No. 3 Longhorns Rally for Thrilling Top-5 Victory Over LSU

In a dramatic contest before a roaring Moody Center crowd, the No. 3/3 Texas Longhorns rallied from a 12-point third-quarter deficit to secure a 65-58 victory over the No. 5/5 LSU Tigers on Sunday. The win marks Texas’s tenth consecutive triumph and their third straight against a top-10 opponent, a feat last achieved by the program in 2005.

Head coach Vic Schaefer lauded his team’s resilience. “What a special, special group of young ladies. Incredible toughness today. Wasn’t our best day… But fourth quarter was really special, 21 to nine,” Schaefer remarked, noting the stark offensive turnaround after a slow first half.

The Longhorn defense proved pivotal, holding LSU, the nation’s No. 5 scoring offense, to 29 points below their season average. After trailing 28-19 at halftime, despite limiting the Tigers to just 37% shooting, Texas found their offensive rhythm.

Stars Madison Booker and Rori Harmon, who struggled in the first half, came alive after the break. Booker finished with a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Harmon added 10 points. Freshman Bryanna Preston ignited the fourth-quarter comeback, scoring after a steal to give Texas their first lead since the opening minutes. Fellow freshman Jordan Lee also contributed key baskets in the final frame.

Senior forward Taylor Jones reached a career milestone, becoming the 50th member of the Texas 1,000 Point Club with 12 points. As a team, the Longhorns were perfect from the free-throw line, sinking all 21 attempts.

The Longhorns’ tenacity was evident throughout, exemplified by Harmon’s early steals and an 8-0 run in the third quarter to close the gap. Ultimately, Texas’s strong finish, making their last six field goals, secured the hard-fought victory. “Embrace the moment, right now,” Schaefer urged his team. “You’ve worked hard all your life to get to this moment. Live it, don’t sell yourself short.”