Texas Advances To Big 12 Semifinals In Win Over Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Texas Longhorns played a sharp fourth quarter to pull away from Kansas, 76-60, in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Saturday.
The Longhorns (28-4), the No. 2 seed in the tournament, were the third team to advance in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Iowa State and Oklahoma advanced in the day session and will play each other on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
Texas will play the winner of the West Virginia-Kansas State game at 4 p.m. Monday in a Big 12 Tournament semifinal.
Texas led after the third quarter, 48-43, even though Kansas played most of the quarter without center Taiyanna Jackson, who was called for her fourth foul with 7:21 left. Kansas was down four points when she left the game. Kansas went to a zone for much of the quarter and it appeared to slow down Texas’ offense.
To start the fourth quarter Texas guard Shay Holle sparked the Longhorns to a double-digit lead after draining a pair of 3-pointers and a mid-range jumper in the first two minutes, helping Texas to a 58-47 lead with 8:09 left. That prompted a Kansas time out.
The Jayhawks (19-12) were never able to make it close after that, as Texas maintained the lead with a collection of baskets from its frontcourt, led by Aaliyah Moore and Big 12 Co-Player of the Year Madison Booker.
Booker, who was also the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, poured in 21 points. Moore had a double-double, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Taylor Jones scored 15 points and Holle finished with 10 points. Texas shot close to 50% for most of the game.
Kansas started slowly, shooting 4-for-16 in the first quarter and were never able to catch Texas. Kansas led for all of 17 seconds, which was with 7:07 left in the first quarter after Kansas went up 5-4.
Nichols, an All-Big 12 Freshman, led Kansas with 20 points. Holly Kersgieter scored 17 points while Zakiyah Franklin added 13 points. Jackson fouled out in the fourth quarter with two points and five rebounds.
Texas had a 34-29 lead at halftime, built on Moore’s 12 points. Texas shot 60% in the first quarter but fell to 26.3% in the second, which helped Kansas get back in the game. Kersgieter scored 12 points to lead Kansas at the break, including a trio of 3-pointers.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
