Aaliyah Crump Returns, Texas Dominates Texas A&M in Statement Win
AUSTIN, Texas - If there were any questions about how Aaliyah Crump would look after missing 15 games with a stress fracture in her foot, she answered them quickly-and emphatically. The freshman guard made her return on Sunday and didn’t just ease back in-she led the No. 4 Longhorns in scoring as Texas steamrolled Texas A&M, 80-35, in front of a raucous crowd of 10,331 at the Moody Center.
This wasn’t just a bounce-back win. It was a defensive clinic, a momentum reset, and a reminder of just how dangerous this Longhorns team can be when it’s locked in.
Crump’s Comeback: Poised, Productive, and Turnover-Free
Crump looked like she hadn’t missed a beat. In just 21 minutes, she put up 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, and didn’t commit a single turnover. That’s the kind of efficiency and poise you don’t often see from a freshman-especially one coming off an extended injury layoff.
“I really took my time with it,” Crump said postgame. “I wanted to make sure I was my best self for this team when I got back.”
Mission accomplished.
Head coach Vic Schaefer was all smiles when talking about Crump’s return.
“So glad to have Aaliyah Crump back,” Schaefer said. “She played with a lot of juice, played hard defensively, and was aggressive. She’s looked great in practice, and it showed today.”
And for those wondering if she ever considered shutting it down for the season and taking a medical redshirt? Not a chance.
“I’m just passionate about this team and wanted to be a part of it,” Crump said.
Second-Half Lockdown: Longhorns Put Aggies in a Cage
Texas didn’t just win-they suffocated Texas A&M in the second half. The Aggies managed just 11 points over the final 20 minutes, shooting a combined 3-of-31 (9.7%) from the field. That’s not a typo.
The Longhorns held A&M to 1-of-14 shooting in the third quarter, then followed it up with a 2-of-17 defensive stand in the fourth. The Aggies didn’t score a single point in the game’s final 3:59.
That kind of defensive dominance is rare, even in blowouts. It speaks to a team that took two tough road losses-at No.
6 LSU and No. 2 South Carolina-and responded with a vengeance.
Depth on Display, Minutes Managed
After those exhausting back-to-back battles, Schaefer didn’t need to ride his stars for heavy minutes. No player logged more than 25 minutes, and the production was spread out across the board.
Kyla Oldacre, the 6-foot-6 center, was a force in the paint. She posted a monster stat line: 10 points, 18 rebounds, five blocks and an assist in just 25 minutes. Her presence altered everything the Aggies tried to do around the rim.
“Kyla, she just gets it every night,” Schaefer said. And he’s right-Oldacre’s consistency has been a quiet engine for this team all season.
Madison Booker, the junior All-American, added 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, along with six assists, four steals, three rebounds, and two blocks in 24 minutes. Rori Harmon, the veteran point guard, was efficient in her 17 minutes, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and chipping in five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
A Shooting Slump for Lee, But Confidence Remains
Sophomore guard Jordan Lee, who’s been Texas’ second-leading scorer this season, continued her recent shooting struggles. She finished with seven points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-7 from three. Over her last four games, she’s shooting just 27% from the field and 15% from deep.
Schaefer isn’t concerned.
“Jordan’s been in a little bit of a slump or funk, whatever you want to call it,” he said. “But yesterday in practice, I had to tell her to save some for tomorrow.
I mean, she was making everything. Sometimes you press a little bit, but I don’t worry about Jordan one lick.
The kid will be fine.”
What’s Next
Texas improves to 19-2 overall and 4-2 in SEC play, snapping its first two-game losing streak since November 2022. With no mid-week game on the schedule, the Longhorns get a well-earned breather before heading to face Arkansas next Sunday. The Razorbacks sit at the bottom of the SEC standings, but with conference play heating up, every game carries weight.
If Sunday’s performance is any indication, Texas is not just getting healthy-they’re getting dangerous. Crump’s return adds another weapon to an already deep arsenal, and the defense? That’s championship-caliber stuff.
This team just reminded everyone why they’re ranked in the top five-and why they might just be getting started.