3 takeaways from Texas's narrow win against Missouri

Texas Women's Basketball took on the Missouri Tigers at the Moody Center tonight. After struggling to beat Ole Miss last Sunday afternoon, this was a chance for the Longhorns to redeem themselves with a good performance.

When Missouri started making all its baskets, things got off to a shaky start. However, the Longhorns settled them down in the second half of the game to beat the Tigers 70-61. Tonight's win felt like a 50/50 game where some things went well while others didn't.

I was surprised Madison Booker had difficulty scoring in the first quarter tonight. She's a player that can take over a game after the opening tip-off. The Tigers did a good job of shutting her down in the first half of tonight's game.

However, you can't suppress Booker for that long because she finished the game with 16 points. The second half of tonight's game was way better than the first. Here are the three takeaways from tonight's narrow win over the Tigers.

Takeaways from Texas women's basketball's close win over Mizzou: 3. Iffy First Quarter

For some reason, it felt like the Longhorns had a slow start after the opening tip-off. Texas finished the quarter with some decent stats, but they allowed Mizzou to gain much momentum. In the second quarter, Mizzou got an 11-point lead over the Longhorns.

You can't let a 1-6 SEC team walk into the Moody Center and run circles around you like that. It's something that stuck out to me after watching the opening quarter. That can't happen again at the Moody Center.

2. Rori Harmon and Madison Booker having bad first half

Usually, Rori Harmon and Madison Booker don't have off nights together in the first half of a game. In tonight's game, both combined for six points. Once the third quarter began, Booker began to look like herself. I don't know what's going on with both players this season.

I guess the level of competition is getting to both of them. In the Big 12, both players dominated the court. It seems like they are having some issues in the SEC. I know Schaefer will figure out a way to fix the problem.

1. Good job on the boards tonight

I'll end this article with praise for how well the Longhorns did rebounding the ball. While rebounding was shaky in the first period, the Longhorns finished the game leading in rebounds. The Longhorns out-rebounded the Tigers 38-25 tonight.

Things could have gotten out of hand quickly if the Longhorns didn't get control of the boards on both ends of the court. I'm sure Schaefer was pleased with that outcome tonight. Longhorns travel to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies on Sunday night.

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