AUSTIN (KXAN) — Madison Booker notched her sixth double-double of the season, leading No. 5 Texas to a 70-50 win over rival Texas A&M in Southeastern Conference women’s basketball action Sunday at Reed Arena in College Station.
Booker scored a game-high 17 points with 13 rebounds to lead four Longhorns who scored in double figures. Rori Harmon turned in a terrific shooting night, making 7 of 9 attempts for 15 points with five assists. Shay Holle scored 12 points and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda had 10.
-
Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, left, wrestles for the ball with Texas A&M forward Jada Malone, right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M forward Lauren Ware (32) grabs a rebound against Texas during the first quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M head coach Joni Taylor, right, talks with guard Sole Williams, left, during a free throw-attempt by Texas during the first quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M forward Jada Malone (13) drives the lane against Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) during the first quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas head coach Vic Schaefer reacts to a call against his team during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas A&M, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M guard Sahara Jones, left, becomes entangled with Texas guard Jordan Lee, right, and is fouled while trying to drive the baseline during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim prepares to shoot a 3-point basket against Texas during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M forward Jada Malone (13) steals the ball away from Texas forward Taylor Jones, center right, during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M guard Erica Moon, left, tries to shoot over Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas A&M guard Janae Kent (20) tries to shoot around Texas guard Shay Holle, right, during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) -
Texas forward Madison Booker, left, grabs a rebound away from Texas A&M forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim, front right, during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
The Longhorns shot 53% from the field, 31-for-59, and had 22 assists. Texas held the Aggies to 38% shooting and the Longhorns forced 11 turnovers to score 16 points.
Texas led 38-21 at halftime and allowed the Aggies to score just nine points in the second quarter. The Longhorns shot 60% in the first quarter, jumping out to a 22-12 lead. Texas scored on 64% of its possessions and never trailed.
“We were really good in the first half, not as good in the second half,” Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said. “We did a good job taking care of the ball. If we don’t turn the ball over, we have a chance to score 80 a night. We’d be hard to beat if we kept doing that.”
For the Aggies, Jada Malone and Janae Kent each scored 12 points while Lauren Ware chipped in 11. Both teams were down a starter, but Texas A&M missed Aicha Coulibaly’s presence dearly. She was the team’s leading scorer at 12.8 points per game, 14.1 during SEC play, and a two-time all-SEC second-team selection. Head coach Joni Taylor said her squad has to be “more creative on how to score” with her out.
“If you don’t show up every day in this league with a tremendous amount of fight, you don’t stand a chance,” Taylor said.
Texas played without forward Aaliyah Moore, and she’ll be out “for a while,” Schaefer said. She’s been battling a knee injury in the same knee that she tore her ACL in the 2022-23 season.
Texas (22-2, 8-1 SEC) hosts No. 23 Vanderbilt on Thursday. The Longhorns should move up at least one spot in the upcoming Associated Press rankings with No. 4 Southern California falling to Iowa 76-69 on Sunday. Texas A&M (10-11, 3-6) travels to Auburn on Thursday.
