AUSTIN, Texas — In a thrilling matchup, Madison Booker showcased her skills with a double-double, scoring 20 points along with 11 rebounds, while Rori Harmon sank two crucial free throws in the dying seconds, allowing No. 4 Texas to triumph over No. 2 South Carolina 66-62 on Sunday. This victory ended the Gamecocks’ remarkable 57-game winning streak in Southeastern Conference regular-season play that had been active since 2021.
Harmon’s free throws with just 10.8 seconds remaining pushed the Longhorns’ lead from two points to four, effectively securing their victory. A last-minute three-pointer attempt by Sania Feagin of South Carolina failed, and Harmon capped off the game by grabbing the rebound, ensuring Texas’ eighth straight win and their 20th consecutive victory at home, going back to January 2024.
In addition to Booker’s stellar performance, backup center Kyla Oldacre also made significant contributions, scoring eight of her total 13 points in the decisive fourth quarter for Texas (24-2, 10-1 SEC). On South Carolina’s side, MiLaysia Fulwiley led the team with 13 points as the Gamecocks (22-2, 10-1) saw their impressive 17-game winning streak this season come to an end. Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts added nine points each to the score.
While Oldacre excelled in the second half, starting center Taylor Jones recorded 11 points and six rebounds during the first half, helping set the stage for a competitive finish.
Looking at the statistics, it was noted that South Carolina struggled with their shooting, completing only 36.8% of their attempts from the field, which marked their third-lowest shooting percentage for the season. For Texas, Coach Vic Schaefer faced a challenging record of 4-14 against South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, primarily during his tenure at Mississippi State prior to joining Texas.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the towering Oldacre scored back-to-back layups, pushing the Longhorns to a 64-59 advantage with 2:21 left on the clock. This was a clear demonstration of Texas’s dominance inside the paint, where they outscored South Carolina 40-26, and also secured an edge in second-chance points at 19-12.
Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to play again on Thursday. South Carolina will face off against Florida, while Texas heads to Kentucky for their next game.
