Texas Women’s Basketball enter the gates of the Elite 8

SPOKANE, Wa. — No. 6/7 Women’s Basketball for the 11th time in history will walk through the gates into the Elite 8 after beating No. 14/15 Ohio State 66-63.

After the game coach Vic Schaefer commented, "Oh, man, great day to be a Longhorn, y'all. So, so proud of this team. They just won their 29th game. 14 in a row. All they do is just work. They just play hard. I mean, they just play hard. "

Texas played more efficient basketball hitting 26-55 (47%) from the field versus Ohio State’s 26-61 (43%). Both teams had 17 turnovers. Texas converted Ohio State’s turnovers into 21 points while Ohio State converted Texas’ turnovers into 18 points, a three point differential.

The bench for Texas scored 24 points to Ohio State’s seven points from their bench. Texas committed 12 personal fouls to Ohio State’s 17. Interestingly, Joanne Allen-Taylor and Lauren Ebo both scored three points from the free-throw line in the game.

Senior Joanne Allen-Taylor led the team with 17 points, while not scoring any points in the fourth quarter, plus had three assists, one steal and no fouls in the game. Allen-Taylor defended #24 Taylor Mikesell who had a team-high 19 points for Ohio State.

Aliyah Matharu scored 10 points, six of those points on two three’s. Matharu pulled down three rebounds, four steals, two assists, and one block.

On the boards, 6’1” senior Lauren Ebo battled 6’1” Tanaya Beacham and 6’4” Rebeka Mikulasikova for the boards. Ebo pulled down eight rebounds, scored nine points, three of those at the free- throw line.

We asked Ebo after the game how she got locked into knowing what her responsibilities were for this game? 

Ebo said, “I think just working every day in practice. This week obviously we've had a lot of time to work on Ohio State and how they would guard. Even if I'm not -- even if I'm getting double-teamed or whatever the case might be, my goal is to open things up for the team and whether that's scoring or rebounding or setting a good screen to get others open, I just always want to do what I can do to help us win. I think that's my main goal going into any game, doesn't matter how many points I score, how many rebounds I get, I just want to secure the win.”

Last 27.7 Seconds Of The Game

Texas up by one point, 64-63, Ohio State’s best player, Jacy Sheldon, drives to the basket, pulls up just inside the paint with 23.7 seconds left in the game, takes the shot, misses, offensive rebound Taylor Thierry, Thierry goes up for shot that would give Ohio State the lead and Aaliyah Moore blocks the ball while still in Thierry’s hands. 

Audrey Warren gets the ball, passes to Rori Harmon underneath Ohio State’s basket. Harmon gets fouled, makes two free throws to put Texas up 66-63. Jacy Sheldon gets the ball, Rori Harmon smothered her with defense, Sheldon passes to Tanaya Beacham for the last shot behind the three point line. Beacham shoots, blocked by Aaliyah Moore.

Game over, Texas wins and advances to the Elite 8 for the 11th time in history.

Texas plays 2021 NCAA Champions No. 1 Stanford Cardinals Mar 27 at 8 p.m. CST. Texas is only one of three teams to have beaten Stanford in the 2021-2022 regular season.

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Here from Coach Vic Schaefer, Aliyah Matharu, Joanne Allen-Taylor, and Lauren Ebo after the game

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