In a thrilling Sunday night showdown, the Texas Longhorns showcased their defensive prowess, securing a spot in the Sweet 16 with a 65-54 victory over Alabama. The Longhorns’ defense was on full display, limiting Alabama to a 21-for-62 shooting performance. Impressively, Texas blocked 11 shots and forced Alabama into 15 turnovers, demonstrating their dominance on the court.
A remarkable moment occurred with 8:10 left in the third quarter when Texas, in an attempt to create an opportunity for Aaliyah Moore in the paint, turned over the basketball. As Alabama seized the chance to counterattack, they found themselves facing only four Longhorns on the court. Despite the numerical advantage, Alabama failed to capitalize, missing their shot and unable to narrow the gap in UT’s 37-24 lead. Following the rebound, Texas quickly called a timeout and reintroduced a fifth player to the game.
During one of UT’s possessions, an unexpected incident occurred when Moore’s head made contact with the hand of Alabama’s freshman forward Essence Cody, causing Moore’s wig to partially dislodge. Moore later shared that her wig was securely sewn at the back but glued at the front, which explained why it didn’t completely come off. She humorously remarked, “This has never happened in my life. She must have hit me hard for it to come off.”
Moore took the incident in stride, noting that such occurrences are not uncommon among athletes, and emphasized her focus on the game, “It happens to the best of us. I’m just joining the group. It’s happened to a teammate of mine too. I was working so hard out there; it just goes to show. But I’m not worried. We won, I played well, and the team did great. On to the next one.”
The incident left Texas momentarily playing with just four players: center Taylor Jones and guards Madison Booker, Shaylee Gonzales, and Shay Holle. Gonzales and Holle immediately recognized what had happened, with Holle comparing the situation to a drill they often practice. “We’ve done 5-on-4 situations in practice. It’s like a transition, disadvantage drill,” Holle explained. “We all saw what happened and knew we had to step up.”
This ability to maintain defense, even while outnumbered, underscored the Longhorns’ focus and preparedness. “It just shows we’re all locked in and focused,” Gonzales added. “We’re aware of our positions and have thoroughly scouted our opponents, knowing each player’s tendencies.”
Moore returned to the game less than two minutes after the timeout, finishing strong with 21 points and 10 rebounds. With this victory, Texas (32-4) sets its sights on the Sweet 16, heading to Portland for a third-round matchup against either Utah or Gonzaga on Friday.
As for Moore, the Sweet 16 isn’t the only thing on her agenda this week. She already had a hair appointment lined up for Monday, opting for a sew-in this time, ready to tackle the next challenge with her signature determination and style.