No. 4 Texas beats No. 3 South Carolina 78-61 for first SEC Tournament title

Longhorns sprint to 14-0 lead, avenge last year's loss in title game

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns defeated the third-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 78-61 on Sunday to win their first Southeastern Conference Tournament championship. Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back, shooting a blistering 57% from the field. Madison Booker scored 18 points and was named tournament MVP, while Justice Carlton added 15 points and Jordan Lee had 12 for the Longhorns. The loss snapped South Carolina's 12-game win streak, with Joyce Edwards scoring 13 points for the Gamecocks.

Why it matters

This victory marks a significant milestone for the Texas women's basketball program, as they joined the SEC just two years ago and have now won their first conference tournament title. The Longhorns proved they can compete with the powerhouse Gamecocks program, which has won six of the last seven SEC Tournament championships in Greenville, just 90 minutes from South Carolina's campus.

The details

Texas made its first seven shots and built a 14-0 lead after five early South Carolina turnovers. The Longhorns outscored the Gamecocks 27-12 in the first quarter, with Justice Carlton scoring 13 points on her own. Texas maintained a double-digit lead throughout, pushing it to 17 at halftime - the largest halftime deficit for South Carolina under coach Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks managed to cut the lead to 11 late, but the Longhorns answered with timely baskets to seal the victory.

  • Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter.
  • Texas led 27-12 at the end of the first quarter.
  • Texas led by 17 points at halftime.

The players

Vic Schaefer

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team.

Madison Booker

The tournament MVP, who scored 18 points for Texas.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team.

Joyce Edwards

A South Carolina player who scored 13 points in the loss.

Rori Harmon

A Texas guard who said "Losing is not an option" before the game.

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What they’re saying

“We belong in the SEC. We're here to play and we're here to win.”

— Madison Booker (newser.com)

“I couldn't be more proud of a group of ladies, of this team, to do what they did in this environment and against this team — it is just really impressive.”

— Vic Schaefer, Texas head coach (newser.com)

“When her shot is going in like that, they are very difficult to beat.”

— Dawn Staley, South Carolina head coach (newser.com)

“Losing is not an option. Don't step on the court if you're not ready to win.”

— Rori Harmon, Texas guard (newser.com)

What’s next

Both Texas and South Carolina are expected to be No. 1 seeds in the upcoming women's NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Texas' dominant performance over the three-time defending SEC Tournament champion Gamecocks demonstrates the Longhorns' arrival as a national powerhouse in women's college basketball. Their ability to win convincingly on what is essentially South Carolina's home court underscores their status as a legitimate title contender.