Review 1 day ago

Texas women's basketball handles Kentucky to advance to Elite Eight

Kentucky and Texas will meet for the second time this season in the Sweet 16 of the Women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Fort Worth.

Jordan Lee scored 18 points and Madison Booker had 17 as No. 1 Texas defeated No. 5 Kentucky 76-54 in the Sweet 16 on Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Longhorns (34-3) move on to the Elite Eight where they’ll face No. 2 Michigan on Monday. It is the third consecutive season and fifth time in six years under coach Vic Schaefer that Texas has advanced to the regional final of the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

Senior guard Rori Harmon flirted with a quadruple-double for the Longhorns, stuffing the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Kyla Oldacre added nine points and seven rebounds.

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Harmon became the first player in the history of Division I women's basketball to record at least 1500 points, 900 rebounds, 600 assists and 350 steals in a career.

“I thought Rori was really special on the ball. I’m just proud of my team," Schaefer said. "We were just locked in. Our transition was very good early. I just thought our kids were really, really good today. They continue to take the scout and go execute it.

"Rori's gotten better. Rori is having a really good year for us ... and offensively has stepped up here in the last month."

Kentucky (25-11), which was playing in its first Sweet 16 under second-year coach Kenny Brooks, had 16 points from Clara Strack, 11 from Asia Boone and 10 from Teonni Key.

Texas led for more than 38 minutes, opening the game with a 13-3 run. The Longhorns then broke off a 10-3 run in the second quarter to grow their lead to 25 points. Kentucky used an 8-0 run to trim the deficit down in the fourth quarter, but never got within single digits of Texas.

The Longhorns won comfortably despite missing 10 free throws. Texas shot 54% from the floor, turned 24 Kentucky turnovers into 26 points, and outscored the Wildcats 20-0 on fast breaks.

End 3Q: Texas 63, Kentucky 42

Texas beat Kentucky by 11 points in their only regular season meeting, but the Longhorns are on track to win by a lot more in the Sweet 16 in Fort Worth.

Madison Booker leads the way for the Longhorns with 15 points and six rebounds, Jordan Lee has 13 points and Rori Harmon has piled up 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and six steals.

Clara Strack has 13 points for the Wildcats. Kentucky has turned the ball over 17 times and Texas has flipped those mistakes into 19 points. Kentucky has zero fast break points.

Halftime: Texas 48, Kentucky 26

"You lose and you go home. That's my urgency right now," Rori Harmon told ESPN at halftime.

The Texas guard is flirting with a quadruple-double at the break with nine points, six steals, five rebounds and five assists as the Longhorns have comfortably pulled away from Kentucky. Jordan Lee leads Texas with 13 points while Madison Booker has eight.

Kentucky is struggling to keep up with Texas as the Wildcats are shooting 37% from the floor while Texas is shooting at a 59% clip. The Wildcats have also turned the ball over 11 times and are getting doubled-up in rebounding. Texas has 14 fast break points to Kentucky's zero.

Clara Strack and Teonni Key have six points apiece for Kentucky.

End 1Q: Texas 29, Kentucky 11

The Longhorns opened the game on a 13-3 run before the Wildcats mustered up a meaningful response. Jordan Lee leads Texas with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Rori Harmon is stuffing the stat sheet with four points, five assists and four rebounds. Teonni Key has four points for Kentucky. Texas has scored 20 of its points in the paint.

What time is Texas vs. Kentucky Sweet 16 NCAA game?

Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas

The Texas Longhorns play the Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet 16 of the Women's NCAA Tournament at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 28 in Fort Worth, Texas.