The Lady Longhorns season is over after a 51-44 loss to the UCLA Bruins in the national semifinals at the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona. Texas’ biggest star, Madison Booker, had a night to forget as the Longhorns fought uphill all evening.
Booker, who is one of the best players in the sport, had one of the worst games of her life at the worst time. The junior forward finished the game with 3 for 23, 13% from the floor. She had just six points. Over and over Texas tried to go to the All-American throughout the game and time after time, Booker failed to convert.
UCLA coach Cori Close said the Bruins just wanted to disrupt Booker when they could. They did a great job. The final Lady Longhorns offensive play was a perfect example. Texas ran a play for Booker who drove to the basket, but a little bump knocked her off kilter and she fell, turning the ball over and ending UT’s chances.
The Bruins played good defense, but Texas coach Vic Schaefer felt Texas was hurting themselves with bad and rushed shots. “We’re just not taking good shots,” Schaefer told Holly Rowe during the game. “We’re taking some really bad shots, taken some poor jump shots, we’re not attacking the rim. When we do get to our spots we just haven’t made them. But I don’t think it’s them as much as us.”
It wasn’t just Booker. Texas shot just 31% from the field. At one point in the second half, UT’s FG percentage was just 24%. Rori Harmon, who has now played her final game at Texas, was just 4 for 11 from the floor and had a meager eight points.
UCLA came out of the gate hot, taking the lead in the early minutes and playing from in front rest of the way. The first quarter was the Lady Longhorns worst quarter of the season, trailing 14-6 at the end of the frame.
Texas was able to win the second quarter 11-6 to cut the Bruins lead to three at the half. The two teams played an even third quarter and the game was there for the taking for Texas. But as Booker faded, so did the rest of the team.
Texas cut the lead to three points midway through the fourth quarter thanks to a 12-2 run highlighted by two three-pointers by Jordan Lee. But that was as close as Texas would get.
This was one of the best Texas Longhorns Women’s teams of all time. But in the end, the season ends in disappointment.
– Final –
Fourth Quarter: Texas 44, UCLA 51
Booker slips
Out of the time out, the Lady Longhorns ran a play for Madison Booker. She drove the basket and slipped, turning the ball over. The sequence took 10 seconds. UCLA now leads by 1 seven with :3.1 to play
Bruins hitting Foul Shots
Texas must foul and UCLA is hitting its free throws. The lead is now five points with :13.3 to play.
Booker Blocked
With :18 left, Madison Booker drove to the basket and was blocked by Lauren Betts. It pretty much sums up Booker’s night. If Booker had hit that shot the lead would be down to one point.
Big Lee for Three
Jordan Lee has come alive late. Her second three-pointer in the last few minutes has cut the lead to three. Texas is on a 12-2 run. :55 left.
Determined bucket
Kyla Oldacre forced her way into the paint and got the layup to cut the lead to tive points.
Booker scores
It would be a great time for Booker to get hot. Red hot. The junior forward’s step-back jumper has cut the lead to seven points with 2:18 left in the game.
Lee Three
Jordan Lee has hit a big three pointer to cut the lead to eight points. UCLA then committed an offensive foul. Texas has the ball.
Friendly Roll
A Gianna Kneepkens three-pointer that looked like a miss slowly rolled in to give the Bruins a 13 point lead with 4:00 left.
Booker Bucket!
Madison Booker has broken her cold streak with a basket to cut the lead to 10.
UCLA takes biggest lead
A Lauren Betts layup in the paint has given the Bruins a 12 point lead, their biggest of the game with 5:50 left in the game
Booker continues to struggle
Madison Booker looks lost. She just missed a midrange jump shot she normally makes, but she dribbled around and around before shooting. Like she wasn’t sure where she should try a shot. She’s 1-17 from the floor tonight.
Bruins run extends lead
A couple fouls by Texas, a bucket from Gabriela Jaquez and a big three-pointer from Kiki Rice has given UCLA a ten point lead with just 8:30 left in the game. If Texas has a comeback in them, they better get going.
