A month after Baylor ended Texas women’s basketball’s undefeated streak in the Longhorns’ first game without junior guard Rori Harmon, the now No. 12 Texas defeated No. 13 Baylor in Waco 67-55.
Junior forward Aaliyah Moore, who had returned from an ACL injury the month prior to the last matchup, is now a key player for the team. Freshman forward Madison Booker stepped in for Harmon in the point guard role, and despite already having a good performance in December, Booker is more comfortable in her new position.
“The first thing is trying to limit as (many) turnovers as possible,” Harmon said to ESPN about helping Booker settle into playing point guard. “Honestly she just has to understand, she has to be a leader, take care of the ball, stay composed and everybody else will fall in line.”
Neither team dominated the game, and when one seemed to grab a comfortable lead, the other quickly responded.
Though Baylor got the first two points, Booker and Moore led Texas on a 11-0 run. The Bears reacted and held the Longhorns to 13 points for almost seven minutes as they went on a 15-0 run. But Texas didn’t let the Bears relax as the team went on another 12-0 run to lead 27-23 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Moore awkwardly landed on the same leg she tore her ACL in 2022. She was able to limp off the court by herself but left questions and worries for Texas. Fortunately, it didn’t take too long until she checked in at the scorer’s table and returned to the game. While she was out, Texas scored on four straight possessions.
Despite the possible injury, Moore had a solid performance with 19 points and seven rebounds, and was the second top scorer of the game behind Booker with 22 points.
The Longhorns led 49-40 going into the last 10 minutes of the game.
Senior forward Taylor Jones, who was held scoreless in the first half, dominated the second with the first seven points for the Longhorns. Jones finished the game with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Texas kept an at least eight-point lead all throughout the fourth quarter to win its 20th game of the season.
Next up for the Longhorns is its highest matchup so far as No. 2 Kansas State travels to the Moody Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Like Baylor, Kansas State defeated Texas in the team’s first meeting and have climbed up the ranks since then. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 with a 9—1 conference record with Texas trailing in fourth place.
