Booker, defense lift Texas to win at UCF

Freshman Madison Booker recorded her 18th straight double-figure scoring performance as fifth-ranked Texas stormed to its eighth victory in a row Saturday, beating Central Florida 8756 in Orlando, Fla.

Booker scored 22 points — her ninth game with at least 20 points this season — and contributed five assists. Shaylee Gonzales had 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, and she drew three offensive fouls by the Knights.

The Longhorns’ 23-4 margin in the second quarter propelled them into a lead they would not relinquish. It was the fifth straight road win for Texas (26-3, 13-3), which continues to chase No. 23 Oklahoma (20-7, 14-2) in the Big 12 championship race.

“That’s how you play,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “If you’re the fifthranked team in the country and you’re supposed to be, that’s how the fifthranked team in the country plays. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Taylor Jones had 15 points and seven rebounds, Shay Holle scored 14 points, and DeYona Gaston added 12 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field.

The Longhorns scored 28 points off 21 turnovers, including 10 turnovers for 15 points in the pivotal second quarter. They had seven steals and drew seven offensive fouls, including four in the second quarter.

Texas’ defense held Central Florida (12-14, 3-13) to 35.3% shooting for the game. The Knights closed the gap a bit with a 25-22 edge in the third quarter, but the Longhorns stretched it back out with a 26-13 margin in the fourth.

“It’s tough. We played a lot of oneon-one basketball in the second quarter,” UCF coach Sytia Messer said. “We’ve got to get better at that. When we execute and do what we ask, we’re a better team.”

Kaitlin Peterson, Central Florida’s leading scorer at 20.3 points per game, struggled to get going and finished with 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting. Timia Ware led the Knights with 16 points off the bench and was their only other double-figure scorer.

“What worked for us today was our team identity, which is team defense,” Booker said. “Especially the second quarter, it was all team defense. We got out in the open court and ran. That translates to buckets. This whole game as a team was us being united.”

AP Texas’ Madison Booker drives past UCF’s Kaitlin Peterson during the second half of the Longhorns’ 87-56 victory Saturday. Booker scored 22 points and had five assists.