Texas punched its ticket to the Final Four by smothering Michigan with elite defense, as Madison Booker and a balanced Longhorns attack took over.
FORT WORTH - Texas women’s basketball is headed back to the Final Four, and it got there the way championship teams usually do ... with defense that completely wrecks an opponent’s rhythm.
The Longhorns overwhelmed Michigan 77-41 on Monday night in Fort Worth, using a blistering start and relentless pressure to turn an Elite Eight matchup into a one-sided statement.
Texas improved to 35-3 and now advances to face UCLA on Friday, a familiar opponent the Longhorns already beat earlier this season.
The game opened with Texas looking unstoppable. Vic Schaefer’s team made 11 of its first 12 shots and jumped on the Wolverines before they could settle in.
Even when the Longhorns cooled off offensively, their defense never let Michigan breathe. Texas forced rushed looks, clogged driving lanes and challenged nearly every clean attempt at the rim.
That formula has carried the Longhorns all season, and it showed up again on the biggest stage. Michigan shot only 23% from the field and finished with its lowest point total of the year.
Texas also made life miserable for Wolverines star Olivia Olson, who came in averaging nearly 20 points per game but was held to 11 points on 2-of-11 shooting.
Madison Booker once again led the way for Texas with 19 points, continuing her All-America caliber season. Justice Carlton added 15, while Kyla Oldacre scored 12 and Breya Cunningham chipped in 11 as the Longhorns placed four players in double figures.
Texas has now won 12 straight games and is playing its best basketball of the season at exactly the right time.
The Longhorns have rolled through four NCAA Tournament games, winning each by at least 22 points, and their physicality has become a major problem for everyone in the bracket.
Now comes the next step. With another Final Four berth secured, Texas is two wins away from turning a dominant season into a national title push.
Next up are the No. 1 UCLA Bruins on Friday on ESPN.
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