The No. 7 Texas Longhorns bounced back in a big way after their first SEC loss, delivering a stunning 74-57 victory over Auburn at Neville Arena on Thursday. From the very first quarter, head coach Vic Schaefer’s squad seized control, quickly building a nine-point lead and pushing it to 21 by halftime.
When Schaefer keeps his jacket on into the second half, you know Texas is on fire. And in this game, he never took it off, signaling just how well the Longhorns were executing.
Sophomore guard Madison Booker, who had struggled early in SEC play, found her rhythm and exploded with 17 points in the first half alone. She finished with a game-high 22 points, showcasing her scoring prowess. When Booker cooled off in the third, senior point guard Rori Harmon picked up the slack, contributing 20 points, six assists, and three rebounds to keep Texas on top.
Texas capitalized on Auburn’s aggressive defense, hitting 15 free throws in the first half while limiting Auburn’s chances. Though Texas had 12 turnovers, they forced Auburn into 8, generating 13 points off those mistakes. Auburn, however, capitalized on 19 Texas turnovers to score 22 points.
Former Texas player DeYona Gaston, Auburn’s leading scorer, battled foul trouble but returned to score 14 points in the fourth quarter, trying to spark a comeback. Mar’Shaun Bostic also dropped 18 points but fouled out late in the game.
Texas kept their foot on the gas, with forward Taylor Jones adding 15 points and 7 rebounds to round out a dominant team effort.
Now, the Longhorns shift their focus to a thrilling non-conference showdown against No. 8 Maryland on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a top-10 matchup that promises to be one for the ages.
