AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas couldn't overcome a brutal second quarter in a 64-45 loss to South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference women's basketball tournament championship game Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Gamecocks outscored the Longhorns 21-6 in the frame, holding Texas to three field goals and 25% shooting. South Carolina dominated the paint with a 40-18 advantage, led by Chloe Kitts with 15 points and nine rebounds on 7 of 12 shooting.
South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts, high, celebrates after their win against Texas in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley holds the trophy with forward Sania Feagin after their win against Texas in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley cuts down the net after their win against Texas in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley blocks a shot by Texas forward Justice Carlton during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina forward Sania Feagin celebrates after scoring against Texas during the second half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Texas forward Kyla Oldacre fouls South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley during the second half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts shoots over Texas forward Taylor Jones during the second half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson and Texas forward Madison Booker battle for a loose ball during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Texas guard Shay Holle (10) reaches for the ball between South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts, left, and guard MiLaysia Fulwiley during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Texas forward Taylor Jones reaches for the ball between South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts, right, and guard Te-Hina Paopao during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Texas forward Taylor Jones shoots over South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Texas head coach Vic Schaeferm reacts during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina guard Raven Johnson pulls in a rebound between Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) and guard Shay Holle (10) during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Texas forward Madison Booker shoots over South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao during the first half during of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Texas turned it over 18 times and shot 30% from the field, making 16 of 54 attempts. Rori Harmon and Madison Booker had 14 points each and Madison Booker notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The teams were 1-1 against each other during the regular season, resulting in a coin flip to see who would be the top seed in the tournament. South Carolina won that toss, and then they went out and put an exclamation point on the season before the NCAA tournament begins March 19.
"We had a bad second quarter. I think it's safe to say the game was lost there," Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said. "We had a few too many turnovers, and we just can't score six points in a quarter."
Schaefer said he liked how his team fought, however. After the disastrous quarter, the Longhorns nearly played even with the Gamecocks the rest of the game at 31-29. The game took a similar path when the teams played for the first time this season in Columbia, South Carolina, a 67-50 Gamecocks victory. South Carolina took a 41-22 lead into halftime, and then the squads played to 28-28 in the second half Jan. 12 in front of 18,000 at Colonial Life Arena.
The loss shouldn't hurt the Longhorns' chances of earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament much. At 31-3, two of the losses are to the Gamecocks, with the other to Notre Dame early in the season. Earning a share of the SEC regular season title with South Carolina at 15-1 while navigating perhaps the toughest conference in college basketball should give the selection committee all they need.
"What this team has accomplished this season, I don't think anybody can question and evaluate us on just one bad quarter," Schaefer said. "You evaluate the total body of work and how many top 10s we've beat this season."
Texas has 14 Quad 1 wins this season, tied for second-most in the country behind South Carolina's 16. When the selection committee released its top 16 seeds preview in late February, the Longhorns were the No. 2 overall seed, and the Gamecocks were No. 5.
Jones said the team should let the loss hurt a little bit so they can use it as motivation to make a run through the NCAA tournament.
"I think we can lean into the pain of how this feels," Jones said. "We know we have a lot of season ahead of us. We need to keep our heads up and this doesn't define our season. I hope we see them again."
With conference tournaments wrapping up Sunday, the waiting for the selection committee to build the bracket begins. The teams will be announced at 7 p.m. CT, March 16 with the First Four beginning March 19.
