Texas Defeats South Carolina to Claim SEC Title

Longhorns' disciplined, defense-first approach proves too much for Gamecocks

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 78-61 to claim the SEC tournament championship. Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead early and never looked back, using their stifling defense to force turnovers and limit South Carolina's scoring opportunities. The win puts Texas in contention for a No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, and marks their second victory over a projected No. 1 seed this season.

Why it matters

Texas has flown under the radar this season despite being one of the top contenders for the national title. Their disciplined, defense-first approach has allowed them to take down some of the biggest names in women's college basketball, including South Carolina, who they've now beaten twice this year. This SEC championship victory solidifies Texas as a serious Final Four threat.

The details

Texas opened the game on a 14-0 run, forcing five South Carolina turnovers in the first four minutes and converting those into easy layups. The Longhorns' stifling defense, which ranks among the nation's best in several key categories, never allowed the Gamecocks to get into any offensive rhythm. Texas outscored South Carolina 40-24 in the paint and limited the Gamecocks' star center Madina Okot and forward Joyce Edwards. Madison Booker led the Longhorns with 18 points, while Justice Carleton added 15 points, four rebounds and four assists.

  • Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

The players

Madison Booker

The Texas junior guard earned tournament MVP honors after scoring 18 points in the championship game.

Bryanna Preston

The Texas sophomore guard emphasized that "discipline, not flashiness, wins championships" for the Longhorns.

Vic Schaefer

The Texas head coach has his team playing tough, defense-first basketball that has them in contention for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Dawn Staley

The South Carolina head coach saw her Gamecocks unravel against Texas' pressure defense, falling behind early and never recovering.

Rori Harmon

The Texas junior point guard is the steady veteran leader who embodies the Longhorns' no-frills approach.

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What they’re saying

“Flashy doesn't win championships. Discipline does.”

— Bryanna Preston, Texas Sophomore Guard (Yahoo Sports)

“Every time that we would try to make a run, we had just like mental lapses, like uncharacteristic turnovers. Some of it was us, some of it was Texas — and they took advantage of it every single time.”

— Dawn Staley, South Carolina Head Coach (Yahoo Sports)

“We're definitely playing with ketchup and mustard, nothing [else] no relish, no onion. I think that works for us, because we work a lot on fundamentals. And in games like this, we fall back on our habits more than anything.”

— Rori Harmon, Texas Junior Point Guard (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This SEC championship victory solidifies Texas as a serious national title contender, proving that their disciplined, defense-first approach can win big games against elite opponents. While they may lack the flashiness of some other top teams, the Longhorns' commitment to fundamentals and teamwork has them positioned for a deep NCAA Tournament run.