AUSTIN -- Kat Nash scored 20 points and No. 10 Texas shook off a blowout loss to Connecticut by beating North Texas 96-52 on Friday night.

After losing 83-58 to the top-ranked Huskies three days earlier, the Longhorns (2-1) had this one under control midway through the first half. Ashley Gayle finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. She also tried to dunk on a fast break in the second half but missed.

Six Texas players scored in double figures.

Freshman Cokie Reed scored six straight points and Gayle scored seven to push the Longhorns to a 30-16 lead midway through the first half. Nash made consecutive 3-pointers from the right corner and Texas took a 44-25 lead into halftime.

Jasmine Godbolt scored 11 points to lead UNT (0-3).

The win was a much-needed confidence boost for Texas. The Longhorns are hoping to make a return to the nation's elite under third-year coach Gail Goestenkors and the loss to the Huskies showed that, despite their lofty ranking, they have yet to close the gap.

UNT was no match for Texas' speed or size. The 6-foot-4 Gayle had little trouble posting up and Nash easily ran off defenders for open 3-pointers in the first half.

Texas hit its first four shots of the second half and Nash's third 3-pointer made it 55-30.

The Longhorns scored 39 points off 26 turnovers and shot 56 percent from the field. Nash was 7-of-10 shooting from the floor and made four 3-pointers.

Texas led by 34 in the second when Gayle tried to dunk on a fast break. She missed, rising just high enough to throw the ball over the rim and draw a giggle from Goestenkors.

TWU 73, W. New Mexico 53

TWU cruised to a 20-point victory over Western New Mexico in the Pioneer Premiere tournament. Sophomore Casey Pool came off the bench and scored a game-high 18 points for the Pioneers.

TWU scored the first six points before missing eight straight field goal attempts. Trailing by a point at 12:54 mark in the first half, the Pioneers outscored Western New Mexico, 26-8, in the final 11 minutes to a take a 17-point lead into the locker room.

Senior Megan Hashman and junior Kayla Weaver scored eight points each in the half and TWU held the Mustangs to just 25.9 percent shooting.  The Pioneers also forced 17 turnovers in the first half.

TWU built a 33-point lead in the second half, when Pool scored 12 of her 18 points. All of her points came from behind the arc as she finished 6-for-10 from three-point range.

Hashman and Weaver finished with 12 points each while senior Jessica Durr led the team with seven rebounds. Senior Keshia Bolds came off the bench and handed out a game-high seven assists. Junior Taja Guerin also contributed with six points, five rebounds and four blocks. Sophomore Jeanee’ Thompson added six points and six rebounds.

“I was happy that everyone got some playing time,” said TWU head coach Beth Jillson. “We struggled a little in the beginning but regrouped and played well the rest of the way.”

The Pioneers (2-0) will face Pittsburg (Kan.) State at 4 p.m. today to conclude the round-robin tournament. PSU fell to Tarleton State 75-46 in the opener on Friday.