AUSTIN, Texas — Madison Booker led the charge for Texas with an impressive 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Taylor Jones contributed 19 points, propelling the No. 1 seed Longhorns to a commanding 105-61 triumph over No. 16 William & Mary in the opening game of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.
By the close of the third quarter, Booker had already secured a double-double, a pivotal performance ensuring the Longhorns (32-3) advanced to face No. 8 Illinois (22-9) in the second round. Illinois had earlier defeated No. 9 Creighton on the same day.
Texas finds itself in the No. 1 seed position for the second year running, having climbed to the top spot in the regular season rankings for the first time since 2004 and securing a share of the Southeastern Conference championship. The All-American Booker also earned accolades as the league’s Player of the Year.
Despite their high seed, the Longhorns faced early challenges against a determined and energetic William & Mary team taking full advantage of their rare tournament appearance. The Tribe (16-19) had never made it to the tournament before this year, and their vigorous approach tested Texas in the early stages.
“We looked like we hadn’t played in two weeks,” remarked Texas coach Vic Schaefer. “We’ve had a long layoff. But I have to commend them. That team was fearless. That’s what I want my team to be.”
At the conclusion of the first quarter, the Tribe was just five points behind at 23-18, but Texas gradually imposed its presence to gain control. The Longhorns’ significant size advantage, courtesy of Jones and Kyla Oldacre in the post and the 6-1 Booker on the wing, allowed them to dominate rebounds and points in the paint. Oldacre ended the game with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
“When Taylor and Kyla are at their best, they are hard to stop. One subs out and another one comes in,” Booker noted. A series of key plays, including Bryanna Preston’s fast-break layup and Oldacre’s powerful movements, extended Texas’s lead to 18 points, effectively cementing their control.
William & Mary’s Bella Nascimento topped her team’s scoresheet with 19 points, reflecting on the game by stating, “We came out swinging, came out fighting. We did everything we could to stay in the game.”
Insights
William & Mary: Although their first NCAA Tournament run was brief, it was memorable. Their First Four victory over High Point gave the Tribe a taste of success. As the only team in the tournament with a losing record, coach Erin Dickerson Davis has a positive foundation to build upon. After the game, the players shared a heartfelt embrace and cheer, underscoring the season’s accomplishments.
“We’re so happy to have had this season, and I’m proud of these girls,” Dickerson Davis stated. “They have laid the foundation. Now we have a standard. We were fighting to get here. We have had a taste of it.”
Texas: Despite the decisive victory, the Longhorns displayed inconsistency throughout, with early sloppy passes and defensive lapses allowing open shots on the perimeter. Even though their place in the tournament was not jeopardized, Schaefer acknowledged the need for improvement as they advance to tougher rounds.
“We’ll need to play better,” Schaefer asserted. “I don’t think anyone in my locker room thought we played very well, and yet we win by 40.”
Key statistic
Though Texas only hit three 3-pointers, they outscored William & Mary 56-22 in points in the paint.
