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Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) jumps for.a rebound during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
Texas women’s basketball<\/a> needs to find some consistency, and it has to start in Columbia when the Longhorns play South Carolina.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas head coach\u00a0Vic Schaefer<\/a> cited Sunday’s 70-65 loss to LSU<\/a>\u00a0as an example of how the Longhorns have struggled staying consistent at some points throughout the season. Going into the road game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Schaefer said No. 4 Texas (18-1, 3-1) had a good week at practice and were fired up. But they fell flat in Baton Rouge.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “We can’t make the mistakes that we made,” Schaefer said\u00a0Tuesday. “If you make the mistakes that we did on Sunday, the game will get away from you in a hurry.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Some of those mistakes include “not showing up defensively” and mental lapses on offense. Those were not problems the last time Texas and No. 2 South Carolina (17-1, 4-0) played, when a buzzer-beater from Rori Harmon<\/a> sealed the Longhorns’ 68-66 road win<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) shoots the ball over Auburn guard Syriah Daniels (11) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Ashton Judd (21) pushes past Auburn guard A’riel Jackson (7) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) is blocked from shooting during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) pushes past Auburn guard Syriah Daniels (11) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Breya Cunningham (25) comes down from a rebound on Auburn guard Ja’Mai Harris (2) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Breya Cunningham (25) jumps for a rebound over Auburn guard A’riel Jackson (7) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) takes the court during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) loses control of the ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Ashtin Judd (21) passes the ball behind the back of Auburn guard Mya Petticord (1) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Ashtin Judd (21) collides with Auburn guard Mya Petticord (1) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Bryanna Preston (1) dribbles the ball towards the Auburn basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Bryanna Preston (1) shoots the ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns and Auburn players fight for the ball during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) pushes past Auburn guard Syriah Daniels (11) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) shoots the ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer talks to forward Breya Cunningham (25) as she leaves the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) grabs a rebound during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) shoots the ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) looks for an open team mate for a pass during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) fights for.a rebound during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Auburn head coach Larry Vickers yells towards his bench during the game against Texas at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee (7) dribbles the ball towards the Auburn basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) shootsthe ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman The Texas Longhorns celebrate a score during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) shoots the ball during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns fans cheer during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer talks to guard Bryanna Preston (1) during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker (35) dribbles the ball towards the Auburn basket during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns forward Breya Cunningham (25) jumps for a rebound during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Auburn guard A’riel Jackson (7) reacts to a forced turnover by Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6) celebrates a forced turnover during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman The Texas Longhorns gather on the court after the win over Auburn at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer meets Auburn head coach Larry Vickers after the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n Looking back at the film from the Thanksgiving game, here’s how the Longhorns can beat the Gamecocks again.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n Help from Rori Harmon<\/p>\n One of the things that surprised LSU coach Kim Mulkey on Sunday was Harmon sitting<\/a> for the fourth quarter.\u00a0<\/p>\n NO. 4 TEXAS AT NO. 2 SOUTH CAROLINA<\/p>\n When\/where: 6 p.m. Thursday in Columbia, S.C.<\/p>\n TV\/radio: ESPN2; 1300 AM.<\/p>\n “Rori wasn’t just playing real well,” Schaefer said\u00a0postgame.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Schaefer said Tuesday that he wasn’t going to disrupt the chemistry of a Bryanna Preston-<\/a>run offense that scored 23 points; the most quarter points that game for the Longhorns. Harmon had one of her worst stat lines: two points, one rebound, three assists and two turnovers. It was a far cry from that game-winner\u00a0to upset the Gamecocks on a nine-assist, four-rebound and six-point performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas doesn’t need a career-best night from Harmon to beat South Carolina. But it at least needs\u00a0to get her and Madison Booker<\/a> (who went 4-for-4 from the field to start the fourth quarter against the Gamecocks) going early in the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) is fouled by Auburn guard A’riel Jackson (7) during the game at the Moody Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n Don’t get ‘Outhustled’<\/p>\n Texas won the rebounding battle 39-32 over South Carolina in November because everyone was battling for the ball. But one of the contributing factors to the Longhorns’ loss against LSU was losing on the boards. Much of the rebounding battle was left to\u00a0Kyla Oldacre<\/a>, who led Texas with 16. Booker had seven, contributing\u00a0to 35 total rebounds to LSU’s 44.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “Rebounding is a part of defense last I checked,” Schaefer said Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Oldacre only had four bench points against the Gamecocks in November, but she scooped seven rebounds. The Longhorns came out strong and met South Carolina’s physicality; winning the rebounding battle Thursday against the Gamecocks is a key test for Texas.<\/p>\n “When you can’t have the intestinal fortitude and focus to turn around and stick a butt in somebody’s gut, that ain’t it,” Schaefer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE: Texas PG Rori Harmon sits out the entire fourth quarter against LSU<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n MORE:Did Texas women get what they needed from the nonconference schedule?<\/a><\/p>\n Consistency needed from everyone<\/p>\n Texas played South Carolina with only a seven-player rotation. Oldacre and Justice Carlton<\/a> came off the bench for 17 bench points, while South Carolina only mustered up two. It’s a stark difference from Gamecocks teams of the past that\u00a0ranked in the top 25 for bench points.<\/p>\n Now, Texas is ranked No. 14 in the country in bench points<\/a>. The Longhorns have a bit more strength since the return of shooter Ashton Judd<\/a> and the speedy Preston. But with\u00a0more players in the rotation, making sure everyone is dependable is a new challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “I think our depth has been very inconsistent at times,” Schaefer said. “Sunday we really struggled with that consistency from our depth.”<\/p>\n Since losing to Texas and a tight 79-77 win against Louisville, South Carolina is in the middle of a 10-game winning streak and has been dominating teams by averaging a 37 points margin of victory.<\/p>\n To beat a team like South Carolina and to get on track before March, any Longhorn checking into the game must be ready.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Texas Longhorns forward Kyla Oldacre (00) jumps for.a rebound during the game against Auburn at the Moody Center…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":118448,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[53519,5278,34522,48614,34183,27,29,537,25992,28,5279,13548],"class_list":["post-123486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-lsu-women-s-basketball","tag-madison-booker","tag-rori-harmon","tag-sec-women-s-basketball","tag-south-carolina-gamecocks-women-s-basketball","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-longhorns","tag-texas-longhorns-womens-basketball","tag-texas-news","tag-vic-schaefer","tag-women-s-college-basketball"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123486\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n
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