The No. 1 Texas Longhorns showcased their dominance on March 24, 2025, defeating the No. 8 Illinois Fighting Illini 65-48 in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Second Round at the Regional 3 Birmingham bracket. Texas took control early, with Madison Booker scoring a jumper at 9:11 in the first quarter to give the Longhorns a 2-0 lead after winning the jump ball. Illinois responded with free throws from Adalia McKenzie at 8:34, tying the game at 2-2, and Kendall Bostic’s jumper at 8:08 gave the Illini a brief 4-2 lead. However, Texas pulled ahead with Taylor Jones’ layup at 6:32, tying it at 4-4, and Shay Holle’s layup at 4:49 gave the Longhorns an 8-6 edge. The first quarter ended with Texas leading 16-12, thanks to Booker’s jumper at 0:00. The second quarter saw Texas extend their lead—Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda’s jumper at 8:40 made it 19-12, and Kyla Oldacre’s layup at 2:26 pushed the score to 32-16. By halftime, Texas led 34-18, as noted by Mike Lewis (@Mikeysurf) on X, who remarked that Texas was ‘having its way’ with Illinois. The third quarter saw Texas maintain their dominance, with Mwenentanda’s layup at 9:39 making it 36-18, and Booker’s jumper at 2:12 stretching the lead to 51-25. Illinois fought back in the fourth quarter, with Genesis Bryant’s three-pointers at 2:48 and 2:08 cutting the deficit to 63-48, but Texas sealed the 65-48 victory, advancing to the Sweet 16 to face No. 5 Tennessee.

Texas’ balanced attack overwhelmed Illinois, with key players stepping up to secure the victory. Madison Booker led the Longhorns with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, shooting 9-of-20 from the field, her jumper at 2:12 in the third quarter pushing Texas’ lead to 51-25, a moment that showcased her clutch scoring ability. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda was equally impactful, finishing with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block, going 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, her layup at 9:39 in the third quarter making it 36-18. Taylor Jones added 12 points and 7 rebounds, her layup at 9:04 in the fourth quarter extending the lead to 55-33, while Rori Harmon contributed 5 assists, 5 steals, and 4 points, her playmaking setting the tone for Texas’ offense. For Illinois, Kendall Bostic battled in the paint with 8 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block, her layup at 5:05 in the third quarter making it 47-25. Adalia McKenzie added 12 points and 5 rebounds, going 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, her layup at 8:45 in the fourth quarter cutting the deficit to 55-35. Genesis Bryant chipped in 9 points, including two late three-pointers at 2:48 and 2:08 in the fourth quarter, but Illinois’ 18-of-60 shooting and 17 turnovers couldn’t match Texas’ efficiency—28-of-60 from the field, 0-of-5 from three, and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. Texas also dominated the boards 35-30, with 13 assists showcasing their teamwork.

The Illinois vs Texas matchup sparked lively reactions on social media, capturing the highs and lows of March Madness. CBB Enjoyer (@InfoCBB247) announced the final score, tweeting, 'GAME FINAL 🚨 WOMENS MARCH MADNESS ⛹‍♀️ 1. Texas 65 Defeated 8. Illinois 48 🏀 - NCAA Women's Tournament Round Of 32 (Regional 3 Birmingham) Texas Now Advances To The Sweet 16 Vs 5 Seed Tennessee,' a post that spread quickly among fans. David Eckert (@davideckert98) echoed the sentiment, noting, 'Texas cruises to a 65-48 win over Illinois. It'll be UT vs UT (Tennessee) in the Sweet 16,' while Austin Statesman (@statesman) shared a photo gallery, posting, 'Photos: Texas women vs Illinois: Photos from 2025 NCAA Tournament.' Ruby Richardson (@Richardson86577) had predicted a tight game, writing, 'Texas vs Illinois prediction, picks for 2025 women's NCAA Tournament 🔥 The Illini under a new coach will be hungry for a Cinderella run, but Texas is looking like a tough opponent. Expect a tight game with Texas taking it 🍂🏀,' though Texas’ dominance proved otherwise. Ché Williams (@Che_g1) expressed frustration with the one-sided nature of the game, tweeting, 'Watched the women’s NC State vs Michigan State game…boring! Now watching the Illinois vs Texas game smh, this shit boring too. Time to watch sumn else, I tried, I can’t do it.' Meanwhile, Mike Lewis (@Mikeysurf) highlighted the Big Ten’s struggles, noting, 'Big Ten hasn’t shown up today. NC State dominated Michigan State 83-49. Texas having its way w/ Illinois, 34-18 half,' reflecting the challenges faced by Illinois in this matchup.

The Regional 3 Birmingham bracket game on March 24, 2025, saw Texas fans bring the energy as the Longhorns overpowered Illinois in a 65-48 rout. The game opened with Texas winning the jump ball, and Madison Booker’s jumper at 9:11 gave the Longhorns an early 2-0 lead, setting the tone for a physical battle. Illinois fans found their voice when Kendall Bostic’s jumper at 8:08 gave the Illini a 4-2 lead, but Texas answered with Shay Holle’s layup at 4:49, making it 8-6 and igniting the Longhorn faithful. The second quarter saw Texas take control—Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda’s jumper at 8:40 made it 19-12, and Kyla Oldacre’s layup at 2:26 pushed the lead to 32-16, sending Texas fans into a frenzy. By halftime, Texas led 34-18, and the third quarter brought more dominance—Mwenentanda’s layup at 9:39 made it 36-18, and Booker’s jumper at 2:12 stretched the lead to 51-25. Illinois mounted a late rally in the fourth quarter, with Genesis Bryant’s three-pointers at 2:48 and 2:08 cutting the deficit to 63-48, but Texas’ defense held firm, sealing the 65-48 victory. The game showcased Texas’ depth and resilience, leaving fans buzzing about their Sweet 16 matchup against Tennessee.