The Texas Longhorns are making waves once again, punching their ticket to the Final Four for the second consecutive year. Their commanding 77-41 victory over the Michigan Wolverines at Dickies Arena was a showcase of dominance from start to finish.
Junior wing Madison Booker led the charge with a game-high 19 points, while senior point guard Rori Harmon orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out 13 assists. Senior center Kyla Oldacre was a force in the paint, recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Longhorns owned the paint, outscoring Michigan 36-18 and out-rebounding them by 17. Their defensive prowess was on full display, holding the Wolverines to a mere 22.8 percent shooting. Star sophomore guards Olivia Nelson and Syla Swords struggled to find their rhythm, combining for just 5-of-28 shooting and multiple turnovers.
Texas came out firing, hitting their first nine shots and finishing the first quarter with an impressive 91.7 percent shooting. Harmon was pivotal, setting up her teammates as Booker and junior forward Breya Cunningham made the most of their opportunities.
Despite a cold spell in the second quarter, where sophomore guard Jordan Lee missed all eight of her shots, Texas maintained control. Michigan couldn't capitalize, turning the ball over four times and shooting just 25 percent, heading into halftime down 34-21.
The third quarter saw Michigan's offensive woes continue, as they committed six turnovers and shot only 2-of-9. Texas capitalized, extending their lead to 55-29, thanks to contributions from junior forward Justice Carlton.
In the final quarter, the Longhorns found their range from beyond the arc. Carlton and freshman guard Aaliyah Crump both sank triples, while Oldacre dominated inside with five rebounds in just over four minutes. A 14-0 run put the game out of reach, sealing a 36-point triumph for Texas.
The Longhorns are firing on all cylinders, and if they keep up this level of play, they're going to be a tough matchup for anyone in the Final Four.