Shay Holle’s defensive dominance helps Longhorns to easy win over Drexel

The hometown hero Shay Holle helped her team shut down the Drexel Dragons in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. While she struggled from the field, Holle was her usual menace of player on the defensive end.

Holle simply couldn’t find her shot throughout the 40-minute game and went 0 for 3 from the field and 0 for 1 from three-point range.

However, in Texas’ 40-point win over the Dragons, Holle dominated the defensive side of the ball.

The native Austinite brought down 6 defensive rebounds (7 total) and racked up 4 blocks for the Horns. Holle also had 3 steals to minimize the number of possessions Drexel could take to the basket.

Another impressive stat from Holle’s first NCAA Tournament game of the season? She committed 0 personal fouls.

Texas defeated Drexel 82-42 to move on to the Round of 32 where they will face the winner of the Alabama versus Florida State game.

Holle, a senior guard, started with Texas in 2020 but didn’t become a consistent starting player until this season.

This was Holle and the Horns’ fourth consecutive March Madness appearance since the 2021 postseason.

“I’ve been blessed to be in the tournament every year,” Holle said. “At Texas that’s common, but I know that’s not common everywhere else and I don’t take it for granted.”

Head coach Vic Schaefer speaks highly of Holle, as a leader for the Longhorns on and off the court. Schaefer took over the Texas program in 2020 and had his first year with the Horns right along with Holle.

“Shay’s one of those players that, as you’ve watched her throughout her career, she’s what’s right about college athletics,” Schaefer said. “It doesn’t matter what happens, you can’t keep her out of the lineup.”

Texas was led in scoring by Shaylee Gonzales who had 21 points. Taylor Jones had 18 points for the Horns and Aaliyah Moore added 10 points on top of that.

Madison Booker delved out a career-high 14 assists to her teammates and scored 8 points.