Sunday was a big day for Texas basketball forward Justice Carlton.
She went public with her cookie company, J’s Rollin’ in Dough, and was a “difference-maker” in Texas’ 78-70 win over No. 10 Oklahoma, her head coach said. Carlton had 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals for the Longhorns before she fouled out.
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“That’s OK,” Vic Schaefer said postgame about her picking up her fifth foul.
Forward Madison Booker and guard Rori Harmon both nodded in agreement because they see Carlton stepping into her potential for the Longhorns. She tore her ACL in high school and though she was limited her collegiate freshman year, she’s starting for the No. 4 team in the country as a sophomore. The 6-foot-1wing is fulfilling the promise of that captivated Schaefer in 2024.
“I don’t think anybody can handle what Justice can bring to the table,” Harmon said.
Texas Longhorns guard Aaliyah Crump (23) dribbles the ball towards the Oklahoma basket during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Aaliyah Crump (23) shoots the ball past Oklahoma guard Payton Verhulst (12) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma guard Keziah Lofton (22) and Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) fight for a loose ball during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6), left, greets guard Jordan Lee (7) ahead of the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer takes the court ahead of the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer talks to guard Rori Harmon (3) during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) and Oklahoma guard Payton Verhulst (12) jump for a rebound during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) pushes past Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Bryanna Preston (1) falls after colliding with Oklahoma forward Caya Smith (4) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) and Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chaves (2) fight for a losse ball during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) shoots the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Aaliyah Crump (23) pushes past Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) shoots the ball over Oklahoma forward Brooklyn Stewart (21) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) dribbles the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) fights for the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) and Oklahoma guard Payton Verhulst (12) jump for a rebound during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Aaliyah Crump (23) pushes past Oklahoma forward Sahara Williams (6) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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A Texas Longhorn fan sleeps in a courtside sleep during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk disputes a call during the game against Texas at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) fights for control of a rebound during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) shoots the ball over Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) and Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) lose a rebound during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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From left, Texas Longhorns fans Gabriella Muñoz, Tyler Lawrence and Sofia Muñoz cheer during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) shoots the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) guards Oklahoma Payton Verhulst (12) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) and Oklahoma center Raegan Beers (15) jump for a rebound during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) dribbles the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) directs her team during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) shoots the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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From left, Texas Longhorns fans Gabriella Muñoz, Tyler Lawrence and Sofia Muñoz cheer during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) prepares to shoot the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) shoots the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Bryanna Preston (1) pushes past Oklahoma forward Caya Smith (4) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) shoots the ball over Texas Longhorns forward Jutice Carlton (11) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk talks to an official during the game against Texas at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) shoots the ball during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) and Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) jump for a rebound during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer yells instructions from the sideline during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns fan Rooster Katner shows the bakc of his vest ahead of the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Bryanna Preston (1) guards Oklahoma guard Keziah Lofton (22) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) walks the court during the game against Texas at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer talks to the fans after the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin. Texas defeated Oklahoma 78-70.
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A helpful hobby
Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) shoots the ball over Texas Longhorns forward Jutice Carlton (11) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Like a lot of young girls, Carlton’s access to an Easy-Bake Oven oven sparked a love of baking.
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She also got an instant cake popper machine that blossomed into a side quest. Over Christmas break she earned a food handler’s license and started an LLC so she can turn a hobby into a business. Because baking is a science, precision is required to get the perfect product.
NO. 4 TEXAS VS. NO. 6 LSU
When/where: 8 p.m. Thursday at Moody Center.
TV/radio: ESPN; 1300 AM.
“I think it just takes a lot of patience, a lot of time and I think that’s kind of how it translates onto the court,” Carlton said.
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The sophomore has started every game since the 110- 45 win Dec. 10 over UT Rio Grande Valley, but her growth over the season is starting to be seen. After its victory over North Carolina, Schaefer wanted Carlton to “play harder on the defensive end” because “it would be the next step for her.” On Sunday she had the difficult tasks of guarding Oklahoma forward Sahara Williams and battling for rebounds against 6-foot-4 OU center Raegan Beers.
Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) is blocked from shooting during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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Carlton was one rebound shy of tying her season-high nine boards against Auburn. Beers had a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds), Williams finished with five points.
“When Justice has that look in her eyes that she would dominate her opponent, attack the rim, get rebounds and be aggressive, I think we’re a very hard team to beat,” Booker said.
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Consistency needed in upcoming challenges
Texas led the entire game. The Sooners got as close as six in the first quarter, but Carlton gave the Longhorns a nine-point lead with a 3-pointer. She was even on the receiving end of a highlight-reel assist when Harmon dove out of bounds to save a ball she tipped.
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“Today I hope it showed Justice that every game we need her,” Booker said. “Every practice we need her and just to keep doing that, keep (dominating), because I think it’s helping.”
Schaefer said he believes Carlton is “just scratching the surface” of what she can do. But he wants to see consistency; that’s something the Longhorns have struggled with at times this season, yet it’s crucial for Carlton.
Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer yells instructions from the sideline during the game against Oklahoma at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 in Austin.
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“(Texas) needs her to be like she was tonight,” Schaefer said. “It’s not just in games. It’s consistency in practice. You know, your game is really a reflection of what you put into it each and every day. I think that’s our challenge with her.”
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The SEC schedule will only get harder for Texas. No. 6 LSU plays Thursday in Austin, then the Longhorns play No. 18 Kentucky, No. 5 Vanderbilt and No. 15 Tennessee. Sure, it was a nice feat to earn a win over a top-10 team in the Red River Rivalry, but it there will require a bit more of a baker’s precision to reach the postseason goals Texas has.
“If I can get them to play a little better, we’re going to be a lot better,” Schaefer said.
Texas plays LSU at 8 p.m. Thursday in Moody Center.
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