Relentless defense and balanced scoring fueled Texas' dominant win over No. 10 Oklahoma, extending a remarkable home streak and solidifying national title hopes.
Defense has been the calling card all season for the Texas Longhorns, and Sunday’s showdown with No. 10 Oklahoma was another reminder of why the Longhorns are firmly in the national title conversation.
Behind relentless ball pressure and balanced scoring, No. 4 Texas pulled away for a 78-70 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners at Moody Center, forcing 21 turnovers and turning defense into momentum all afternoon.
Sophomore Justice Carlton and junior Madison Booker paced the Longhorns with 16 points apiece, combining to shoot 13-of-21 from the floor.
For Booker, it marked her 20th straight game in double figures and her 22nd overall this season, a testament to her consistency as Texas’ offensive anchor.
Carlton opened the scoring and fueled an early surge as Texas raced to a 19-10 lead after one quarter. The defensive pressure ramped up in the second, with Oklahoma committing six turnovers in the period alone.
A decisive 12-0 run helped Texas build a commanding 40-24 halftime advantage, as freshman Aaliyah Crump led the way with 10 first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Oklahoma attempted to respond after the break, but Texas never lost its grip. Booker scored six points in the third quarter, and the Longhorns shot efficiently down the stretch to maintain a double-digit cushion.
When the Sooners trimmed the margin early in the fourth, Kyla Oldacre answered with a strong finish inside to spark another Texas run.
Senior point guard Rori Harmon delivered her usual impact on both ends, finishing with 10 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
Those takeaways pushed her career total to 344, leaving her just three shy of the Texas all-time steals record. Her on-ball defense helped shut the door late, as the Longhorns held Oklahoma without a field goal over the final 3:30.
Crump added 12 points for her third straight double-digit effort, while Jordan Lee chipped in 14 points, marking her 18th such performance this season. Texas shot 50.8 percent from the field and knocked down 45 percent from beyond the arc, turning efficiency into separation.
With the win, Texas improved to 21-2 overall and 6-2 in SEC play, extending its home winning streak to 38 games.
Up next is another marquee test, as the Longhorns host No. 6 LSU on Feb. 25 in a nationally televised matchup on ESPN.