GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In an impressive display of dominance, No. 4 Texas triumphed over Florida with an 88-68 victory Thursday night, led by standout performances from Madison Booker and Aaliyah Crump. Booker amassed 24 points, while Crump contributed 14, as Texas showcased their prowess inside the paint, outscoring the Gators 60-30.
The Longhorns, returning from an 11-day hiatus due to a postponed game at Arkansas caused by a winter storm, demonstrated no signs of rust. Booker, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, delivered a strong performance, making 11 of 21 field goals, while also securing six rebounds, and providing four assists, three steals, and a block. Her pivotal scoring in the crucial second quarter allowed Texas to outpace Florida by 14 points within that period.
Florida’s performance was headlined by Laila Reynolds, who led her team with 18 points. Me’Arah O’Neal, in attendance with her Hall of Fame father Shaquille O’Neal, added 17 points. Shaquille, who donned a purple sweatsuit featuring “Shaq,” was seen enjoying the game and engaging with fans during halftime. Florida started strong, leading 19-16 after the first quarter, but struggled to contend with the Longhorns’ height and strength in the paint throughout the game.
This loss marks a rocky point in Florida’s season, now standing at 0-2 during a challenging stretch, having faced No. 6 LSU earlier in the week and upcoming matchups against top-ranked competitors, including a game at fifth-ranked Vanderbilt on Sunday. Historically, no SEC team has faced three top-six opponents in consecutive games within a week during the regular season, illustrating the difficulty of Florida’s current schedule.
Looking ahead, Texas prepares to host Oklahoma on Sunday, initiating a three-game homestand, while Florida aims to rebound against Vanderbilt.
This matchup not only highlighted Texas’s formidable capabilities as they cement their position among the top teams in the nation, but also set the stage for a challenging yet exciting continuation of the season for Florida as they seek to overcome adversity and find their rhythm.