Texas Beats Gonzaga To Advance To Elite Eight
The Texas Longhorns continued their run through the NCAA Women’s Tournament with a 69-47 win over Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 in Portland, Ore., on Friday.
The Longhorns (33-4), the No. 1 seed in the Portland 4 Region, beat the No. 4 seeded Bulldogs (32-4) in the first meeting between the two teams.
Freshman sensation Madison Booker only scored six points and battled foul trouble for most of the game. Fortunately, the rest of the team picked up the scoring.
Forward Aailyah Moore led Texas with 16 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds. Guard Shaylee Gonzales scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Guard Shay Holle added 12 points.
In spite of Booker sitting for stretches of the game, Texas built an 18-9 lead in the first quarter and was up 37-18 at the half. The Longhorns remained in control the rest of the way.
Gonzaga’s Yvonne Ejim led with 14 points while Bryanna Maxwell added 13 points. Gonzaga shot just 26.5% from the field and 18.2% from the 3-point line while committing 16 turnovers.
Texas did commit 19 turnovers but shot 50% from the field and 50% from the 3-point line. Holle had the other two made 3-pointers.
Texas will make its third Elite Eight appearance in four years under coach Vic Schaefer and is seeking its first Final Four appearance since 2003 under the legendary Jody Conradt.
Texas will play NC State on Sunday. The Wolfpack, the No. 3 seed, eliminated No. 2 seed Stanford, 77-67, in the first game of Portland 4 Regional Play on Friday.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
