Texas Longhorns rout Michigan to secure consecutive Final Four appearances
Top seeds Texas have reached the women’s Final Four for a second consecutive year after securing a dominant 77-41 victory over Michigan in Fort Worth on Monday.
The emphatic win extends a 12-game unbeaten streak for Vic Schaefer’s side as they continue their pursuit of a first national championship since 1986.
Junior forward Madison Booker spearheaded the attack with a game-high 19 points, subsequently earning the regional’s most outstanding player award.
Conversely, the second-seeded Wolverines struggled immensely throughout the contest, finishing their season with a dismal 23% shooting performance from the field.
Turning point fuels dominant postseason run
The Longhorns’ current imperious form stems from a pivotal moment in mid-February following a disappointing defeat against SEC rivals Vanderbilt.
In the immediate aftermath of that loss, head coach Schaefer publicly criticised his players’ mentality and labelled them the softest squad he had managed in years.
“We have no heart. We’re not tough. It’s probably the softest team I’ve had in years. It translates from practices … my fault. I’ll wear it. It stops now.”
The public admonishment clearly resonated with the squad, who have not tasted defeat since that dressing down.
UCLA await in Phoenix showdown
Schaefer’s revitalised team have blitzed their way through the NCAA tournament, winning their four matchups by an astonishing average margin of 35.5 points.
This remarkable postseason dominance follows their recent SEC tournament triumph earlier in March.
The reigning SEC champions will now travel to Phoenix this Friday to face fellow top seeds UCLA in a highly anticipated national semifinal.
Having previously defeated the Bruins during the Players Era Championship in November, the Texas outfit will be confident of advancing past the stage where they fell to South Carolina last year.
