Booker’s 40-piece powers top-seeded Texas over Oregon, into Sweet 16

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Defense and depth will take teams a long way into March Madness, and Texas locks teams up and can run 10 players at their opponents.

Having arguably the best player in the country in burnt orange also helps the Longhorns.

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) grabs a rebound in front of Oregon forward Mia Jacobs (1) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Junior forward Madison Booker poured in 40 points, scoring her career-high by the end of the third quarter, to lead the top-seeded Longhorns to a 100-58 win over eighth-seeded Oregon in the women’s second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at Moody Center.

Booker’s previous career-high was surpassed early

Booker’s previous career-high of 31 points went by the wayside after she buried a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with about a minute left in the third quarter. She finished the night shooting 14-for-21 from the field and 10-for-11 from the foul line.

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“Coach (Vic Schaefer) has pushed me into taking a bigger role and finding my shot,” she said. “He put me in the right position to get the shots I wanted.”

Her 40 points are a program record for scoring in an NCAA Tournament game. It was eight points shy of the all-time single-game scoring record — Danielle Viglione’s 48-point night against Houston in 1994. The mark is tied for fifth all-time in program history.

“That’s what an All-American does, but, man, she was in a zone today,” Schaefer said. “I thought we ran some really good stuff, got her some really good looks. And, look, 14-21, she’s just a hard matchup for people. She’s a generational talent. They don’t come around like that very often.”

Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) celebrates with head coach Vic Schaefer during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Oregon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Teya Sidberry (32) and guard Jordan Lee (7) celebrate their win over Oregon in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon guard Astera Tuhina (0) drives against Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives against Oregon guard Sofia Bell (3) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon forward Ehis Etute (35) is pressured by Texas forward Madison Booker, left, and forward Teya Sidberry (32) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Breya Cunningham (25) drives to the basket against Oregon forward Mia Jacobs (1) and forward Ehis Etute (35) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives to the basket against Oregon forward Mia Jacobs (1) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) moves the ball past Oregon guard Katie Fiso (2) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon guard Katie Fiso (2) drives to the basket between Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) and center Kyla Oldacre (00) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) is pressured by Oregon forward Mia Jacobs (1) and guard Ari Long (14) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon forward Ehis Etute (35) looks to shoot past Texas center Kyla Oldacre (00) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon guard Katie Fiso (2) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Virginia Tech, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon forward Ehis Etute (35) chases a loose ball as Texas forward Teya Sidberry (32) watches during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon guard Astera Tuhina (0) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Virginia Tech, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) shoots over Oregon guard Avary Cain (42) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon forward Ehis Etute (35) drives to the basket against Texas center Kyla Oldacre (00) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas guard Rori Harmon (3), forward Madison Booker (35) and the bench celebrate their win over Oregon in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives to the basket against Oregon forward Ehis Etute (35) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon guard Avary Cain (42) looks to shoot over Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Oregon guard Katie Fiso (2) drives against Texas during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas guard Bryanna Preston (1) drives to the basket against Oregon guard Astera Tuhina (0) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) shoots against Oregon during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) celebrates during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Oregon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) reacts after a score against Oregon during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas guard Jordan Lee (7), guard Rori Harmon (3), forward Madison Booker (35) celebrate their win over Oregon in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) and forward Madison Booker (35) celebrate their win over Oregon in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) and Oregon guard Katie Fiso (2) chase a loose ball during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Senior point guard Rori Harmon said she knew “something special” was going to happen.

“I’ve never seen that before, but I’d like to see it again,” she said. “She had that look in her eye coming into the game. She’s very unselfish and a very humble player, and she’s a great teammate. We appreciate how good a person and teammate she is.”

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Oregon head coach Kelly Graves said he didn’t have a player who could “physically match up with Booker.”

“She’s really damn good,” he said. “There’s nothing she can’t do. It’s a tough matchup, and she had a great night. Hats off to her. She’s a first-team All-American for a reason, and she played like it tonight.”

Longhorns were throwing rocks in the ocean

Texas shot 56% from the field, going 37-for-66, and outscored the Ducks 28-8 in the third quarter to put the game away. The Longhorns forced 15 turnovers, scoring 23 points off them.

“Our kids just played their hearts out today,” Schaefer said. “We made shots today, and executed some really good stuff. And that crowd … there may be some great crowds at other places, but the lid about blew off this place a couple of times. I got a feeling there will be people at the water coolers talking about this game.”

Graves said his team didn’t respond very well after the Longhorns went on their tear.

“They really took it to us,” he said. “Booker was getting her’s, but I thought we were doing a pretty good job on the others. We had some open looks that didn’t go, and then it started to pile on in the third quarter.”

The win pushes the Longhorns into the Sweet 16, and a relatively short bus ride up Interstate 35 to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. They’ll face either Kentucky on March 28. The game time will either be 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m., which will be decided Monday night after the remaining second-round games. The Wildcats outlasted West Virginia 74-73 on Monday to advance.

Harmon left a legacy at Texas

Harmon, the program’s leader in both assists and steals, had nine points and six assists. She was subbed out near the end of the game to a standing ovation, playing her final game in front of Texas fans at Moody Center.

“What a great way to send Rori out of here,” Schaefer said.

Harmon said she’s “super grateful” that Schaefer recruited her.

“I was on the phone with him when I was being recruited, and he told me that he wanted me to leave a legacy here, and that stuck with me every single day. I’ve played with so many great teams, and my teammates make me feel on top of the world.”

Sarah Graves, the crowd favorite and seldom-used senior guard who got into the game and hit a corner jumper for her second bucket in as many NCAA Tournament games, said Harmon “changed the university forever.”

“Our entire bench started to tear up as she waved at the crowd, and having everyone appreciate what she’s done for women’s basketball across the country was super cool.”

Jordan Lee scored 17 points and Teya Sidberry had 11 off the bench for the Longhorns. Texas outrebounded the Ducks 37-26 and had 22 assists to Oregon’s eight. Booker added eight rebounds and five assists.

Katie Fiso led Oregon (23-13) with 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting. Ehis Etute tallied a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Ducks were efficient on offense in the first half, shooting 52% before struggling in the third quarter, shooting 2-for-12. Texas led 45-34 at halftime.

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Booker’s 40-piece powers top-seeded Texas over Oregon, into Sweet 16

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