Longhorns Dominate Illinois, Punch Ticket to Sweet 16

The #5 University of Texas Women’s Basketball team is Sweet 16 bound, as they convincingly defeated the University of Illinois 65-48 in the NCAA Championship. This marks the 19th time in program history the Longhorns have reached this stage of the tournament.

Texas put on a clinic at the Moody Center, wrapping up an undefeated 17-0 season at home and extending their home winning streak to an impressive 24 games. Head Coach Vic Schaefer continues his remarkable run, guiding Texas to the Sweet 16 in four of his five seasons at the helm.

The Longhorns’ balanced attack proved too much for Illinois. Madison Booker and Taylor Jones combined for 32 points, while Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda exploded for a career-high 19 points. Rori Harmon orchestrated the offense with seven assists.

Texas seized control early, ending the first quarter with a 16-12 lead. They truly broke the game open in the second, going on a 13-2 run to close the half, forcing 13 turnovers and holding Illinois to just six points. This dominant stretch gave Texas a commanding 34-18 lead at halftime. Mwenentanda continued her stellar play in the second half, pushing the lead further.

The Longhorns’ stifling defense held Illinois to their lowest point total since January 2024. Texas also showcased their depth, with the bench outscoring Illinois’ reserves 23-3.

With this victory, Texas improves to 33-3 on the season. They’ll now prepare for a highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup against Tennessee on March 29th