For the past few days, Holly Schaefer, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer’s wife, has prepared her Mississippi home to host the top-ranked Longhorns.
The farm, which holds various animals, such as “catfish the size of your leg” in a 20-acre lake, represents coach Schaefer’s successful campaign at Mississippi State, which included two conference regular season wins, two NCAA Tournament runner ups, and an Elite Eight.
Now, Vic has made his homecoming to Starkville in a successful, irrepressible 68-64 victory over Mississippi State, where classic Schaefer resilience and polished basketball was on display.
The No. 1 Longhorns pulled through in the final six minutes of the night. With the score at 54-53, Texas’ senior guard Shay Holle drilled a corner three to extend the lead to four. The Longhorns built off that momentum, going on a 9-3 run and extending their position to double digits with just over two minutes to play, and practically wrapping up the night.
Senior guard Rori Harmon had 10 points and seven assists on just two turnovers. Three of her 10 came from a half court heave at the third quarter buzzer to take back the lead by one.
Holle led the Longhorns in points with 16, and junior guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda followed close behind with 15 points and 11 rebounds with three blocks.
And so, winning its 12th straight game, Texas stands at 28–2,14–1 in conference and tied for first. With one game remaining on its regular season schedule, there’s nothing more to do but enjoy the time left.
“I love this team,” Schaefer said. “I love their toughness. I love their competitive spirit, and I love how they embrace where they are right now and how we’re winning.”
The fire cracked underneath the stars on a Louisville, Mississippi, night, as the best women’s basketball team in the country sits around a campfire. With howls of laughter singing in all directions, Vic took a step back to watch, and smile at what this year’s Texas women’s basketball team has become: a powerful, resilient sisterhood.
“If you ever had the opportunity to see it,” Vic said. “You’d understand why I’ve never gotten rid of it.”
Vic might be describing his farm, but it’s easy to think he might just be talking about this Texas team.
