TAMPA, Fla. — Texas women’s basketball ended the 2024-25 season with 35 wins, which is tied for the third-most in the school’s record books. The Longhorns, however, needed two more victories.
Texas got a spirited effort from freshman guard Jordan Lee off the bench, but it was not enough in a 74-57 loss to South Carolina at Amalie Arena. In defeat, Texas was unable to overcome a third-quarter performance in which it was outscored by a 20-9 margin.
With the loss, Texas ends its season with a 35-4 record. The Longhorns remain in search of their first national championship since 1986.
South Carolina (35-3) advances to play either UCLA or UConn in Sunday’s national championship game.
Final Four live updates: Texas vs South Carolina women’s basketball
4th (3:07): South Carolina 69, Texas 52
Time is running out of the Longhorns’ season.
4th (7:10): South Carolina 61, Texas 48
Texas hasn’t been able to get much going offensively in the fourth quarter, and South Carolina has had an answer for the few times that the Longhorns have tried to go on a run. Most notably, Texas cut the Gamecock lead to 10 points on a Jordan Lee 3-pointer with 8:22 left. South Carolina, however, immediately responded when Te-Hina Paopao got open for a 3-pointer on the other end.
End 3: South Carolina 58, Texas 44
The second quarter doomed Texas in the SEC championship game. The Longhorns’ play in tonight’s third quarter may spoil their championship chances. After getting outscored 20-9 in the 10 minutes after halftime, Texas needs to put together a stunning comeback.
In the third quarter, Texas shot 4-for-14 from the field. The Longhorns committed just one turnover.
3rd (3:55): South Carolina 49, Texas 41
South Carolina has created a little distance between itself and Texas in this quarter. The Gamecocks have made five of their nine shots so far while committing just one turnover. Six of South Carolina’s points have been scored in the paint.
Texas has not committed a turnover but the Longhorns have made just three shots.
3rd (8:25): South Carolina 43, Texas 37
South Carolina opens the third quarter with two baskets. Texas coach Vic Schaefer calls a quick timeout after a Madison Booker jumper.
Halftime: South Carolina 38, Texas 35
Freshman Jordan Lee’s nine points carried the Longhorns through the second quarter, but a Te-Hina Paopao 3-pointer broke a late tie. Madison Booker had seven points in the first half but her three fouls were the headline.
Joyce Edwards and Paopao have each scored eight points for South Carolina.
2nd (4:33): Texas 28, South Carolina 27
South Carolina grabbed its first lead of the game in the second quarter, but Texas has reclaimed the edge on the scoreboard. Texas freshmen Jordan Lee (seven points) and Bryanna Preston (two points) have scored all of UT’s points this quarter. With two fouls, Madison Booker also checked back into the game just before this media timeout.
End 1: Texas 19, South Carolina 18
Madison Booker and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda combined to go 5-for-5 from the field in the first quarter, but Booker picked up fouls on back-to-back South Carolina possessions. In addition to that sequence leading two four South Carolina points, Booker was also pulled with 3:04 left in the frame.
The Gamecocks also got a spark off the bench in the first quarter from sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who has scored five points and knocked down the game’s only 3-pointer.
1st (4:52): Texas 12, South Carolina 4
Texas scored 10 of the game’s first 12 points, and the Longhorns are off to a hot start in Tampa. Madison Booker has made her first three shots tonight and the Longhorns are 5-for-8 from the field.
she really does it all #HookEm | @maddiewitdab_ pic.twitter.com/N7Qj4aOjm9
So far, South Carolina has more turnovers (four) than field goals (two).
Final Four starting lineups: Texas vs South Carolina women’s basketball
Texas Longhorns starters
G Rori Harmon
G Shay Holle
G Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda
F Madison Booker
F Taylor Jones
South Carolina Gamecocks starters
G Te-Hina Paopao
G Bree Hall
G Raven Johnson
F Sania Feagin
F Chloe Kitts
How has Texas fared in the NCAA Tournament?
A Final Four participant for the first time since 2003, this is Texas’ fourth appearance on the NCAA’s biggest stage. The Longhorns have had mixed results this deep into the NCAA Tournament:
UConn has qualified for a record 24 Final Four appearances and this is South Carolina’s seventh Final Four berth. This is UCLA’s first Final Four.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas vs South Carolina game score: Replay, highlights as Longhorns’ season ends
Reporting by Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman / Austin American-Statesman
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
