Booker's Career-High 31 Points Fuel Texas to SEC Semifinal Win Over Ole Miss

Texas advances to SEC championship game with victory over Rebels

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Texas Longhorns guard Madison Booker scored a career-high 31 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to lead her team to an 85-68 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference women's basketball tournament. The third-seeded Longhorns held off a late rally by the seventh-seeded Rebels to secure their third consecutive 30-win season and a spot in the tournament championship game against South Carolina.

Why it matters

The win extends Texas' impressive run of 30-win seasons and sets up a highly anticipated matchup with South Carolina in the SEC title game. Both teams have split their regular season meetings, making the championship game a rubber match with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

The details

After Ole Miss cut the Texas lead to 57-55 at the end of the third quarter, Booker took over in the fourth, scoring six points in a 10-4 run that pushed the Longhorns' advantage back to double digits. Texas shot 53% from the field for the game, including 67% in the final period, to hold off the pesky Rebels. Booker finished with a double-double, adding 11 rebounds to her career-high scoring performance.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in the semifinals of the SEC tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.
  • Texas and South Carolina will face off in the championship game on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2 p.m.

The players

Madison Booker

A Texas Longhorns guard who scored a career-high 31 points and recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds in the semifinal win over Ole Miss.

Kyla Oldacre

A Texas Longhorns center who scored 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the victory.

Jordan Lee

A Texas Longhorns guard who contributed 14 points to the Longhorns' winning effort.

Rori Harmon

A Texas Longhorns guard who dished out 7 assists with just 1 turnover, continuing her strong season as one of the nation's top playmakers.

Denim DeShields

An Ole Miss Rebels guard who scored 20 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“When Ole Miss climbed back into the game with a big third quarter, Madison Booker took over in the fourth for the Texas Longhorns.”

— Billy Gates, Author (kxan.com)

What’s next

Texas and South Carolina will face off in the SEC tournament championship game on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2 p.m. The winner will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Texas' victory over Ole Miss showcases the Longhorns' depth and resilience, as they were able to withstand a late Rebels' rally and secure their third consecutive 30-win season. The championship game matchup between Texas and South Carolina promises to be an exciting contest between two of the SEC's top teams.