AUSTIN, Texas — In an exciting matchup, Madison Booker was the standout player for No. 7 Texas, scoring 26 points, which included making a crucial basket with just 27 seconds remaining. This helped Texas secure an 80-76 victory over No. 17 Tennessee on Thursday evening.

Tennessee played without their head coach Kim Caldwell, who welcomed a new baby boy earlier this week and could not travel with the team. Assistant coach Jenna Burdette stepped in as the acting head coach in Caldwell’s absence.

Following Booker’s game-winning shot, Tennessee’s Zee Spearman missed a 3-point attempt with only 7 seconds left on the clock. Rori Harmon then solidified Texas’s win by sinking two free throws shortly thereafter.

Taylor Jones contributed significantly to Texas’s performance, tallying 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. This victory marked an impressive 17-game home winning streak for Texas, dating back to late January 2024, bringing their overall record to 19-2 and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

Ruby Whitehorn was a key player for Tennessee, scoring 21 points, while Spearman added another 14. Booker’s pivotal shot came after Jones and Whitehorn exchanged baskets, the last of which occurred with just 44 seconds left in the game.

Both teams exhibited strong shooting performance, each reaching 50% from the floor. Jones was efficient, hitting 9 out of 12 attempts, while Whitehorn managed 8 out of 12.

**Key Takeaways**

For Tennessee, the team struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded 39-24 and securing only seven offensive rebounds, which is 13 less than their national-leading average. For Texas, Jones’s late layup, resulting from Booker’s missed shot, allowed the team to hold a significant 25-5 advantage in second-chance points.

**Crucial Moment**

A defining moment in the game occurred when Booker made a steal and drove the length of the court for a layup, giving Texas a narrow 74-72 lead with just 1:36 remaining.

**Significant Stat**

Six players from Tennessee collectively made nine 3-pointers, which fell short of their typical output by almost three. Texas’s defense limited the Lady Vols to only 17 attempts from beyond the arc, half of their average for the season.

**Looking Ahead**

Tennessee is set to host No. 2 South Carolina on Monday, while Texas will travel to Mississippi for their next game on Sunday.