AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 5 Texas turned the game around in the third quarter to dispatch a pesky Missouri squad 70-61 in Southeastern Conference women’s basketball action Thursday at Moody Center.
The Longhorns trailed 35-33 at halftime but outscored the Tigers 19-10 in the third and held them off with an 18-16 advantage in the final frame. Texas played just eight players due to injuries and illness.
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Texas forward Madison Booker (35) shoots past Missouri forward Angelique Ngalakulondi (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives around Missouri guard De’Myla Brown (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) looks to shoot against Missouri forward Laniah Randle, center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri forward Angelique Ngalakulondi, left, and Texas forward Taylor Jones, front center, fight for control of the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Madison Booker, center, scrambles for the ball with Missouri guard Abbey Schreacke, left, and forward Laniah Randle, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Shay Holle (10) looks to shoot against Missouri guard Nyah Wilson (8) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) goes up to shoot against Missouri guard Ashton Judd (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) passes the ball over Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) drives to the basket past Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) is blocked by Missouri guard Averi Kroenke (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) battles Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) and Missouri guard Averi Kroenke, second from right, for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) looks to shoot past Missouri forward Angelique Ngalakulondi (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas head coach Vic Schaefer reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas forward Madison Booker, left, and Missouri guard De’Myla Brown, right, chase the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri forward Laniah Randle celebrates after a play against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) is pressured by Missouri guard Averi Kroenke (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) looks to shoot over Texas guard Shay Holle, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton signals to her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri forward Laniah Randle (4) drives against Texas guard Shay Holle (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri guard Nyah Wilson, center, scrambles for the ball with Texas forwards Taylor Jones, left, and Madison Booker, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Missouri forward Laniah Randle (4) drives to the basket against Texas forward Kyla Oldacre (00) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas forward Taylor Jones continued her terrific play despite Missouri’s swarming 2-3 zone defense that resulted in triple-team defending multiple times. The reigning SEC player of the week scored 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting with six rebounds to lead the way.
Madison Booker scored 16 points on 6 of 12 shooting with six rebounds and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda played 30 minutes with the Longhorns shorthanded and scored 10 points with seven rebounds. Rori Harmon scored six points with 10 assists and six rebounds.
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Booker tied the game with a jumper at the 8:41 mark of the third, and a little more than two minutes later she buried a 3-pointer to give the Longhorns the lead for good.
Texas held a huge advantage at the foul line, sinking 15 of 18 free throws while the Tigers made 3 of 5 attempts. The Longhorns were whistled for 11 fouls and forced 18 turnovers while keeping the Tigers from going off behind the 3-point line. Missouri came into the game shooting 38% from long distance with 7.3 makes per game, but the Tigers could muster just four 3-pointers on 13 attempts for 31%.
Texas outrebounded Missouri 38-25 and the Longhorns had six blocked shots.
Laniah Randle scored a game-high 22 points on 10 of 19 shooting for the Tigers. Grace Slaughter chipped in 16 points while Ashton Judd had 13.
The Longhorns (21-2, 7-1 SEC) travel to College Station on Sunday to take on Texas A&M at 5 p.m. Missouri (12-11, 1-7) hosts Tennessee on Sunday.
