Texas women's basketball took on the Tennessee Volunteers in the Sweet 16 this afternoon. This is the first time Texas has taken on a conference opponent in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
You could tell that Vic Schaefer had to fire up the Longhorns at the game's first media timeout. Once the team got fired up, the Longhorns were off to the races. The Longhorns would narrowly beat the Volunteers 67-59 to advance to the Elite 8 to take on the TCU Horned Frogs.
While there were some positives about today's game, there were also some negatives. I didn't like how the Volunteers were in the game going into halftime. I would have rather seen the Longhorns take the life out of them in the first half. Once you reach the Sweet 16, there will be closer scores; however, I think the Longhorns could have put them away by halftime. Here are the four takeaways from today's narrow win over the Volunteers.
4. First media timeout turnaround
Texas had a completely different mentality coming out of the first media timeout. You could tell Schaefer calmed down the ladies, and they looked like a completely different team. The Longhorns took off with the lead and never looked back.
When playing a team like Tennessee, you must make all of your possessions count. The Longhorns missed some good wide-open shots but took care of business by eliminating the Volunteers this afternoon.
3. Madison Booker
Booker had a good afternoon against the Volunteers. I'm not too surprised by her final stats because the Volunteers made it hard for her to take over the game this afternoon. She did contribute on offense, but not to the extent of the first two rounds.
Booker has turned her game to the next level since the Women's Basketball tournament began. She is proving why the SEC Conference named her Player of the Year. Booker will be needed against TCU in the Elite 8.
2. Scoring in the paint
The Longhorns did a good job of attacking the paint and getting their players into foul trouble this afternoon. They scored 40 points in the paint today.
The Longhorns are known for their interior game with their forwards and guards. When your strength is attacking the paint, you do that to survive and play another game. The Longhorns' beating the Volunteers in this aspect of the game was good enough for them to advance.
1. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda appreciation
Longhorns guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda does not get enough credit for what she's been able to do in the starting lineup. She was inserted into the lineup after Aaliyah Moore was injured early in the season. She has helped keep the Longhorns' offense moving.
Her performance in the last game against Illinois was one of her better performances of their tournament run. Even though she didn't get the ball much today, she's one of the reasons why the Longhorns are advancing back to the Elite 8.