BIRMINGHAM, Ala. − On Saturday afternoon, the Texas women’s basketball team will attempt to ensure that a sweet season is also elite.
Texas is set to meet Tennessee at Legacy Arena in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. With a win, Texas will advance to the Elite Eight round for the fourth time in a five-year span. Tennessee was last an Elite Eight qualifier in 2016.
A No. 1 seed in the “Birmingham 3” portion of the NCAA bracket, Texas is 33-3 this season. Tennessee, which is a No. 5 seed, is 24-9.
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Halftime: Texas 34, Tennessee 30
With Madison Booker sidelined for the final 4:35 because of foul troubles, Texas survived without its leading scorer and actually expanded its lead by two points. Two late baskets by freshman Bryanna Preston kept the Longhorns ahead in Birmingham.
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Four Longhorns − Booker, Preston, Taylor Jones and Rori Harmon − scored six points in the first half as Texas shot 55.6% from the field but made just one 3-pointer. Ruby Whitehorn’s nine points lead Tennessee, which shot 2-for-14 from deep.
2nd (4:35): Texas 25, Tennessee 23
Texas has led by as many as eight points in this second quarter, but Tennessee has clawed its way back into this game. Texas is shooting 28.7% from the field in this quarter, and All-American forward Madison Booker is playing with second fouls.
End 1: Texas 21, Tennessee 13
A short spurt in which freshman Jordan Lee scored five points in a 15-second span helped Texas seize control of the scoreboard in the opening quarter. While knocking down three of her four shots, Madison Booker scored a team-high six points in the first frame.
Six Lady Vols scored either two or three points in the first quarter.
1st (4:37): Tennessee 11, Texas 8
Using a full-court attack, Tennessee ranks eighth nationally with the 22.42 turnovers it forced per game. Texas has already committed three turnovers against Tennessee, which often attempts to keep its legs fresh with mass substitutions. Heading into this media timeout, Tennessee was set to swap in five players for the third time today.
Texas vs. Tennessee starting lineups
Texas starting lineup
G Shay Holle
G Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda
F Madison Booker
F Taylor Jones
Tennessee starting lineup
G Jewel Spear
G Ruby Whitehorn
G Samara Spencer
G Tess Darby
F Jillian Hollingshead
TCU awaits the Texas-Tennessee winner
Whoever wins this game between Texas and Tennessee will advance to play TCU in the Elite Eight. Behind Hailey Van Lith’s 26 points and a 21-point, six-block performance from former Texas center Sedona Prince, TCU (34-3) just recorded a 71-62 win over No. 3 Notre Dame (28-6) at Legacy Arena.
Texas-Tennessee tournament tussle is a rematch
Who is the better UT? For now, Texas has the bragging rights. Two months ago, Texas recorded an 80-76 win over Tennessee in Austin. Madison Booker led Texas with her 26 points while Taylor Jones added 21 points and 14 rebounds. Tennessee, which was playing without head coach Kim Caldwell on the bench, got 21 points from junior guard Ruby Whitehorn.
Over 37 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, Texas has played 88 games. Eleven of those tournament games have been rematches:
- 2022-23 season vs. Louisville: lost 71-63 in regular season, lost 73-51 in NCAA Tournament
- 2021-22 season vs. Stanford: won 61-56 in regular season, lost 59-50 in NCAA Tournament
- 2016-17 season vs. Stanford: lost 71-59 in regular season, lost 77-66 in NCAA Tournament
- 2004-05 season vs. Georgia: lost 78-64 in regular season, lost 70-68 in NCAA Tournament
- 2002-03 season vs. LSU: lost 76-58 in regular season, won 78-60 in NCAA Tournament
- 1989-90 season vs. Ohio State: won 82-52 in regular season, won 95-66 in NCAA Tournament
- 1985-86 season vs. Ole Miss: won 57-46 in regular season, won 66-63 in NCAA Tournament
- 1985-86 season vs. Southern Cal: won 94-78 in regular season, won 97-81 in NCAA Tournament
- 1983-84 season vs. Drake: lost 87-81 in regular season, won 96-60 in NCAA Tournament
- 1982-83 season vs. Kansas State: won 93-73 in regular season, won 73-70 in NCAA Tournament
- 1982-83 season vs. Louisiana Tech: lost 86-64 in regular season, lost 72-58 in NCAA Tournament
Each of the aforementioned games was a rematch of a non-conference game. This will be the first time that Texas has played a conference opponent in the NCAA Tournament.
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