‘We didn’t respond the way we should have.’ Kentucky falls to Texas in Sweet 16
Kenny Brooks said No. 1 seed Texas “was on a different planet” in its 76-54 defeat of No. 5 seed Kentucky in Saturday’s Sweet 16 of the NCAA women’s tournament.
In its wire-to-wire loss, Kentucky opened a step behind the Longhorns, who took an 18-point lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.
“Especially that first quarter,” Brooks said. “They came out, and they were aggressive. They play right to the rules. The rules allow a certain level of physicality. They play right to it. They don’t go over it. They play right to it. Today I thought they did a tremendous job of pushing us off of our mark.
“Their transition was really good. I think it was a combination of their transition offense being really good and our transition defense not being so good. They capitalize on everything.”
After the first quarter, starting forward Teonni Key led Kentucky in scoring with a total of four points, as UK made just 5 of its 13 field-goal attempts. It also committed 11 of its 24 total turnovers in that first quarter. Texas’ 26 points off Kentucky’s 24 turnovers alone was enough to separate the Longhorns and book their trip to Monday’s Elite Eight matchup with No. 2 seed Michigan.
“I just love how we opened the game,” Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said. “I love how we came out ready to go. I love how we defended the first half. I just thought we were really, really locked in. Our transition was obviously very good early, and now that was off of our defense.”
Kentucky was far more competitive in the following three quarters — particularly in the second half, during which UK outscored Texas 16-15 in the third period — but ultimately was unable to stop the Longhorns; each team scored 28 points in the second half.
UK shot 37% from the field during the game, and was limited to 5-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc.
Brooks, on record as a strong admirer of Schaefer, was effusive in his praise of the Longhorns’ star power.
“That team that Vic has — and Vic is one of the best coaches in the country, and that team is as well-constructed a team as I’ve ever seen in women’s basketball,” Brooks said. “I mean, they just keep bringing them in and out.”
Brooks highlighted All-American Madison Booker, All-America point guard Rori Harmon, and “budding superstar,” sophomore guard Jordan Lee — the three who combined for 46 of Texas’ 76 points — as prime examples as to why, in his words, the Longhorns “have to be the favorite or one of the favorites,” to win this year’s national championship.
Entering Saturday’s matchup, Kentucky leading scorer Clara Strack — the lone non-senior finalist for the 2026 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award — emphasized the importance of limiting turnovers, playing physical in the post, crashing the boards and preventing any “lulls” in scoring, all of which contributed to the team’s Feb. 9 loss to the Longhorns during the regular season.
Two out of three of Texas’ main frontcourt players, Kyla Oldacre (nine points) and Justice Carlton (fivepoints) finished the game below their individual scoring averages. The third, Breya Cunningham (eight points), was held near her typical 7.8 points per game.
Strack did not score until the 6:48 mark of the second quarter, going 0 for 3 from the field in the first period. Ultimately finishing with 16 points, five rebounds and one steal, Strack said Kentucky did not respond well to Texas’ “first punch.”
“I think we just got down too much early,” Strack said. “After the first — and midway through the second — quarter, I think we were fighting a lot better than we were in the beginning. But I think they just came out more aggressive than we did. They came out and they threw the first punch, and we didn’t respond the way we should have.”
Strack was joined in double-figure scoring by junior guard Asia Boone, who had 11 points, one rebound, two assists and one steal, and Key, who contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal.
Kentuck finished the season 25-11 — the second-consecutive UK season of 20+ wins under head coach Kenny Brooks, and the program’s first Sweet 16 berth since 2016.
Though Kentucky will lose five seniors — Key, point guard Tonie Morgan, forward Amelia Hassett, graduate guard Jordan Obi and reserve guard Josie Gilvin — to exhausted eligibility, Brooks said in the postgame press conference that Strack will return next season.
“You learn from each and every year, but I do think we’re close,” Brooks said. “When you have — the Lisa Leslie finalists for the top centers in the country, there are five on that list right now, and four of them are seniors. The one that’s coming back is coming back to us, so that gives you a leg-up right there.”
Kentucky will also welcome a trio of top 25 prospects and 2026 McDonald’s All-Americans in Maddyn Greenway, Emily McDonald and Savvy Swords.
