The game might have not looked promising in the early minutes, but top-seeded Texas women’s basketball found its pace to dominate Gonzaga for a 69-47 Sweet Sixteen win at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
“I’m so proud of this group,” Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said. “Their effort, their intensity, their focus, their intentionality defensively, attention to detail. Just off the chart.”
Missed baskets and a single point difference between the teams in the first minutes of the game made for a slow start. With four minutes left in the quarter, Longhorn guard duo of Shaylee Gonzales and Shay Holle widened the gap by making back-to-back three-pointers. From these two game-changing baskets to the end of the first half, Texas had all the momentum, and a solid defense performance held Gonzaga to one of its lowest scoring periods of the season. Texas held a 19 point lead at half.
“It was so much fun watching those kids play their guts out tonight on defense,” Schaefer said. “It was just amazing. Amazing.”
Gonzaga came out of the locker room for the second half on fire, and, in the third quarter, did what it didn’t do in the first half. The Bulldogs matched the Longhorns in the quarter with 17 points each and didn’t fall terribly behind in the fourth with 12 points in comparison to Texas’ 15. However, while their pace improved, Texas’ remained the same, and that was enough for a victory.
“That was fun, right?” Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier said. “More fun than the rest of it.”
With freshman forward Madison Booker in foul trouble and senior forward Taylor Jones out for concussion protocol, Gonzales had to step up for her team. The BYU transfer played Gonzaga for four years while at the West Coast Conference and had 15 points at the end of the game.
“I had a chip on my shoulder playing them again,” Gonzales said. “I (know) their team very well, and I didn’t want to lose. This win is huge for us.”
Junior forward Aaliyah Moore had to be helped off court and had to take the infamous hot shot to work through cramps and come back to the game, but the second-team All-Big 12 player reached a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and she had six assists. Moore, along with Holle, who scored more against the Zags than in her last two games combined, were greeted with a standing ovation and proud hugs from Schaefer.
“I’m extremely proud of this team,” Moore said. “I’m proud of myself.”
The Longhorns are still dancing and will play for their first Final Four appearance since 2003 on Sunday as they face the third seeded North Carolina State Wolfpack in the Elite Eight.
