In the final matchup, the No. 5 Texas women's basketball team defeated Texas Tech 77-72 in a competitive matchup that head coach Vic Schaefer described as a “lucky win.”
“We were lucky to win the game,” Schaefer said. “I hope my kids learn from that.”
Texas dominated early in the first quarter with a 7-0 run led by graduate guard Shaylee Gonzalez and senior forward Taylor Jones. With two minutes left in the first period, Texas Tech took its first lead at 15-14. Two baskets by freshman forward Madison Booker gave the Longhorns the lead back, but Texas Tech sophomore guard Bailey Maupin cut the gap to one point heading into the second quarter.
The Lady Raiders took the lead early in the second quarter, but Jones came on and changed the game. Jones reached double digits in scoring before the end of the first half and continued his run with eight points. Jones' momentum brought fire to his team and they finished the first half strong, stopping their rivals from scoring for over four minutes.
The second half was just as close as the first, but Texas Tech freshman forward Kelly Mora made a 3-pointer and Texas managed to maintain the lead until 35 seconds left in the third quarter. With five seconds left in the third quarter, Texas was down by one point. Senior guard Shea Hall struggled to make baskets throughout the game, but got her first points of the night in a key moment. Holle crossed the 3-point line to give his team a two-point lead going into the final minutes of the quarter.
While Texas Tech takes on the Longhorns, Maupin and sophomore guard Jasmine Shavers were individual keys for a Red Raider team to fight until the final moments. Shavers and Maupin are Tech's No. 1 and No. 2 scorers on the season with his 390 and 367 points, respectively. Shavers made it 2-2 at the free throw line in the final minute, giving his team one last hope, and was the game's leading scorer with 27 points.
“Our lack of defensive ability was really disappointing,” Schaefer said. “We obviously weren't ready to play and we didn't play well. We'll do better.”
Seconds after Shavers went to the line, Texas' Booker also made a 2-on-2 on the other side of the court, extending the Longhorns' lead. Booker was perfect from the line, making 10 of 10 shots.
“Hopefully we can somehow keep (rivalry games like this) going,” Texas Tech head coach Krista Gerlich said. She said, “That needs to happen at every school in the state of Texas. Women's basketball in particular has a really great history. It was a fun final game, so to speak.”
Texas plays its final two away games this Saturday and February 28th against UCF and Oklahoma in Orlando and Norman, respectively, before playing its final Big 12 home game on March 2nd against BYU on Senior Night. .
