AUSTIN, Texas — Aaliyah Moore delivered an impressive performance, scoring 17 points and grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds, as No. 5 Texas secured a commanding 90-56 victory over Arkansas on Sunday in a Southeastern Conference matchup.
Moore, a senior who overcame early-career knee surgery, has faced challenges in the past two seasons due to right knee tendinitis, which often kept her from practice and recently sidelined her for a game. Against Arkansas, she demonstrated her resilience by hitting 6 of 9 shots from the field and contributing five of Texas’s 25 offensive rebounds.
Freshman players Justice Carlton and Jordan Lee provided valuable support off the bench, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively. Rori Harmon contributed 12 points alongside six assists, while Kyla Oldacre added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Bryanna Preston also chipped in with 11 points.
For Arkansas, Izzy Higginbottom was the standout player, successfully sinking eight free throws to finish with 23 points. Carly Keats contributed 11 points to the team’s total.
Takeaways from the match highlighted Arkansas’s difficulties, as the Razorbacks, known for averaging eight three-pointers per game, could only manage three against Texas. Additionally, they struggled with ball security, turning the ball over 25 times. On Texas’s side, starting center Taylor Jones was unable to compete due to head and neck injuries incurred during practice; however, a team spokesperson indicated that her absence would not be prolonged.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Arkansas was within three points nearing the midway mark of the second quarter. Lee’s back-to-back three-pointers ignited a 9-0 scoring run for the Longhorns, who quickly extended their lead to 18 points before Higginbottom nailed a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer.
A noteworthy statistic was Texas’s remarkable defense; Coach Vic Schaefer noted Oklahoma scored 23 second-chance points against Texas in their previous game. In contrast, the Longhorns effectively limited Arkansas to just four second-chance points while securing 28 for themselves.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Thursday. Arkansas will face Auburn, while Texas is set to host No. 19 Alabama.
