The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
34-3,15-1SEC
No. 20/20 Tennessee
24-10,8-8SEC
No. 5/5 Women’s Basketball punches ticket to Elite Eight with victory over Tennessee, 67-59
03.29.2025 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns advance to their 13th Elite Eight appearance in program history.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.– Madison Booker and Jordan Lee combined for 30 points, while Taylor Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds, and Bryanna Preston sank 12 points and three steals to help advance the Longhorns over Tennessee 67-59 to secure an Elite Eight appearance. Texas head coach Vic Schaefer has now guided teams to the Elite Eight in seven of the last eight seasons, including four times in his first five years with the Longhorns.
Rori Harmon opened the scoring for Texas with a layup, followed by forward Madison Booker adding another post layup to cut the Lady Vols' lead to 5-4. Despite trailing for most of the quarter, Texas closed the final 5:31 on a 13-0 run, taking a 21-13 lead into the second period.
Starting the second period, Bryanna Preston sank a running layup with Harmon connecting on a post fadeaway jumper extending Texas' lead 25-17. Going into halftime, six different Longhorn players scored with Booker, Harmon, Preston, and post-player Taylor Jones combining for 24 points helping Texas lead Tennessee 34-30.
Starting the second half, Harmon buried a short corner jumper extending Texas' lead to 36-30. Texas finished the third period on a three point corner jump shot from guard Jordan Lee to keep the game tied at 50-50 going into the final quarter.
During the final period, Bryanna Preston made a steal then scored a fastbreak layup to start a 6-0 scoring run for Texas. Consecutive efforts on both the defensive and offensive end by Preston helped the Longhorns regain the lead 59-56 at the 5:17 mark. To close out the game, Texas forced eight turnovers and Preston sank two game winning free throws to clinch the Longhorns 13th Elite Eight appearance in program history. Texas held Tennessee scoreless over the final 3:43 of the game.
Up next, the Longhorns will face TCU in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 31. Tip is set for 6 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Postgame Notes
• Texas improves to 34-3 on the season. It's the most wins for Texas since they went 35-4 in the 1981-82 season.
• Tennessee came into the game averaging 87.5 points per game and the Longhorns held them to 59 points. It is the 23rd time this season the Longhorns have held an opponent to 59 points or less.
• Taylor Jones completed her 25th double-figure scoring game of the season with 12 points
• Madison Booker recorded her 30th double-digits game of the season with 17 points.
• Texas is now 10-0 when four or more Longhorns score in double digits.
• Texas is now 29-3 when forcing more than 15 turnovers on their opponent. The Lady Vols committed 18 turnovers in the game.
• Texas reaches 34 wins, the last time they did this was in the 1985-86 season.
• Freshman guards Jordan Lee and Bryanna Preston combined 25 points, helping the Longhorns secure the win against the Lady Vols.
• Texas limited Tennessee to nine points in the fourth quarter, marking the 25th time this season Texas has held an opponent to single digits in a quarter.
• The Longhorns got 25 points from their bench players.
