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No. 4 Texas women shoot lights-out in comfortable win over No. 24 Vanderbilt
On Thursday, No. 4 Texas won its seventh straight game with an 87-66 win over No. 24 Vanderbilt.
HORNS WIN ‼️#HookEm pic.twitter.com/OntuaG5vt2
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) February 7, 2025
The Longhorns got out to an early 21-10 lead after the first quarter. They were hard to slow down all night, shooting 52.8% overall and making nine of their 13 triples.
The team's leading scorer, sophomore forward Madison Booker, did it all, including this swat under the basket with Texas leading 44-36 nearly four minutes into the third quarter.
Madison Booker or Madison Blocker!?#NCAAWBB x SECN / @TexasWBB pic.twitter.com/XZkJZnpdFE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 7, 2025
In total, Booker put up 20 points (7-of-12 FG), six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Freshman guard Jordan Lee's sharpshooting off the bench was a major boost. She had 12 points (3-of-5 3PT), including this one from the corner to extend Texas' lead to 52-44 with under four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Three 3⃣s for Jordan Lee #NCAAWBB x SECN / @TexasWBB pic.twitter.com/6qKcOONxSc
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 7, 2025
Thursday night marked a second consecutive defeat for the Commodores. Even though freshman sensation Mikayla Blakes (22 points, 8-of-14 FG) shined once again, it was sophomore forward Khamil Pierre leading the way with 26 points and seven rebounds.
Vanderbilt's long-range shooting was its downfall once again. After shooting just 22.2% in a 76-61 loss to Ole Miss on Feb. 2, it was only 2-of-11 (18.2%) against Texas. For a team that had won four straight prior to its current drought, Vanderbilt (18-6, 5-5 SEC) needs other players to step up and improve its three-point shooting as a whole if it is going to improve its positioning in the SEC and beyond.
Since suffering its only conference loss to No. 2 South Carolina on Jan. 12, Texas (23-2, 9-1 SEC) has been next-to-unstoppable, with only two of its seven consecutive wins decided by four points or less.
With a rematch against the Gamecocks on Sunday and a road trip to Lexington to face a hot-shooting 11th-ranked Kentucky squad on Thursday, the Longhorns need to continue shooting at a high percentage and get to the charity stripe after making 22-of-26 on Thursday night.
More must-reads:
- Athletes who were stars for their hometown pro teams
- Falcons HC speaks out after offensive starter gets carted off practice field with concerning injury
- The 'Women's Naismith Award winners' quiz
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Jets coaches try to calm situation in wake of Justin Fields' comments
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Former Yankees Outfielder Rips Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman
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