AUSTIN (AP) — Madison Booker scored a career-high 40 points in a dazzling display of shot making and No. 1 Texas rolled past No. 8 Oregon 100-58 Sunday in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament, sending the Longhorns back to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year.
The Longhorns’ three-time All-American was dominant from the opening tip as she created shots from all over the floor. She scored 19 in the first half, and her 3-point play early in the third quarter, when she muscled through and over three defenders for a layup, sparked a 19-4 run that turned the game into a rout.
Booker’s previous high was 31, set just a few weeks ago against Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Texas (33-3) ran its home win streak to 44. A No. 1 seed for the third year in a row, the Longhorns now head to Fort Worth in a bid to return to the Final Four for the second consecutive season. They will play the winner of Monday’s matchup between No. 4 West Virginia (28-6) and No. 5 Kentucky (24-10).
Sports Roundup
Katie Fiso scored 16 points to lead Oregon (23-13), which last made the Sweet 16 in 2021.
The Ducks simply had no answer for the big, strong and versatile Booker and her shot-making and ball handling against any defender, or two, they threw at her.
Oregon kept up for a while with 9-of-11 shooting in the first quarter. Booker, meanwhile was doing just about anything she wanted from short, middle and long range. Texas pushed the lead to 44-29 in the second on Aaliyah Crumps’ 3-pointer from the left wing.
Oregon was still within 11 points at halftime. Booker led the Longhorns out of the break with the third-quarter burst that quickly settled the outcome. Texas outscored Oregon 28-8 in the quarter.
Up next
The Longhorns will face either an SEC rival in Kentucky, or an old one from their previous conference, the Big 12, in West Virginia.