North Carolina’s Nyla Brooks found space for a jumper early in the second quarter Thursday. But when she picked up her dribble Texas women’s basketball star Madison Booker clamped down on defense and cut off any pivot Brooks tried to make. The Tar Heel saw open space on her right side for a layup but Booker swatted the ball out of bounds.
That was one example of Texas’ defense in a solid home win over No. 11 UNC. But the night wasn’t perfect.
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“We started off sleepwalking a little bit… that second quarter we turned it up defensively,” head coach Vic Schaefer said postgame Thursday night.
The Longhorns won the turnover battle 20 to eight against the Tar Heels and scored 24 points on Carolina miscues. With Jordan Lee scoring a career high 22-points, No. 2 Texas stayed undefeated after the 79-64 win.
The Horns trailed 21-16 to start the second quarter. UNC point guards attacked the basketball and shot nearly 77% as a team to that point.
Texas Longhorns forward Tey Sidberry (32) and University of North Carolina guard Indya Nivar (24) fight for control of the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns huddle on the court ahead of the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) collides with University of North Carolina forward Cierra Toomey (21) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer meets University of North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart ahead of the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer presents a basketball to guard Rori Harmon (3) to commemorate setting a new Texas Longhorns record for assists ahead of the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) is presented a basketball to commemorate setting a new Texas Longhorns record for assists ahead of the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) is presented a basketball to commemorate setting a new Texas Longhorns record for assists ahead of the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) and University of North Carolina forward Ciera Toomey (21) fight for control of the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) dribbles the ball towards the University of North Carolina basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) collides with University of North Carolina forward Cierra Toomey (21) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) steals the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) lines up a shot during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) collides with University of North Carolina guard Elina Aarnisalo (17) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) is fouled while shooting during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) shoots the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina forward Ciera Toomey (21) is hit by Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina guard Indya Nivar (24) and Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) fight for control of the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina guard Indya Nivar (24) and Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) fight for control of the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) dribbles the ball towards the University of North Carolina basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) dribbles the ball towards the University of North Carolina basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina guard Ciera Toomey (21 blocks a shot by Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) fights for control of the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart reacts to a call during the game against the Texas Longhorns at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina guard Elina Arrnisalo (17) pushes past Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) pushes past the University of North Carolina guard Lanie Grant (0) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) shoots the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer talks to guard Rori Harmon (3) during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Teya Sidberry (32) shoots the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) looks for an open team mate for a pass during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Tey Sidberry (32) and University of North Carolina guard Indya Nivar (24) fight for control of the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer yells instructions from the sideline during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker shoots the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) is guarded by University of North Carolina guard Indya Nivar (24) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns fans try to distract University of North Carolina guard Reniya Kelly (10) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) dribbles the ball towards the University of North Carolina basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Teya Sidberry (32) loses the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns bench reacts to a call during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker changes jerseys during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker stops with an injury during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer walks the sideline during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) shoots the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) dribbles the ball towards the University of North Carolina basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) shoots the ball during the game against the University of North Carolina at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart leaves the court after the loss to the Texas Longhorns at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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“We talked a lot about trying to keep them in front of us. They’re really explosive…” Schaefer said.
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) and University of North Carolina forward Ciera Toomey (21) fight for control of the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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University of North Carolina guard Indya Nivar (24) and Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00) fight for control of the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas vs UNC: A key first-half play
Justice Carlton and typically pesky Rori Harmon were solid contributors in the backcourt. But a play from forward Kyla Oldacre provided a spark that would give Texas a lead it’d hold for much of the rest of the night.
Oldacre hit the deck to corral a pass that was bobbled. Wrestling the ball away from a Tar Heel she found Booker, who drew a shooting foul.
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Booker sunk both free throws for the 23-21 Texas lead.
MORE: What makes Rori Harmon a great point guard? We asked her Texas teammates.
The Longhorns offense found their groove and took a 39-31 lead going into the second half. Texas pushed the pace and uncomfortable North Carolina possessions turned into points for the Longhorns, including an Oldacre steal that reminiscent of her Elite Eight and-one.
“The whole game coach was getting on me to deny… I do my job and relying on (the mentality)‘oh, I don’t want to get backdoored or get a layup off me.’ So that’s the product that you saw,” Oldacre said.
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Oldacre finished with 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Looking for another gear on defense
Lee’s two steals, from pass deflections, led to four fastbreak points. With North Carolina focused on defending Booker and Harmon, Lee was able to notch her second game this season with 20 or more points.
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“We have three perimeter players now that people really need to focus on… A complementary player goes for 22, and she’ll do that to you,” Schaefer said of Lee.
Lee played all 40 minutes, along with Harmon, and North Carolina shot just 2-for-11 from 3-point range. The Tar Heels had just seven assists on 23 made baskets.
But true to form, Schaefer was not satisfied.
“Still not an ‘everybody’ defensive team,” he said.
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Opposing teams will find the one matchup on the court to exploit, Schaefer said. In this game, according to him, it was Carlton, who finished the night with 11 points coming off the bench.
“Getting her to really understand how hard you got to play on that (defensive) end and be solid, be tough. That’s the next step for her,” he said.
Carlton said that she thinks her defense has gotten better since arriving on campus last year. She said she seeks advice from Harmon, Booker and Lee if she has questions on the defensive end.
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“It’s something I have to continue,” she said.
Texas next plays Sunday against Prairie View A&M at Moody Center.