In Birmingham, Alabama, the air was electric as Rori Harmon, a senior guard for Texas, reflected on the transformative year that had passed since she was sidelined by a knee injury. Unable to participate, she watched from the sidelines as her team fell in the Elite Eight of the previous yearโs NCAA Tournament.
Harmonโs heart swelled with pride as Texas achieved a historic milestone on Monday night. Madison Booker led the charge with 18 points, while Harmon contributed 13, guiding No. 1 seed Texas to a decisive 58-47 victory over TCU, thus securing their spot in the Final Four for the first time since 2003.
โIt was an incredible journey to make it to the Final Four after my ACL recovery,โ Harmon shared. โI was overwhelmed with pride for what I had accomplished.โ
The Longhorns, now 35-3, are set to face the reigning champions, South Carolina, this Friday in Tampa, Florida, in a battle for a place in the national championship game.
Under the leadership of coach Vic Schaefer, Texas finally broke through after failing to win a regional final in his first three attempts. Schaefer, who previously led Mississippi State to two Final Four appearances, looked on as the Longhorns surpassed their national championship-winning record of 34 victories from 1986, a triumph witnessed by former coaching legend Jody Conradt.
For TCU, Hailey Van Lith shone brightly in her last collegiate game, scoring 17 points. However, Texas strategically neutralized TCUโs dominant center, Sedona Prince, limiting her to four points and nine rebounds before she was benched due to fouling out.
Harmonโs primary role was defending against Van Lith. โThatโs vintage Rori,โ remarked Schaefer. โHer passion for taking on defensive challenges is unmatched; itโs what drives her.โ
Van Lithโs remarkable run led TCU farther than ever before in March Madness, taking them to the Elite Eight for the first time.
In the second half, Booker ignited Texasโs offense with 14 points, supported by Harmonโs 11 points from the first half. The Longhornsโ defensive unit stifled TCUโs offensively dynamic trio: Van Lith, Prince, and Madison Conner. While Van Lith was limited to just three field goals, she found success at the free-throw line, making 10 of her 11 attempts.
Prince, who had roots with Texas dating back to 2018, acknowledged the effectiveness of Texasโs strategy. โThey knew how to play against me; I felt a mental block,โ she admitted. Her journey took her from Texas to Oregon after suffering a severe leg injury.
Despite TCUโs valiant attempts, Texasโs relentless defense forced 21 turnovers, bolstered by key plays like Kyla Oldacreโs pivotal interception and successful coast-to-coast lay-up.
Oldacre was fouled during her scoring drive, and her resulting free-throw sparked energy within the team and fans alike, pushing Texas to a double-digit lead for the first time.
TCUโs final efforts, marked by Deasia Merrillโs consecutive points, reduced Texasโs lead temporarily. Yet timely baskets from Booker and Harmon reasserted Texasโs advantage, sealing the victory.
Initiating the game with focused intensity, the Longhorns asserted defensive dominance, stifling TCU to just nine first-quarter points. Despite a late first-half surge from the Horned Frogs, Texas regained control in the second half.
The teamsโ longstanding rivalry added significance to the clash as Texas transitioned into the Southeastern Conference this season, dominating with a potent 15-1 record and boasting Booker as the SEC player of the year.
Employing their season-long strategy, Texas relied on their formidable frontcourt duo, Oldacre and Taylor Jones, to outmaneuver TCU in the paint, winning those battles 24-8.
With their triumph, Texas joins three other top-seeded teams in the Final Four: South Carolina, the top overall seed UCLA, and another strong contender, UConn, which advanced over Southern California.
As the tournament unfolds, Texasโs perseverance and strategic execution promise thrilling prospects in their Finals pursuit.