Moore powers Texas women over Utah 78-56 and into Sweet 16

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Aaliyah Moore scored 21 factors, Texas shut down Utah’s prolific 3-point taking pictures and the Longhorns earned one other journey to the Candy 16 with a 78-56 victory Sunday.

The Longhorns shot 71% in a blistering first half to open up a 14-point lead, then stretched it as excessive as 26 within the third quarter. Defensively, Texas smothered Utah shooters. The Utes made 15 3-pointers in a first-round win over Arkansas, however have been simply 6 of 20 from lengthy vary towards Texas.

The No. 2 seed within the Spokane, Washington, regional, Texas (28-6) strikes on to face the winner of matchup Monday evening between No. 3 seed Baylor and and No. 6 Ohio State. The Longhorns superior to the regional closing final season.

Kennady McQueen led No. 7 Utah ( 21-12) with 18 factors.

Moore has emerged as one in all breakout gamers of the match’s first two rounds. After 18 factors and 10 rebounds towards Fairfield, she got here off the bench to attain 14 within the second quarter towards Utah as the sport changed into a romp. Moore was 9-of-10 taking pictures for the sport.

Texas led 19-17 after the primary quarter because the groups raced up and down the courtroom. However after forcing only one turnover within the first interval, Texas’ lockdown protection pressured six within the second. A gentle weight loss program of passes from Rori Harmon to Moore within the put up rapidly stretched the Longhorns’ result in double digits.

Harmon then opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer from the left wing and a 3-point play by Moore had the lead as much as 20.

The wave of 3-pointers Utah produced within the first spherical rippled solely briefly when McQueen hit three within the first quarter, however by no means returned in time to rally the Utes.

BIG PICTURE

Utah: The Utes solely begin one senior, guard Dru Gylten, on a group that earned this system’s first NCAA Match look since 2011 and led the Pac-12 in scoring.

Texas: Utah would have figured to have the depth to match the Longhorns in a fast-paced recreation. The Utes regarded contemporary after their first recreation rout, solely to see Texas outscore the Utes off the bench 44-10 as Moore and guard Aliyah Matharu mixed for 35 factors.

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Extra AP protection of March Insanity: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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