Breya Cunningham gave Texas exactly what it needed Sunday: a steady interior presence, clean finishes and a reminder that her game is trending in the right direction.
The senior forward was almost flawless around the rim in the No. 6 Longhorns’ 81-64 exhibition win over UCLA, going 6-for-7 from the field for 16 points and six rebounds against the defending national champions. She helped Texas establish itself inside early, then played a key role in the 12-0 third-quarter burst that swung the game firmly in the Longhorns’ favor.
“This year, I’m going to have to step up more for my team,” Cunningham said. “Playing a really good, well-coached team with really good players this early and seeing the efficiency I can bring for my team this early, it builds a lot of confidence.”
Texas leaned on three main scorers, and Cunningham was one-third of that load-bearing trio. Junior guard Bryanna Preston added 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, while senior forward Madison Booker posted 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Together, they accounted for 57 of Texas’ 81 points, or 70% of the offense.
Booker and Preston did plenty of their damage from the perimeter and midrange, but Cunningham gave the Longhorns a different kind of pressure point. Texas scored 34 points in the paint and shot 50.8% overall, winning the scoring battle in three of the four quarters by mixing inside work with shot-making from the outside.
Vic Schaefer said the way Texas got Cunningham the ball mattered just as much as the makes themselves.
“Our inside game was really good with Breya,” Schaefer said. “(I) thought we did a good job executing, getting the four-turn, and getting her in some good situations down there.”
That production fits the role Texas expects from Cunningham this season, but Schaefer also made it clear he wants more than points from his veterans. With a young roster around them, he stressed that the experienced players need to model what daily consistency looks like at a high level.
“I do think that these three have a responsibility and they’ve got to show up every day,” Schaefer said. “They’ve got to show our younger kids what it looks like to be a pro.”
Cunningham’s day also drew praise from the other sideline. UCLA coach Cori Close highlighted how much she has grown, especially after a previous season in which foul trouble often kept her from being as effective.
“I’ve got to give it to Breya Cunningham,” Close said. “She was probably one of the post players that got in foul trouble more than anyone else last year, and to watch her growth, credit to her, I think she played great.”
She still picked up four fouls in 32 minutes Sunday, so that part of her game remains worth watching. Against UConn, she fouled out with nearly seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. But against UCLA, she stayed productive, stayed on the floor and committed zero turnovers.
For Texas, that’s the blueprint. Cunningham has already shown she can deliver against elite competition. If she keeps pairing that efficiency with availability, she becomes another dependable scoring option beside Booker and Preston.
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