AUBURN, Ala. — In an impressive turnaround, Madison Booker contributed 22 points to help No. 7 Texas overcome a recent defeat against second-ranked South Carolina, securing a 74-57 victory over Auburn on Thursday night.
Booker, who had a disappointing game with just seven points against the Gamecocks, showcased her skills by missing only one shot during the first half, aiding the Longhorns to improve their record to 17-2 overall and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
Alongside Booker, Rori Harmon also made a significant impact by scoring 20 points, while Taylor Jones added 15 to the team’s total. The Longhorns demonstrated their shooting prowess, achieving 50% from beyond the arc and an impressive 87% from the free-throw line.
Auburn, struggling with a record of 9-9 and 0-5 in league play, had standout performances from Deyona Gaston and Mar’shaun Bostic, who each tallied 18 points in the matchup. However, the Tigers managed only 38.2% shooting as a team.
In analyzing the game, it was clear Texas reestablished their winning strategy, which focused on defensive pressure and aggressive offensive play. The Longhorns dominated the paint, scoring 28 points, and capitalized on free-throw opportunities by making 20 from the charity stripe.
Auburn’s performance was hampered by the absence of sophomore Taliah Scott, who has been sidelined with an injury since late November. Scott had been averaging nearly 22 points per game over her career, and her scoring void was felt during this game. Despite this, Auburn found a silver lining in their effort to outscore Texas by eight points in the fourth quarter.
A key moment for Texas came when they went on impressive scoring runs of 10-0 and 13-0 early in the first half, allowing them to gain a firm grasp of the game.
Another notable statistic was that Texas forced 19 turnovers during the game, turning those into 17 points. This performance underscored the Longhorns’ status as the leading team in the nation in turnover margin heading into this contest.
Looking ahead, Texas is set to play against No. 8 Maryland on Monday as part of the Coretta Scott King Classic in Newark, New Jersey, while Auburn will host Missouri on Sunday.
