Texas Women’s Basketball Dominates Florida Behind Madison Booker’s Big Night and Relentless Defense
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Texas didn’t just win on Thursday night - they imposed their will. Behind a swarming defense and a paint attack that never let up, the No. 4 Longhorns rolled past Florida, 88-68, in a statement SEC road win that showcased both their star power and their depth.
Let’s start with the engine: Madison Booker. The sophomore continues to look like one of the most complete players in the country, pouring in 24 points on 11-of-21 shooting, while adding six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Whether she was hitting mid-range jumpers, finishing in transition, or creating for others, Booker controlled the tempo. This marked her ninth 20-point game of the season - and the 37th of her career - and she made it look effortless.
But this wasn’t a one-woman show. Texas flexed its depth with eight players scoring at least six points, and they owned the paint - outscoring Florida 60-30 down low.
That’s not just dominance; that’s a team dictating where the game is going to be played. Kyla Oldacre chipped in 12 points and six boards, while Aaliyah Crump continued her hot streak, finishing with 14 points and drilling 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
That’s six double-digit outings in the last seven games for Crump, who’s quietly becoming a key piece in Texas’ offensive puzzle.
The game wasn’t without its early swings. Florida jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Texas responded with a 14-2 run, capped by a pair of Booker free throws to go up 16-8.
The Gators answered with an 11-0 burst of their own to close the first quarter ahead 19-16, but that would be their last real surge. Texas opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run and never looked back, taking a 42-31 lead into halftime.
From there, the Longhorns tightened the screws. They forced 21 turnovers - turning those into 26 points - and held Florida’s Liv McGill in check thanks to a defensive clinic by Rori Harmon.
Harmon didn’t just defend - she disrupted, forcing McGill into nine turnovers while adding two steals of her own. She’s now just five steals away from becoming Texas’ all-time leader in that category, sitting at 342 for her career.
And Harmon’s impact didn’t stop on defense. She dished out five more assists, pushing her career total to 883 - a full 107 more than the previous Texas record of 776. She’s rewriting the record book while playing some of the best two-way basketball in the country.
Texas shot a blistering 56.1% from the field (37-of-66), marking the 10th time this season they’ve shot 50% or better. When you combine that kind of offensive efficiency with elite defense and depth, you’ve got a team built for March.
Head coach Vic Schaefer continues to set the standard, notching his 13th straight 20-win season. His squad is now 20-2 overall and 5-2 in SEC play, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Next up? A marquee matchup at home against No.
10 Oklahoma on Sunday. The game tips off at 2:00 p.m.
CT at Moody Center and will be nationally televised on ABC. College GameDay will be live from Austin that morning - and with good reason.
The Longhorns are rolling, and the spotlight is only getting brighter.