Is Taylor Jones playing in Elite 8? Latest injury update

Texas women's basketball and head coach Vic Schaefer were without senior center Taylor Jones in their Sweet 16 matchup on March 29 against the 4-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in Portland, OR.

Status of Texas women's basketball C Taylor Jones remains unclear entering the Elite 8 vs. NC State

Schaefer said after the game that Jones is "in concussion protocol", which was why she wasn't available for the Longhorns in the convincing 22-point victory over Gonzaga on Friday.

"She was not available. She didn’t get through yesterday, so she was not available."

Jones had a hard fall late in the game in Texas's second round win over the 8-seed Alabama Crimson Tide on March 24. She did finish that game against Alabama after suffering the hard fall.

Senior forward DeYona Gaston made her third start of the season in the absence of the injured Jones against Gonzaga on March 29. Gaston registered six points and one block in 18 minutes played in the start against the Zags on Friday night.

It is unclear whether Jones will be available for the Longhorns in their Elite 8 matchup in Portland Regional 4 in the Elite 8 on March 31 against the 3-seed NC State Wolfpack. Texas tips off at 2 p.m. CT at the Moda Center in Portland on Easter Sunday, just a couple of days after their win over Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 on March 29.

In pregame of the Sweet 16 matchup, Jones was seen in action during part of warmups for the Longhorns, but she didn't play in the game.

Jones is one of five Longhorns players who received All-Big 12 honors this season. She was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection as a fifth-year center at Texas.

Jones has started 27 games and played in 32 for the Longhorns this season. In those 32 games, she's averaged 12.4 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

Texas is 33-4 (14-4 Big 12) entering the Elite 8 against NC State (30-6, 13-5 ACC). A win over the Wolfpack would give the Longhorns their fourth Final Four appearance in program history and their first since 2003.

It is also Texas's 12th appearance in program history in the Elite 8 and the third in the last four years.

*Update

Jones went through warm ups for Texas in the pregame for the Elite 8 vs. NC State and she'll be in the lineup for the first time since the second round win vs. Alabama.

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