Texas Women Win First SEC Title
Texas routed South Carolina 78-61 for their first-ever women's SEC tournament championship. The Longhorns established early control with strong paint play and maintained dominance throughout against the defending champions. This historic win positions Texas as a serious March Madness contender in their new conference.
This victory for the Texas Longhorns was built on an explosive start, as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead before South Carolina managed to score. Justice Carlton alone outscored the entire Gamecocks team in the first quarter, putting up 13 points to their 12. The Longhorns' offense was relentless, shooting 68% from the field in the opening quarter and taking a 27-12 lead. The championship game marked the third meeting between these two powerhouses this season. The previous matchups were decided by slim margins, with Texas winning the first 66-64 and South Carolina taking the second 68-65. This decisive 78-61 victory in the tournament final broke the season's tie in a commanding fashion. Madison Booker, who was named the tournament's MVP, led the Longhorns with 18 points in the final. Throughout the three-game tournament, she averaged 20 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. This win marks Texas's fifth consecutive season securing either a regular season or conference tournament championship. This was a historic first-ever SEC tournament title for the Longhorns, a significant achievement in their inaugural season in the highly competitive conference. For South Carolina, the loss snapped a 12-game winning streak and marked their largest halftime deficit in an SEC Tournament under coach Dawn Staley. The Longhorns' dominant performance over the three-time defending champions has solidified their position as a top contender for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. With this landmark victory, Texas has demonstrated they are a formidable force heading into March Madness.
