AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — The top-ranked Texas women’s basketball team delivered a dominant performance Thursday night, routing Auburn 97-36 at the Frank Erwin Center to remain unbeaten. The Longhorns, now 18-0, overwhelmed the Tigers from the start, opening a 27-5 lead after the first quarter and never relenting. Auburn, which fell to 11-6, struggled offensively, shooting just 29.2% from the floor and committing 20 turnovers. Kyla Oldacre led a balanced Texas attack with 23 points. Justice Carlton added 17 points and two blocks, while Breya Cunningham scored 15. Madison Booker contributed 16 points and four assists. Harissoum Coulibaly paced Auburn with 11 points. Texas dominated the interior, outrebounding Auburn 20-5 on the offensive glass and outscoring the Tigers 52-18 in the paint. A crowd of 8,929 watched the Southeastern Conference matchup.

AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — The Texas Longhorns, the nation’s last remaining undefeated team in women’s Division I basketball, delivered a performance of overwhelming force Thursday night, dismantling the Auburn Tigers 97-36 in a Southeastern Conference matchup at the Frank Erwin Center. The game was effectively decided in the opening minutes, as Texas unleashed a 27-5 first-quarter blitz that showcased its stifling defense and relentless offensive efficiency before a crowd of 8,929. The Longhorns improved to 18-0 overall, while Auburn fell to 11-6. The most important part of the game was the opening quarter, where Texas established a tone of defensive dominance from which Auburn never recovered. The Longhorns forced eight Auburn turnovers in the first 10 minutes, converting those miscues into easy transition baskets and a commanding 22-point lead. Auburn’s offensive struggles were profound from the outset, managing just two made field goals in the quarter against a swarming Texas defense that recorded four steals and two blocks. Texas built its lead through sheer dominance in the paint, outscoring Auburn 58-18 near the basket and securing a staggering 20 offensive rebounds that led to 25 second-chance points. The Longhorns shot 53.7% from the field overall and were nearly automatic from the free-throw line, converting 24 of 29 attempts. In stark contrast, Auburn shot a frigid 29.2% from the floor, committed 20 turnovers and managed only five offensive rebounds all night. The Longhorns’ offensive rating of 131.5 points per 100 possessions dwarfed Auburn’s mark of 53.1, illustrating the chasm in efficiency between the two teams. Kyla Oldacre, a 6-foot-6 center from Mason, Ohio, led all scorers with 23 points in just 20 minutes, perfectly capitalizing on Texas’s interior advantage. Fellow post player Breya Cunningham of Chula Vista, California, added 15 points and was instrumental in the early surge. Point guard Rori Harmon of Houston controlled the game with 10 points and seven assists, while Justice Carlton of Katy, Texas, provided 17 points, two blocks and relentless energy on both ends. Madison Booker of Ridgeland, Mississippi, filled the stat sheet with 16 points and four assists in 30 minutes. The Longhorns’ depth was on full display as Bryanna Preston contributed five points and four assists, and Ashton Judd added six points and three assists. Auburn, which has now lost three consecutive SEC games after a strong non-conference start, was led by Harissoum Coulibaly of Paris, France, who scored 11 points. Sania Richardson of Ada, Oklahoma, and Kaitlyn Duhon of Houston each finished with seven points. The Tigers never found an offensive rhythm, scoring in double figures in only two quarters and connecting on just 2 of 12 attempts from three-point range. Texas, which entered the game as a 32.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, easily covered the spread. The total score of 133 points went under the betting over/under line of 130.5. National statistical models gave Texas a 99.1% probability of victory pregame. The Longhorns continue their pursuit of a perfect season Sunday when they travel to face LSU. Auburn looks to snap its losing streak Sunday at home against Florida.

Preview: Texas Hosts Auburn in SEC Women’s Basketball Clash AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — The undefeated and top-ranked Texas Longhorns put their perfect record on the line Thursday afternoon when they host the Auburn Tigers in a Southeastern Conference women’s basketball matchup at the Frank Erwin Center. Texas (17-0, 2-0 SEC) has steamrolled its competition this season, winning by an average margin of 33.6 points. The Longhorns are coming off their closest contest of the year, a 67-64 home win over Mississippi on Sunday, which showcased their ability to win a tight conference game. Star guard Madison Booker has been the engine for Texas. The sophomore is averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. She is coming off a 15-point, six-rebound, six-assist performance against Mississippi and scored 28 points in a road win at Missouri on Jan. 1. Booker is supported by a deep roster featuring Jordan Lee and point guard Rori Harmon, who dished out 10 assists in the last outing. Auburn (11-5, 0-2) enters looking to rebound from back-to-back conference losses and pull off a monumental upset. The Tigers fell 73-56 to Tennessee and 75-53 at Mississippi State last week. Their success often hinges on the play of forward Khady Leye, who leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. Leye scored 14 points with six rebounds in the loss to Tennessee but was held to five points at Mississippi State. The Tigers have struggled offensively in SEC play, averaging just 54.5 points in their two losses. They will need a significant defensive effort to slow down a Texas offense that averages 88.2 points per game, second nationally. This game marks the first SEC meeting between the programs since Texas joined the conference this season. The Longhorns have won all three previous meetings, the last being a 74-45 victory in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Texas will continue a tough early SEC slate at LSU on Sunday. Auburn returns home to host Florida on Jan. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday.