AUSTIN (KXAN) — North Carolina State rode a 17-2 run in the second quarter to topple Texas 76-66 in the NCAA women’s basketball Elite Eight on Sunday in Portland, Oregon.
The Wolfpack’s Aziaha James hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 27 points, and whenever the Longhorns started to make a move, N.C. State always had a response.
Texas cut the Wolfpack’s lead to six points near the end of the third quarter, but James cashed her sixth 3-pointer to stop the Longhorns’ momentum headed to the final frame.
N.C. State shot 50% from 3-point range, making 9 of 18 attempts, while Texas made just one 3-point field goal in six tries. The Wolfpack also held a huge advantage from the foul line, making 19 of 25 free throws while Texas made 7 of 11. N.C. State had 16 fastbreak points to Texas’ 3, and a lot of those came during the run that put them ahead for the rest of the game.
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Texas head coach Vic Schaefer gestures to players during the first half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game against North Carolina State in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
Texas forward DeYona Gaston (5) grabs a rebound during the first half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game against North Carolina State in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
Texas forward Madison Booker, right, and forward DeYona Gaston, left, guard North Carolina State center River Baldwin (1) during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
Texas forward Madison Booker, right, and forward DeYona Gaston, left, guard North Carolina State center River Baldwin (1) during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Madison Hayes, second from right, drives to the basket as Texas forward Aaliyah Moore and guard Shaylee Gonzales (2) defend during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Zoe Brooks, right, drives to the basket as Texas guard Shay Holle (10) defends during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Zoe Brooks (35) tries to get around Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) tries to get around North Carolina State guard Saniya Rivers during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
Texas forward Khadija Faye (20) looks to shoot as North Carolina State forward Mimi Collins (2) defends during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State forward Mimi Collins (2) grabs the ball as Texas forward Khadija Faye (20) and forward Aaliyah Moore look on during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State players huddle during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game against Texas in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James, left, and Texas guard Shaylee Gonzales, right, go for the ball during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
Texas forward DeYona Gaston (5) blocks a shot by North Carolina State guard Aziaha James (10) during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
Texas forward Amina Muhammad, lower left, goes for the ball against North Carolina State forward Maddie Cox during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James, top, helps up forward Mimi Collins during the first half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game against Texas in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
Texas coach Vic Schaefer shouts to players during the first half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James (10) drives to the basket as Texas forward Aaliyah Moore defends during the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James reacts during the second half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game against Texas in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
Texas coach Vic Schaefer watches during the second half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game against North Carolina State in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James (1) shoots as Texas guard Shay Holle defends during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James looks to get around the Texas defense during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James (10) tries to get around Texas forward Khadija Faye (20) during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. Texas coach Vic Schaefer is at right. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Madison Hayes (21) reacts during the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game against Texas in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State guard Zoe Brooks (35) and guard Saniya Rivers celebrate a shot against Texas during the first half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James (10) celebrates a basket with Mimi Collins (2) and Madison Hayes (21) during the first half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game against Texas in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) -
Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) shoots against North Carolina State during the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State center River Baldwin (1) shoots against Texas during the second half of an Elite Eight college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao) -
North Carolina State guard Aziaha James (10), Saniya Rivers (22) and River Baldwin react during the second half of the team’s Elite Eight college basketball game against Texas in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
For the Longhorns, Madison Booker had 17 points on 8 of 21 shooting and Shay Holle chipped in 12 points. It took a while for Booker to get going after shooting 4 for 13 in the first half. Texas outscored the Wolfpack 44-24 in the paint and outrebounded them 44-31 including 18-4 on the offensive glass.
Taylor Jones, who sat out Friday’s Sweet 16 game while in concussion protocol, was cleared and came off the bench to score 11 points. Aaliyah Moore scored 10 points on 5 of 14 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds.
Texas ends its season with a 33-5 overall record.
More details and quotes will be added to the story following the postgame press conference