AUSTIN (KXAN) — Once the top-seeded Texas Longhorns got going, 16th-seeded William & Mary couldn’t stop them.
The Tribe hung tough early, but the Longhorns ran away with a 105-61 win in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday at Moody Center.
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Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) moves the ball up court against William & Mary during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary center Kayla Beckwith (3) is defended by Texas guard Jordana Codio (13) as she tries to score during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary guard Monet Dance (2) drives to the basket against Texas forward Taylor Jones, right, during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary players celebrate a score against Texas during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary guard Cassidy Geddes (1) drives around Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary guard Monet Dance (2) is pressured by Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary guard Cassidy Geddes, right, and Texas guard Jordan Lee, left, scramble for a loose ball during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Rori Harmon, center, scramble for a loose ball with William & Mary guard Bella Nascimento, left, and guard Cassidy Geddes, right, during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Rori Harmon, left, pressures William & Mary guard Bella Nascimento (5) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary center Jana Sallman, center, battles Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, left, and forward Kyla Oldacre, right, for a rebound during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary center Kayla Beckwith (3) is defended by Texas guard Jordana Codio (13) and forward Madison Booker (35) as she tries to score during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
William & Mary center Jana Sallman (12) battles Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, left, and forward Kyla Oldacre, right, for a rebound during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) -
Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) and William & Mary guard Monet Dance (2) dive for a loose ball during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
With the win, Texas advances to play eighth-seeded Illinois at 1 p.m. Monday for a berth in the Sweet 16. The Fighting Illini beat Creighton 66-57 at Moody Center before the Longhorns and Tribe took the floor.
After a sluggish first quarter with a 23-18 lead, the Longhorns put distance between them and the Tribe, outscoring the Colonial Athletic Association champions 27-15 and shooting 55% from the field. Texas went on runs of 9-0 and 7-0 in the frame and led by as much as 25 points. Texas then poured it on in the third quarter with a 27-11 advantage to put it away.
“It looked like we hadn’t played in two weeks,” Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said. “We were a wreck defensively and we blew a lot of assignments, and I’ll wear that responsibility.”
First-team All-American forward Madison Booker looked the part, scoring 20 points with 14 rebounds on 8 of 11 shooting. Texas ruled the paint with 56 points to the Tribe’s 22 and dominated the boards 51-26.
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Taylor Jones poured in 19 with six rebounds and Kyla Oldacre notched a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Jordan Lee knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 13 points and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda chipped in 10. Rori Harmon had nine points and eight assists.
Texas (32-3) shot 57% from the field, 41-for-75, and 20-for-28 from the foul line. The Longhorns scored 20 points off 18 Tribe turnovers and outscored them 35-9 in bench points.
For William & Mary, it was the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid. The Tribe (16-19) had to win four games in the CAA tournament as the No. 9 seed to earn an automatic bid to March Madness. They won the first NCAA Tournament game in school history 69-63 over High Point in the First Four on Thursday in Austin.
“That team is what March Madness is all about,” Schaefer said. “They came in here and played freely and they were so tough.”
Bella Nascimento led the Tribe with 19 points on 8-of-21 from the field with seven rebounds. Cassidy Gedes scored 14 points on 4 of 13 shooting. The Tribe shot 38% and made seven 3-pointers.
