It begins here for Texas women’s basketball.
The Longhorns took care of business on Thursday night, dominating the 18th-ranked Crimson Tide 84-40. It was the the kind of complete performance Texas will need in its upcoming game against South Carolina, the reigning queen of college basketball.
Texas coach Vic Schaefer holds his team to a high standard, but even he didn’t have much to nitpick in the post-game.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my team,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said.
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Texas is peaking at the right time. The Gamecocks are the defending national champions who rule the Southeastern Conference, and the Longhorns are the upstart newcomers built to dethrone them.
“I think this is a league of depth, and they’re extremely deep and talented in their back court and their front court,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “That gives them the opportunity to beat anybody in the country on any given night.”
Texas got off to a scorching start against Alabama, making 11 of its first 15 shots and jumping out to a 29-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. After a lackluster second period, they scored 43 points in the second half and drained the remaining life out of the Crimson Tide.
Texas forward Madison Booker led the offensive explosion, scoring 21 points on 80% shooting while guard Rori Harmon collected 10 points, five rebounds and six assists. The defense was even more suffocating.
With Alabama’s All-SEC guard Sarah Ashlee Barker out with an injury, coach Kristy Curry wasn’t left with many offensive options against Texas’ trademark defense. Schaefer gave Alabama guard Zay Green credit, but she struggled against Harmon’s defense. Texas post Taylor Jones walled off the paint and forced Alabama into difficult shots and passes, leading to 20 Alabama turnovers.
It took the Crimson Tide more than half of the game to cross the 20-point threshold. With 1:21 left in the third quarter, guard Diana Collin finished a layup, cutting the lead to 64-21.
Texas travels to Colonial Life Arena on Sunday for its biggest test of the year. The top of the SEC is composed of college basketball’s powerhouse programs and Texas looked to be a part of that group on Thursday. But when the tires have to meet the road, will they be able to keep up with South Carolina?
“We’re going to make sure it’s a knockdown, drag out,” Harmon said. “I think the way we came into this game is what we need to do coming into the next game, and we’ll be just fine.”
“We’re pretty good. They’re pretty good. Let’s go play,” Schaefer said.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas women’s basketball peaking as South Carolina approaches
