BY Rosemary
Fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns women’s basketball delivered one of their most dominant performances of the season Sunday, overwhelming Mississippi State Bulldogs women’s basketball 92-42 to extend the nation’s longest active home winning streak to 41 games.
Texas (26-3, 11-3 Southeastern Conference) seized control early and never relented, building a commanding halftime lead and turning defensive pressure into a steady stream of transition points. The Longhorns’ relentless pace and perimeter accuracy proved too much for a Mississippi State squad that struggled to maintain possession and rhythm throughout the afternoon.
Madison Booker led the charge with 23 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting performance. The sophomore standout was flawless from beyond the arc, connecting on all three of her 3-point attempts, and consistently found space against the Bulldogs’ defense. Booker’s composure and shot selection set the tone for an offense that operated with precision.
Jordan Lee added 17 points, delivering one of her sharpest performances of the season. Lee shot 6 of 10 from the field and buried a season-best five 3-pointers on eight attempts. Her outside shooting stretched Mississippi State’s defense and opened driving lanes that Texas exploited repeatedly.
The Longhorns matched their season-high output from long distance for the second consecutive game, converting 11 of 22 attempts from 3-point range. The perimeter barrage followed a 10-for-28 effort in a 93-62 road victory at Arkansas earlier in the week, underscoring Texas’ growing confidence from outside as postseason play approaches.
Texas’ offensive balance extended beyond Booker and Lee. Aaliyah Crump contributed 12 points, while Ashton Judd chipped in 11. Inside, Breya Cunningham controlled the glass with 12 rebounds, limiting Mississippi State’s second-chance opportunities. Point guard Rori Harmon orchestrated the offense with 11 assists, repeatedly pushing the tempo and finding open shooters in transition.
Mississippi State (18-10, 5-9 SEC) was led by Favour Nwaedozi, who scored nine points. The Bulldogs shot 38% from the field but were undone by ball security issues that derailed any hope of a sustained challenge.
Entering the matchup, Mississippi State averaged 15 turnovers per game. By halftime, the Bulldogs had already committed 17. They finished with a season-high 28 turnovers, many of them forced by Texas’ aggressive on-ball pressure and active hands in passing lanes. The Longhorns converted those miscues into 24 points and surged to a 50-18 halftime advantage, effectively deciding the contest before intermission.
Texas’ defense swarmed the Bulldogs’ backcourt, disrupting entry passes and collapsing driving lanes. Mississippi State struggled to generate clean looks in the half court and frequently found itself retreating against Texas’ fast breaks.
The victory reinforces Texas’ dominance at home, where the Longhorns have not lost in more than two seasons. The 41-game streak stands as the longest active home run in Division I women’s basketball, reflecting a combination of disciplined defense, balanced scoring and consistency in Austin.
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, Texas appears to be peaking at the right time, combining efficient perimeter shooting with a defense capable of dictating tempo. The Longhorns will look to extend their home dominance when they host No. 24 Georgia on Thursday in a matchup with significant conference implications.
Mississippi State, meanwhile, will aim to regroup as it travels to face Texas A&M on Thursday, seeking to steady its turnover issues and strengthen its position in the SEC standings before postseason play begins.
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