LIVE FROM AUSTIN: MADISON BOOKER JOINS TEXAS LEGENDS IN DOMINANT WIN OVER VANDERBILT
AUSTIN, Texas – History was made at the Moody Center on Thursday night as Madison Booker etched her name into the Texas record books, becoming the 49th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points. She led the charge in a commanding 87-66 victory over No. 24 Vanderbilt, marking the Longhorns’ sixth win over a ranked opponent this season.
Booker Leads the Way in Balanced Texas Attack
It was an all-around team effort for Texas, with four players scoring in double figures. Booker led the pack with 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Shay Holle stepped up with a season-high 16 points, knocking down four of five shots from beyond the arc. Jordan Lee added 12 points, and Taylor Jones contributed 13 points and six boards, rounding out a stellar performance for the Longhorns.
From beyond the arc, Texas was simply unstoppable, shooting a blazing 69.2% (9-of-13) from three-point range, while Vanderbilt struggled at just 18.2% (2-of-11). The Longhorns also capitalized from the charity stripe, sinking 22-of-26 free throws (84.6%).
Texas Sets the Tone Early and Never Looks Back
The game opened with Shay Holle drilling a three-pointer, igniting a dominant first quarter that saw Texas go on two separate 7-0 runs, closing the period up 21-10.
Booker kept the momentum rolling in the second quarter, scoring back-to-back buckets to maintain Texas’ grip on the game. Then, Jordan Lee caught fire, drilling two consecutive three-pointers to extend the lead to 38-25 at halftime.
Bryanna Preston capped off the third quarter in style, sinking a buzzer-beating layup to give Texas a 13-point cushion heading into the final period.
A Milestone Moment for Booker
The fourth quarter belonged to Madison Booker. She wasted no time, driving in for a layup that secured her place in Longhorns history with 1,000 career points. Texas then delivered the knockout blow with 6-0 and 7-0 scoring runs, sealing the 21-point victory.
What’s Next? A Massive Showdown Against No. 2 South Carolina
The Longhorns (23-2, 9-1 SEC) now set their sights on a huge matchup against No. 2 South Carolina on Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 PM CT at Moody Center. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN, with Texas looking to defend their perfect 12-0 home record.
Postgame Highlights & Key Stats:
- Texas extended its home winning streak to 19 games and improved to 44-5 all-time at Moody Center.
- Madison Booker has now scored 20+ points 10 times this season and has reached double figures in seven straight games.
- Rori Harmon dished out five assists for the 22nd time this season and recorded five steals, moving into 10th place on the Longhorns’ all-time steals list.
- Shay Holle’s 16 points marked a season high, as she knocked down 4-of-5 from deep.
- Texas forced 17 turnovers, converting them into a 27-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
- Vanderbilt entered the game averaging 85.3 points per contest, but Texas’ defense held them to 19 points below their season average.
- The Longhorns shot 52.8% from the field, marking their 15th game this season at 50% or better – they remain undefeated (15-0) when shooting above that mark.
Final Takeaway
Madison Booker’s milestone night, Texas’ deadly efficiency from three, and a relentless defensive effort sent a clear message – this Longhorns squad is built for the big stage. Now, all eyes shift to Sunday’s clash with South Carolina in what promises to be a must-watch battle.
