Texas Reaches Within to Defeat Missouri

A year ago, Texas women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer would have lamented about a 70-61 win over Missouri, saying something like, “I had to coach their hearts when I should have been coaching the X’s and O’s.”   Not was the case this year. 

“I’m proud of our grit tonight.  I saw our kids change.  And that’s what you want to see out of a really good team.  You want to see them change.  And it wasn’t because I was over there ripping and roaring,” said Schaefer.  “They changed on their own.  And I’m proud of them for that.” 

Texas’ play was sub-par for most of the first half, falling behind 20-13 in the first quarter, and trailing by as much as 11 points midway through the second.  Then it changed. 

A switch was flipped in the minds of the Texas women as they went on a 10-0 run at the end of the second quarter, allowing them to run back to the locker room at the break with the momentum, but still trailing by two points. 

Texas’ momentum launched a blistering attack in the third period, out-scoring Mizzou 19-10, and eventually cruising to a nine-point victory. 

Commenting on the third quarter turnaround, Texas guard Shay Holle said, “It’s a pride, thing.  We knew we weren’t playing well and how we’re able to play, so you take a breath at halftime, you listen to coach’s adjustments, and then you go out and execute.  It’s a pride thing, we know what we can do, so you have to go out and do it.”   

Mizzou’s Laniah Randle led all players with 22 points.  Grace Slaughter (16 points) and Ashton Judd (13 points) also put up double digits for the visitors. 

Three Texas players scored in double digits. 

Taylor Jones led the Longhorns with 17 points, her fifth straight game scoring in double digits and her 15th game of the season.  Madison Booker put up 16 points, the 17th time this season she reached double digits.   And Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda tied her season-high with 10 points. 

The Longhorns dished out 19 assists, led by Rori Harmon with ten.  This was Harmon’s 20th game this season with five or more assists. 

 Texas recorded six blocked shots, three from Mwenentanda, two from Shay Holle, and one from Jones.

Texas won the battle of the boards, out-rebound Missouri 38-25.  Mwenentanda pulled down seven rebounds, with Booker, Jones and Harmon each collecting six.