For the first time, the Texas Longhorns are SEC champions after Vic Schaefer’s No. 4-ranked team steamrolled Dawn Staley’s No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday in Greenville.
It marked Schaefer’s first postseason victory against Staley to end an eight-game losing streak against the Gamecocks with the help of three double-digit scorers, led by a game-high 18 points fr0m junior wing Madison Booker, who Tournament MVP honors. Forward Justice Carlton added 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four assists
and guard Jordan Lee scored 12 points, hitting both of her three-point attempts.
Texas jumped on South Carolina early, ending the first quarter with a decisive 27-12 lead behind 68.4-percent shooting, moving the ball well with eight assists on 13 made baskets and playing high-level defense, forcing five turnovers and holding the Gamecocks to 30.8-percent shooting.
How quickly did the Longhorns take control? Texas rushed out to a 14-0 lead to start the game by attacking the basket with 12 of those paints coming in the paint and three of those baskets coming in transition. All five first-quarter turnovers by South Carolina came during that opening run.
After that, all the Horns had to do was hold on, finishing with a 35-26 advantage on the glass and scoring 40 points in the paint. Booker helped, scoring 14 of her points in the second half, and the Texas three-point defense did, too, keeping South Carolina from hitting a three-pointer after halftime.
Texas has now won eight straight games heading into the NCAA Tournament and notched its 14th victory against a ranked opponent to lock up a No. 1 seed, according to the latest Bracketology from ESPN. The Selection Show is next Sunday.
