BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The clash between Texas coach Vic Schaefer’s defensively oriented Longhorns and the offensive powerhouse of Tennessee lived up to its billing in the women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The game culminated in a tense showdown that saw Texas emerge victorious with a score of 67-59, besting their Southeastern Conference rival through staunch defense and decisive plays by SEC Player of the Year, Madison Booker.
Booker led the top-seeded Longhorns with 17 points, including critical baskets in the fourth quarter. Texas capitalized on these efforts to move past the fifth-seeded Lady Volunteers and advance to the Elite Eight. Schaefer emphasized the importance of fundamental skills, which his team relied upon when exhaustion set in during the final minutes of the game.
Jordan Lee contributed 13 points, and Taylor Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds for Texas, which now faces TCU in the upcoming round. TCU secured their spot earlier by defeating Notre Dame, marking their first entry into the regional final. Booker was particularly influential in the final stretch, netting seven pivotal points, including a crucial series of four consecutive points with the game tied at 54.
Tennessee, led by Ruby Whitehorn’s 16 points, managed to keep the contest close, narrowing Texas’s lead to just one point late in the game. However, despite strong rebounding and post play that matched Texas’s strengths, the Lady Vols could not sustain their momentum. They however, managed to lead in rebounds 39-36 and secured more second-chance points, finishing with 15 compared to Texas’s five. Head coach Kim Caldwell expressed pride in her team’s effort and highlighted their focus on rebounding as a key objective against Texas.
Bryanna Preston bolstered Texas’s offense with 12 points and four assists, contributing to a significant 40-point effort in the post. Zee Spearman added 13 points for the Lady Vols, continuing their historic streak as the only team to have participated in every Division I women’s tournament for 43 consecutive years. During Booker’s extended break in the second quarter due to early foul trouble, Tennessee outscored Texas 17-13, though the Longhorns maintained a lead of 34-30 at halftime.
Despite what Schaefer described as not being their finest performance, the Longhorns effectively shut down Tennessee’s offensively gifted team, which averages 87.5 points per game, holding them to nine points in the final quarter while forcing crucial turnovers. Texas senior guard Rori Harmon attributed this success to the collective will and determination of the team, emphasizing accountability and leadership.
One memorable moment came late in the third quarter when Spearman lost her shoe in the play, an incident that was promptly managed by guard Sara Puckett, who assisted her teammate while simultaneously managing to execute a block. The Longhorns have shown resilience and strength against Southeastern Conference teams throughout the season, improving to 18-2, including a prior win over Tennessee.
Schaffer remarked on the rigorous nature of the SEC, likening the teams to WNBA-ready squads due to their athleticism and coaching quality. His sentiment encapsulated the challenging path Texas has faced, making their victory over Tennessee all the more impressive.