No. 4 Texas women’s basketball concluded the regular season on a high note with a 72-65 victory over No. 24 Alabama, propelled by All-American forward Madison Booker’s impressive performance of 21 points and nine rebounds. This victory positions Texas favorably as they await the outcome of the Vanderbilt-Tennessee game to determine their seeding in the upcoming SEC Tournament. A Vanderbilt win would secure Texas the No. 3 seed, while a loss would elevate them to the No. 2 seed.
Despite the win, Texas faced challenges, particularly in the first half where they only managed to score 29 points against Alabama’s sixth-ranked scoring defense. This was one of their lowest first-half scores of the season. Conversely, Texas’ defense shone brightly, limiting Alabama to just 20 points in the first half, marking the third consecutive game where their SEC opponent has failed to score over 20 points before the halftime break.
In the second half, Booker became a force, scoring 17 points on a 7-for-11 shooting performance, surpassing Retha Swindell and Fran Harris to move into seventh place on Texas’ all-time scoring list with 1,813 career points. She is now targeting Vicki Hall’s sixth-place total of 1,831 points, while Annette Smith’s record of 2,523 points remains the ultimate goal for the talented forward.
As the game proceeded, Texas maintained a lead throughout and successfully fended off a late charge from Alabama. With the Longhorns leading 49-37 heading into the fourth quarter, Alabama trimmed the deficit to five points at one stage, but key plays from Justice Carlton, who hit a pivotal three-pointer, and Kyla Oldacre, who made a significant three-point play in the closing minutes, solidified Texas’ victory.
In addition to Booker’s standout performance, Texas received strong contributions from Oldacre and Jordan Lee, who both scored 11 points, while Breya Cunningham added nine points and nine rebounds. Alabama’s Jessica Timmons led her team with 24 points as they struggled to keep pace with the Longhorns.
This victory not only builds momentum for Texas as they head into the SEC Tournament but also strengthens their bid for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With this win, Texas has now defeated 12 ranked opponents this season, matching a feat last achieved by the 2007-08 Tennessee Lady Volunteers.
With the NCAA Tournament selection committee currently projecting Texas as the No. 4 overall seed, the team is well-positioned for a strong postseason showing, aspiring for an NCAA bid that acknowledges their impressive regular-season performance. The Longhorns are set to continue their journey in the SEC Tournament’s quarterfinal round this Friday in Greenville, South Carolina. As Texas seeks to capitalize on their successes, fans remain hopeful for an exciting tournament run.