| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU | 11 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 49 |
| TEX | 13 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 56 |
Booker leads No. 1 Texas past No. 9 LSU 56-49, setting up rematch with South Carolina for SEC title
Highlight: Texas holds LSU to season-low score in hard-fought semifinal win
Madison Booker scores 25 as the 2-seed Longhorns smother the 3-seed Tigers in the foul-ridden defensive battle, clinching their first SEC champ game berth with a 56-49 win.
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- — Madison Booker scored 25 points, and No. 1 Texas held on to beat ninth-ranked LSU 56-49 on Saturday night to advance to the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game.
The Longhorns will face fifth-ranked South Carolina, which beat No. 10 Oklahoma 93-75 earlier in the day.
Texas (31-2) lost to South Carolina 67-50 on Jan. 12 in Columbia, but avenged that defeat last month with a 66-62 victory in Austin. Texas has not lost since, rattling off 15 consecutive wins.
LSU (28-5), already playing without star Flau’Jae Johnson due to a shin injury, lost their other star player Aneesah Morrow to a left ankle injury in the third quarter. Morrow, who scored a school tournament-record 36 points in Friday night’s 101-87 win over Florida, had to be helped off the court after stepping on an opponent’s foot.
She returned to the LSU bench in the fourth quarter with a boot on her left foot.
Mikaylah Williams led LSU with 11 points.
LSU: Head coach Kim Mulkey again allowed assistant head coach Bob Starkey to coach the team while she continues to grieve the death of a family member. Mulkey watched the game from the middle of LSU’s bench, giving her input at times to Starkey.
Texas: Booker had 18 points in the first half helping the Longhorns built a 29-23 lead.
Morrow left the game with LSU with 8:40 left in the third quarter and the Tigers trailing 32-27.
LSU was 9 for 17 from the foul line.
Beating South Carolina could prove to be a tough task for Texas as the Gamecocks are 17-1 all-time in SEC Tournament games in Greenville. LSU is expected to host an NCAA Tournament game.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Brenda Pantoja
- Joseph Vaszily
- Brian Hall
2024-25 Southeastern Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 15-1 | - | 31-2 |
| South Carolina | 15-1 | - | 29-3 |
| LSU | 12-4 | 3 | 28-5 |
| Oklahoma | 11-5 | 4 | 25-7 |
| Kentucky | 11-5 | 4 | 22-7 |
| Alabama | 10-6 | 5 | 23-8 |
| Ole Miss | 10-6 | 5 | 20-10 |
| Tennessee | 8-8 | 7 | 22-9 |
| Vanderbilt | 8-8 | 7 | 22-10 |
| Mississippi State | 7-9 | 8 | 21-11 |
| Florida | 5-11 | 10 | 16-17 |
| Georgia | 4-12 | 11 | 13-19 |
| Missouri | 3-13 | 12 | 14-18 |
| Auburn | 3-13 | 12 | 12-18 |
| Texas A&M | 3-13 | 12 | 10-19 |
| Arkansas | 3-13 | 12 | 10-22 |
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