Texas Longhorns Dominate Alabama in SEC Tournament
In Greenville, South Carolina, the No. 4 ranked Texas Longhorns showcased their dominance with an 83-60 victory over Alabama, securing a place in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Friday night. Jordan Lee led the Longhorns with 16 points, while Madison Booker delivered a strong performance despite limited playing time, contributing 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Bryanna Preston also played a vital role, adding 13 points to the team’s tally.
Texas Advances to Semifinals
With this win, Texas improved to 29-3, marking their sixth consecutive victory. They are set to face the 24th-ranked Mississippi, who triumphed over No. 5 Vanderbilt with an 89-78 scoreline in the other quarterfinal matchup. Meanwhile, the other semifinal will feature a clash between No. 3 South Carolina and No. 6 LSU.
Alabama’s Struggles
For Alabama, who entered the game with a record of 23-10, the loss marked a harsh reality as they were the only unranked team to reach the quarterfinals. Although the Crimson Tide managed to bounce back to win against Missouri and Tennessee earlier in the tournament, they struggled against Texas, faltering significantly by the second quarter with an early deficit of 40-12.
At halftime, Texas had established a commanding 33-point lead thanks in part to forcing 14 turnovers by Alabama, which appeared to have fatigued after a tough end to the regular season where they lost five of their last six games.
Coach Vic Schaefer took full advantage of the comfortable margin, allowing his starters some rest before their crucial semifinals on Saturday. If Booker had played more than 18 minutes, she might have been on track for a triple-double, finishing with an efficient 5 of 8 shooting from the field.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, Texas looks to continue their winning streak against Ole Miss, a team they previously edged out 67-64 in early January. As for Alabama, they now turn their attention to the upcoming NCAA Tournament and its implications for their postseason hopes.
