The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
35-4,15-1SEC
South Carolina
35-3,15-1SEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 19 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 57 |
| South Carolina | 18 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 74 |
No. 5/5 Women’s Basketball falls 74-57 to No. 2/2 South Carolina in NCAA Final Four
04.04.2025 | Women's Basketball
Freshman Jordan Lee records a team-high 16 points on Friday night in Tampa.
TAMPA, Fla. — Freshman guard Jordan Lee posted a team-high 16 points, but No. 5/5 Texas dropped a 74-57 decision to No. 2/2 South Carolina (35-3) in a NCAA Tournament Final Four contest on Friday night in Amalie Arena. With the loss, the Longhorns conclude the 2024-25 season with a 35-4 record while making their fourth Final Four appearance in program history and first since 2003.
Lee came off the bench and converted 6-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, and 1-of-2 free throws in 27 minutes. Sophomore All-American Madison Booker added 11 points (5-11 FG, 1-2 FT) in 24 minutes, and senior Rori Harmon recorded eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes.
Texas raced out to a 10-2 advantage following a Harmon jumper at the 6:37 mark. After a Booker jumper gave the Longhorns a 12-4 cushion with 5:19 remaining, South Carolina used a 10-3 spurt over the next four minutes to trim the deficit to 15-14 following a Milaysia Fulwiley three-pointer at the 1:26 mark. A pair of Kyla Oldacre free throws increased UT's margin to 19-16 with 32 seconds left, before a Joyce Edwards layup with 10 seconds remaining brought South Carolina to within 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.
The Gamecocks took their first lead of the contest at 21-19 following a Te-Hina Paopao three-pointer at the 8:53 mark of the second quarter. South Carolina increased its cushion to 27-24 after a Fulwiley jumper with 5:46 left, before the Longhorns went on an 8-2 run over the next 2:24 to grab a 32-29 advantage following a Taylor Jones layup at the 3:32 mark. The Gamecocks answered with a 9-1 spurt over the next three minutes to build a 38-33 cushion after a Sania Feagin hook shot with 33 seconds left, before a pair of Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining pulled Texas to within 38-35 at the half.
South Carolina scored the first five points of the third quarter to grab a 43-35 advantage following a Chloe Kitts jumper at the 8:44 mark. After a Harmon jumper trimmed the margin to 47-41 with 4:54 left, the Gamecocks used an 11-0 run over the next four minutes to build a 58-41 cushion following a Tessa Johnson layup with 56 seconds remaining. A Lee three-pointer with 35 seconds left closed the gap to 58-44 at the end of the third quarter.
The Longhorns trimmed the deficit to 58-48 after another Lee three-pointer at the 8:22 mark, but South Carolina responded with a 6-0 spurt to grab a 64-48 advantage following a Bree Hall layup with 6:15 remaining. Texas pulled to within 66-52 after a Harmon jumper at the 5:01 mark, but that was as close as the Longhorns could get for the remainder of the contest.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
NCAA Final Four
No. 2/2 South Carolina 74, No. 5/5 Texas 57
April 4, 2025
Amalie Arena (Tampa, Fla.)
Team Notes
- The Longhorns made their fourth NCAA Final Four appearance in program history and first since 2003. Texas dropped to 2-3 all-time in the Final Four.
- Texas fell to 55-35 all-time in 37 all-time appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
- UT's 35 wins this year tied the program record for most victories in a season in the NCAA era, matching the 35 wins by the 1981-82 squad (35-4). The Longhorns went 37-4 in 1978-79 and 36-10 in 1976-77 when they were a member of the AIAW.
- Texas has reached the 30-win mark in 13 seasons in program history.
- Over the last two seasons, the Longhorns have registered a 68-9 overall record (35-4 in 2024-25, 33-5 in 2023-24).
- Coach Vic Schaefer has now guided two separate programs (Texas and Mississippi State) to the Final Four. In Schaefer's first five seasons in Austin, the Longhorns have made five NCAA Tournament appearances with four trips to the Elite Eight and one to the Final Four.
- The Longhorns held the lead for a total time of 13:01 in the contest.
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the 32nd time this season (38 games) and 63rd time in her career (75 games)
- Led the team in assists (4) for a team-best 34th time this season
- Led the team in rebounds (8) for a team-best 15th time this season
- Reached double figures in scoring (team-high 16 points) for the 10th time in her career (39 games)
- Led the team in scoring for the second time this season (had a team-high 17 points on Jan. 2 at Oklahoma)
