Junior guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda laid down on the court like a starfish after sinking a layup and drawing a foul in the process. Her teammates on the bench, screaming their approval, had to hold onto each other to keep from joining her on the floor.
Mwenentanda recorded a career-high 19 points Monday afternoon in an important win that punched Texas a ticket to Birmingham for the Sweet 16. While this might have been the first time fans have seen Mwenentanda shine at home, she’s been ready for this since she joined the team.
“Y’all just saw the most confident version of myself, and it’s only up from here,” Mwenentanda said. “This isn’t the only game we have. We have Tennessee coming up. … And, no, I’m not scared, I’m quite excited, actually.”
The last home game in the Moody Center featured the classic Texas defense that head coach Vic Schaefer is known for. The team pressed Illinois all game, forced 20 turnovers and held the Fighting Illini to 48 points, their lowest score all season.
Sophomore forward Madison Booker scored 20 points and logged six rebounds, living up to the All-American First Team status AP News awarded her five days ago.
It was a pretty complete game for Texas. The Longhorns only had 10 turnovers, which is close to the 13.2 average they allow themselves this season. The team held Illinois to just six points in the second quarter, which is when Illinois head coach Shauna Green said Texas sealed its fate for a win. Green, when asked if she believed the Longhorns had the potential to win a national championship, said she did.
“Seeing it live, and seeing that defense … They have the guard play, they have the size, the pressure,” Green said. “It’s just different.”
Texas still has a way to go before being able to hoist an NCAA Tournament trophy overhead. The Longhorns will head to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on a No. 5 Tennessee team that just beat No. 4 Ohio State 82-67 on the Buckeyes’ home court. The Longhorns beat the Lady Vols at home 80-76 on Jan. 23, but can expect another tough game against a team looking for redemption.
Schaefer expressed the high expectations he has for his players, which they are fully aware of. Schaefer acknowledged that there’s never going to be a flawless game, but said he liked his team’s chances heading into the Sweet 16.
“This is a team that I have a ton of confidence in, and I just want it so bad for them,” Schaefer said. “I have to catch myself sometimes because I want them to be perfect, and it ain’t gonna happen.”
