Texas Longhorns Fall Short in Elite Eight vs. N.C. State

Texas Longhorns womens basketball fall short in Elite Eight against NC State.

Mar 31, 2024; Portland, OR, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) shoots a jump shot / Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

In a disappointing finish, the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team exited the NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight for the third time in four years with a 76-66 loss to NC State at the Moda Center on Sunday.

Despite an early lead, the 1-seed Longhorns couldn't contain the 3-seed Wolfpack, who surged ahead by as much as 18 points in the first half and maintained a 12-point lead at halftime.

Aziaha James led NC State's charge with a standout performance, scoring 21 points from five 3-pointers in the first half and setting a career-high with seven 3-pointers overall. With nine 3-pointers to Texas' one, NC State's dominance from beyond the arc sealed their victory.

River Baldwin added 16 points as the Wolfpack secured their place in their second Final Four in school history by outscoring the Longhorns with 12 more free throw conversions and eight additional 3-pointers.

Madison Booker took charge for Texas, leading the team with an impressive 17 points. However, she faced difficulties finding her rhythm, shooting 8 for 21 from the field. Aaliyah Moore also made a notable contribution, adding 10 points to the scoreboard, although her shooting performance was less than optimal at 5-for-14. Unfortunately, Shaylee Gonzales endured a challenging outing, failing to put points on the board and ultimately fouling out with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

Texas concludes the season with an outstanding 33-5 record, showcasing resilience despite the absence of All-American candidate point guard Rori Harmon. The horns clinch the Big 12 Tournament championship and secure their third Elite Eight appearance in four seasons under Vic Schaefer's leadership in Austin.

With a strong roster set to return, featuring talents like Harmon, Booker, Moore, and Holle, the Longhorns will hope to move past the Elite Eight next year.