Austin (KXAN) – After running 12 points and having to find the answer to the offensive struggle, the 3rd Texas accomplished it from the foul line against No. 5 Louisiana.
The Longhorns are perfect from the stripes, going 21-21-21, including a 17-17 in the second half, helping them to top the Tigers 65-58 at Moody Center in women’s basketball action in the Southeastern Conference.
Texas head coach Vic Schafer won LSU on Sunday, February 16th, 2025 in an NCAA College Basketball game in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)Texas Guard Brianna Preston (1), coach Vic Schafer, forward Madison Booker (35), and guard Jordan Lee (7) will be LSU at an NCAA College Basketball game held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16th, 2025. Celebrating the victory against. (AP Photo/Steven Spillman)Texas Guard Brianna Preston, left, Texas Guard Lori Harmon won LSU in an NCAA College Basketball game in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16th, 2025.Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) reached the rebound between LSU guards Anesa Morrow (24) and Forward Summer Smith (5) on Sunday, February 16, 2025, in the second half of the NCAA College basketball game in Austin, Texas. I will. .Texas Forward Taylor Jones (44) shoots LSU forward Sa’myah Smith (5) in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Game in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) )Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) shoots LSU guard Anesah Morrow late in the NCAA college basketball game held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025.LSU head coach Kim Mulkey will greet Texas head coach Vic Schaefer on Sunday, February 16th, 2025, before an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas.LSU head coach Kim Mulkey is waiting to greet Texas head coach Vic Schaefer on Sunday, February 16, 2025, before an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas.LSU guard Mikaylah Williams (12) shoots Texas Guard Shay Hall (10) in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Steven Spielman)Texas Forward Madison Booker (35) on Sunday, February 16, 2025, against LSU Guardiana Samorrow (24) in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game held in Austin, Texas.Texas head coach Vic Schafer responds to the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game with LSU in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16th, 2025 (AP Photo/Steven Spielman)LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson (4) drives Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16th, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)Texas Forward Kyra Allcre (00) defends LSU guard Anesah Morrow (24) in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson (4) is defended on Sunday, February 16, 2025 by Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) and forward Taylor Jones (44) in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game in Austin, Texas. AP Photo/Steven Spillman)LSU guard Mikaylah Williams (12) shoots Texas Guard Lori Harmon (3) in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)Texas Forward Kyla Allcre, left, defending LSU guards’ last teer POA (13) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Steven Spielman)LSU Guard Last-Tear POA (13) is about to drive Texas Guard Shay Hall (10) in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Steven Spillman)LSU Guard Flau’jae Johnson (4) shoots Texas Guard Shayhole during an NCAA College basketball game in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16th, 2025.LSU guard Anesah Morrow (24) will reach a rebound with Texas in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16th, 2025 (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)LSU Guard Last-Tear POA (13) celebrates with the team as they compete against Texas in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Games held in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, February 16th, 2025.Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives LSU guard Mikaira Williams (12) in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Games held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Steven Spillman)LSU Guardiana Samorrow (24) celebrates his goal against Texas with Guard Mikaira Williams (12) in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Games held in Austin, Texas, Sunday, February 16, 2025.LSU guard Mikaylah Williams (12) is about to drive Texas forward Kaila All Cre (00) in the first half of the NCAA College Basketball Game held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025.Texas Guard Lori Harmon (3) passes LSU Guard Mikaira Williams (12) in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Games held in Austin, Texas, Sunday, February 16, 2025.Texas Forward Madison Booker (35) took part in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Games held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025, with LSU guards Mikaira Williams (12) and Guard Shane Day Wilson (50) Go to the basket between. .Texas Guard Brianna Preston (1) celebrates his goal with LSU at Guard Lori Harmon (3) in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Game held in Austin, Texas, Sunday, February 16, 2025.Texas Forward Kyra All Cre (00) will reach a rebound with LSU forward Sa’myah Smith (5) in the second half of the NCAA College Basketball Game held in Austin, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman))Texas head coach Vic Schafer won LSU on Sunday, February 16th, 2025 in the NCAA College Basketball Game in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
After filming 19% from the field in the first half, scoring 40 points seemed to be a fruit for the Longhorn. But they turned things around in the second half with 54% effort from the field and over-old toughness.
“A special group of young women. Today’s incredible toughness, everything. Longhorns head coach Vic Schafer said. “We certainly had a three-quarter struggle today. But the fourth quarter was really special.”
Texas outperformed LSU 21-9 in the final frame, earning their 10th straight game. Like great players, sophomore forward Madison Booker has found a way to make an impact when she wasn’t at her best. She scored a team-high 16 points in 17 shootings, but she was a perfect 10-10 point from an 8-8 foul line in the second half.
Rori Harmon overcame a 6-for-6 shooting performance in the first half, hitting two important buckets stretched to keep Texas ahead and finishing with 10 points.
Kyla Oldacre had a Putback bucket just before the third quarter buzzer, pulling Texas within five, 49-44. 5:07 left.
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“I told them during the third and fourth quarters that they were good shooters, but they’re going to bolster and take the shot,” Schaefer said. “We were getting a pretty good look, but they stepped up. I thought they were very tough, and they know how important it is to me.”
Entering the game, the Longhorns led the country by points on paint average, but the Stout LSU frontcoat put a clamp on it. The Tigers outscored the Texas 24-22 in an area led by Anesa Moreau’s 15 points and 20 rebounds, matching Summer Smith’s three blocking shots. Mikayla Williams led the Tigers with 18 points, while Fraughe Johnson poured at 16.
The team attempted to create a 63-21-21 field goal, and the biggest difference came from the foul line. The Tigers were 19-13 on free throws.
Texas took a bit longer to turnaround for Texas, but things started to turn around after Booker took their first shot 40 seconds after starting 11-0.
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Texas ran 8-0 to start their third, forcing Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey to burn a timeout early to help calm things down. It worked and led to a 9-0 LSU run, bringing the lead back to 39-29 with 5:57 left. Texas set the stage for the big final frame by turning the deficit back to 49-44 with the buzzer Aldacre bucket.
Mulkey said he thought the difference in the game was what Texas did to play in stretch. She also said that she should prime the boundaries more frequently than she did.
“When you demand that you be your toughest thing, you have to do and get very difficult,” she said. “Toughness and ability to do it are the ability to do it when it’s crunch time you think it’s a difference.”
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Texas (26-2, 12-1 seconds) took a half-game lead in South Carolina after playing Sunday and is still alive in the SEC regular season title. The Gamecocks had goodbye on SEC play on Sunday, ending South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak, no. Blown at home by 7UConn 87-58.
The Longhorns will face Georgia in Athens on February 24th. This is the first time Texas hasn’t had a mid-week game.
LSU (25-2, 10-2) will host Georgia on Thursday.
Schafer was confused by how the game unfolded. The only way his team could explain how they won the Switch was to “the game respects toughness.”
“We stayed in the fight,” Schafer said. “I haven’t seen a lot of these things. It’s a testament to their personality and who they are.”
Tournament Select Committee Tab Texas as the first seed
Before Sunday’s play began, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee released the expected top 16 seeds for March Madness, and Texas maintained its high status.
The Longhorns are seeded third overall on the committee, making them the top seed for the Birmingham B Regional. LSU was sown sixth overall, with the second seed in the Spokane A region.
UCLA was awarded the top seed at No. 2 in South Carolina.
The committee made its final choice on March 16th, with the first four play-in games being March 18th-19th.