Foul Trouble
Breya Cunningham has been fighting foul trouble all night has picked up her fourth foul and has headed to the bench.
– End of Quarter –
Third Quarter: Texas 28, UCLA 31
More Justice
Justice Carlton has three straight baskets to cut the lead to one. This time a nice layup on a pass from Rori Harmon.
Sweet Justice
Justice Carlton has hit a jumper and a three-point play to give the Horns a little life in the third quarter. The lead is down to three points.
Basket has a lid on it
The Longhorns shooting woes continues. In fact, they’re worse. UT is only shooting 24% from the field for the game.
Texas looks panicked
The Lady Longhorns look frazzled right now. Rori Harmon has an airball and a couple turnovers. Madison Booker’s body language isn’t the best. Texas needs to pick it up or their season will be over in 30 minutes.
Booker continues to struggle
Texas’ best player is now 1-15 from the floor in what has to be an ominous sign for the Lady Longhorns hopes.
Big Bruins Board
After a missed UCLA shot, Gabriela Jaquez came out of nowhere to get the rebound and the layup to restore the Bruins’ five point lead.
Hard collision
After missing a three-pointer, Madison Booker crashed into Lauren Betts, who got the rebound. Betts stayed on the floor for quite a while and Booker came up limping. After review, it was ruled a common foul not a flagrant foul.
Nice Dish
Great pass by Rori Harmon to Kyla Oldacre for the layup.
Bruins score first in 2nd half
A strong drive by Kiki Rice has put UCLA back up by five at the beginning of the third quarter.
– Halftime –
Second Quarter: Texas 17, UCLA 20
Lady Longhorns shooting woes
Texas is shooting 26% from the floor. Rebounding and defense is why Texas has cut the gap down to three points.
Steal and Score
Rori Harmon with a nice steal and layup to cut the lead back to three.
Freshman for Three
Aaliyah Crump got the ball after a defensive reboud behind the arch and threw down a three-pointer to cut the Bruins lead to three.
Challenge and score
Texas successfully challenged an out of bounds call then worked a nice play that ended with a pass from Rori Harmon to Kyla Oldacre for a layup.
Booker ice cold
Texas’ biggest star Madison Booker is 1-9 from the floor. It is the biggest reason Texas is struggling.
– End of Quarter –
“We’re just not taking good shots. We’re taking some really bad shots, taken some poor jump shots, we’re not attacking the rim. When we do get to our spots we just haven’t made them. But I don’t think it’s them as much as us.” – Lady Longhorns Coach Vic Schaefer between quarters
First Quarter: Texas 6, UCLA 14
Worst Quarter of the season
It’s not a good time to throw out your worst quarter of the season but that’s what the Lady Longhorns did in the first quarter against UCLA. Six points in Texas’ lowest offensive output in a quarter this season and it has happened in the Final Four.
Oldacre stops the bleeding
Kyla Oldacre’s driving layup has halted the UCLA streak.
Biggest deficit of Tourney
Angela Dugalic’s three and a layup by Gabriela Jaquez has the Bruins up by ten. The Longhorns are ice cold from the field, especially Jordan Lee who is 0-3. It is the most the Lady Longhorns have been behind in the postseason.
Bruins hot Early
Gianna Kneepkens and Lauren Betts have buckets as the Bruins are on a good run.
Texas strikes first
A patented Madison Booker pull up jumper has given Texas the early lead.
Final Preps
Coach Conradt on the 1986 team
Hype it up
Photo Shoot
Rori Harmon loves her coach
Group Shot!
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When does Texas women’s basketball play in Final Four?
The Longhorns play the UCLA Bruins at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Texas vs. UCLA game info
What channel is Texas vs. UCLA game on?
The game is on ESPN and can be streamed on Fubo.
Texas vs. UCLA TV info
Watch Texas vs. UCLA on Fubo
Texas vs. UCLA line, odds, spread, over/under
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: RAPID RECAP: Lady Longhorns, Madison Booker fall to UCLA in Final Four
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
