Texas women's hoops is heading to the Sweet 16 with win over Illinois, 65-48

No. 1 sealed their trip to the Sweet 16 Texas to a 65-48 win over Illinois on Monday night at Moody Center. With the win, the Longhorns (32-4) completed an undefeated 17-0 season at home and extended their winning streak at Moody Center to 24 games, dating back to last season.

Sophomore guard Rori Harmon added seven assists in the win, helping guide Texas to its 19th Sweet 16 appearance in program history. Head coach Vic Schaefer has now led the Longhorns to the regional semifinal in four of his five seasons in Austin and eight of the last nine seasons as a head coach.

Madison Booker opened the game with a mid-range jumper and helped spark a 16-12 first-quarter lead. Texas used a 13-2 run to close the second quarter and took a 34-18 lead into halftime after forcing 13 turnovers and holding Illinois to just six points in the period.

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda scored nine of her 19 points in the second quarter and continued her momentum into the second half with a driving layup that extended Texas’ lead to 36-18. Booker added 10 points in the third quarter, capped by a jumper that gave the Longhorns a 53-30 lead heading into the fourth.

Mwenentanda knocked down a jumper with 4:52 left in the game to set a new career high while shooting 70 percent from the field. Booker sealed the win with the final two buckets as Texas rolled past Illinois to advance.

In the post game Vic Schaefer took a few moments to address he’s ready for another Sweet 16

"I'm excited to take this group to Birmingham. This is one of my better teams, y'all - and that's why I want it to so bad for 'em. We've got enough."

Texas will face No. 4 seed Tennessee in the Sweet 16 on March 29 at 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on ABC.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas women's hoops rallies past Illinois in 65-48 win

Topics

Booker and No. 1 Texas dispatch No. 8 Illinois 65-48 to send the Longhorns back to the Sweet 16

Madison Booker scored 20 points and No. 1-seed Texas used a smothering defense to earn a 65-48 victory over No. 8 Illinois on Monday, sending the Longhorns to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Five takeaways: LSU women's basketball advances to Sweet 16 after beating FSU

LSU women's basketball is heading to its third straight Sweet 16. Here are five takeaways from the Tigers win over Florida State.
Yahoo Sports - 21h
BYU headed to Sweet 16 after 91-89 win over Wisconsin

DENVER (ABC4 Sports) – For the first time in 14 years, the BYU basketball team is headed to the Sweet 16. Richie Saunders scored 25 points, while Trevin Knell added 14, as the Cougars held off a ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Texas Longhorns women's basketball awarded a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team has been named a No. 1 seed in the upcoming 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17
NCAA Tournament schedule: Who does Texas women's basketball play next in March Madness?

If Texas women's basketball takes care of business against William & Mary the Longhorns have to prepare for Creighton/Illinois.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Michigan basketball finds more March Madness magic to beat Texas A&M, make Sweet 16

Michigan basketball's March Madness run continued on Saturday with a win over Texas A&M to continue to the Sweet 16.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Did the Longhorns punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by beating Texas A&M?

Did the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team ensure a spot in the NCAA Tournament with Thursday's upset win over rival Texas A&M? It's complicated.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Ole Miss women get March Madness redemption in Waco with 69-63 win over Baylor for Sweet 16 spot

Mississippi advanced to the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 69-63 victory over Baylor on the Bears’ home court Sunday.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Should Tennessee basketball root for Kentucky or Illinois as Sweet 16 opponent? | Adams

After Tennessee proved it could win at Rupp Arena, it might have to prove it can beat Rupp Arena's home team.
Yahoo Sports - 2d

Texas women's hoops is heading to the Sweet 16 with win over Illinois, 65-48

Topics

Related

Booker and No. 1 Texas dispatch No. 8 Illinois 65-48 to send the Longhorns back to the Sweet 16

Five takeaways: LSU women's basketball advances to Sweet 16 after beating FSU

BYU headed to Sweet 16 after 91-89 win over Wisconsin

Texas Longhorns women's basketball awarded a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

NCAA Tournament schedule: Who does Texas women's basketball play next in March Madness?

Michigan basketball finds more March Madness magic to beat Texas A&M, make Sweet 16

Did the Longhorns punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by beating Texas A&M?

Ole Miss women get March Madness redemption in Waco with 69-63 win over Baylor for Sweet 16 spot

Should Tennessee basketball root for Kentucky or Illinois as Sweet 16 opponent? | Adams

More from Yahoo Sports

Money at BetMGM on high-spending Dodgers to repeat as World Series champions

Lauren Macuga is skiing fast and having a blast doing it

Swiatek gets extra security after harassment

Raiders sign former Panthers veteran starting TE

Bengals show more pre-draft interest in notable name

More in Sports

From Cooper Flagg to Derik Queen: Montverde Academy impacting men's NCAA tournament

NBA owners to discuss potential new European league at board of governors meeting this week, per report

Who are the toughest first-round opponents for the Capitals, Jets?

Tannenbaum’s GM mock draft: A former exec’s own first-round picks for every NFL team

NBA could be headed for 'worst tanking stretch we've ever seen'