-Arkansas 16, Texas 11. A-3,097.