AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns needed a spark to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter against Mississippi State, and point guard Rori Harmon provided it.
She buried a half-court shot just before the third-quarter buzzer to give the No. 1 Longhorns a 49-48 lead on their way to a 68-64 win in Starkville, Mississippi, on Thursday to run their winning streak to 12 games.
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Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) calls out to her teammates during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) -
Mississippi State guard Destiney McPhaul (1) knocks the ball away from Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) -
Mississippi State guards Destiney McPhaul (1) and Denim DeShields (0) knock the ball away from Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) -
Mississippi State guard Jerkaila Jordan (2) blocks a shot attempt by Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) -
Mississippi State guard Debreasha Powe (21) pulls down a rebound in front of Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) -
Mississippi State guard Denim DeShields (0) fights with Texas guard Bryanna Preston (1) over the ball while Mississippi State forward Tahj-Monet Bloom (11), right, watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) -
Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) shoots a basket over the defense of Mississippi State center Madina Okot (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
“This team always finds a way,” Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said. “To see them grind out a victory today, I’m just really proud of them. This team has a toughness about them.”
Texas stretched its lead to 10 in the fourth quarter with 2:10 remaining after a Madison Booker layup, but the Bulldogs went on an 8-1 flurry, capped by a Debreasha Powe 3-pointer with three seconds left. The shot cut the Texas lead to 67-64, but a free throw from Kyla Oldacre stretched the lead back to two possessions with two seconds left, keeping a shot similar to Harmon’s from potentially tying the game.
Texas shot 50% from 3-point range, hitting 7 of 14 attempts. Shay Holle nailed four long range shots en route to a game-high 16 points. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda played her best game of the season, notching a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Madison Booker scored 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting and Harmon finished with 10 points and seven assists.
Texas outrebounded the Bulldogs 39-33 but was outscored 30-22 in the paint. The teams combined for 36 offensive rebounds, with the Longhorns grabbing 20.
Mississippi State led 27-26 at halftime. Jerkaila Jordan led the Bulldogs with 14 points and Madina Okot had 11. Mississippi State shot 40% from the field, making 22 of 55 attempts.
It was a homecoming of sorts for Vic Schaefer and Longhorns’ assistant coach Blair Schaefer, Vic’s daughter. Blair played for the Bulldogs from 2014-2018 under her father and Vic spent eight seasons in Starkville from 2012-2020 before taking the job at Texas. He led the Bulldogs to two consecutive national title game appearances in 2017 and 2018.
The win inches Texas (28-2, 14-1 SEC) closer to sharing the Southeastern Conference regular season championship with South Carolina. Texas hosts Florida at 1 p.m., Sunday, in the final regular season game.
“It took everything we had to win that game, and we still didn’t finish it right,” Schaefer said. “We gotta go home Sunday now and close the deal.”
