In what can be described as a case of game rust needing a quick shake-off, the No. 2-ranked Texas women's basketball team managed to pull through with a win against South Dakota State on Sunday, despite a less-than-stellar start, the final score showing a strong finish at 70-51 in favor of the Longhorns.
Reporting from the cold confines of the First Bank and Trust Arena, both KXAN and SEC Sports vouched for Texas' grit in pushing past the Jackrabbits, even as Head Coach Vic Schaefer admitted to the team's lethargic pre-game shootaround which possibly set a tone that reflected in their gameplay; on top of that, it's well known that injuries had been pesky guests in both team's locker rooms this early season.
With standout performances by Jordan Lee, who topped the charts with 17 points, and Madison Booker's 14 points and nine rebounds, Texas showed their depth, as the team relied on key plays despite shooting percentages that weren’t particularly eye-catching; Lee managed 6-for-15 while Booker went 7-for-20 from the field, and yet, Texas still shot a decent 46% overall, outpacing the Jackrabbits who were held to 36% shooting, according to the reports.
As if following a script of comebacks and ailments, Texas saw the return of Bryanna Preston who racked up nine points in her 11-minute comeback stint on the floor, while injuries continued to shuffle the team’s line-up forcing others to log in extraordinary amounts of playing time; not to mention, Rori Harmon's excellent assist-to-turnover ratio that hasn't gone unnoticed, with 51 assists to just four turnovers over her last five games, which is certainly something to brag about, if bragging were in style.
The holiday schedule won't see Texas back on the court until December 28 against Southeastern Louisiana, an anticipated game where the team will look to extend their unbeaten streak and gear up for the conference battles ahead; meanwhile, the Jackrabbits are set to host St. Thomas on January 1, still aiming to keep their Summit League reputation intact despite the hurdles they've encountered so far.
