Shaylee Gonzales makes six 3s, leads No. 5 Texas past Jackson State 97-52

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This article was published 27/12/2023 (1001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Shaylee Gonzales matched a career high with six 3-pointers while scoring a season-best 21 points, and No. 5 Texas beat Jackson State 97-52 on Wednesday night while playing without star point guard Rori Harmon and leading scorer Taylor Jones.

Harmon missed the game with an unspecified injury. She sat on the Longhorns’ bench and appeared to be wearing a brace on her right knee under her warmup pants. She walked with a limp.

Coach Vic Schaefer would not comment on Harmon’s injury, other than to say it happened during the team’s shoot-around earlier Wednesday.

“We’ll know more (Thursday),” Schaefer said. “I don’t really have anything for you right now.”

Freshman forward Madison Booker took over point guard duties, a role she usually performs as a backup, and finished with 16 points, a season-best nine assists and just one turnover in 32 minutes.

“My mindset was, just take care of the ball,” Booker said.

Schaefer said he was not surprised Booker’s performance.

“The kid’s really special, man,” Schaefer said. “She’s a monster. I live and die with every possession. I talked to her every time down the floor, just about.”

Khadija Faye scored 14 points for Texas (13-0), and DeYona Gaston had 13 points and eight rebounds.

Andriana Avent led Jackson State (5-6) with 11 points but was just 2 of 12 from the field. Angel Jackson had eight rebounds.

Gonzales finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range. She also had five assists.

“Just finding the open gaps and being being ready to shoot,” Gonzales said. “My teammates got me the ball when I was open.”

Texas shot 57% from the field, including 9 of 16 on 3s.

Jackson State, which has lost five straight, averages 18 offensive rebounds a game, third best in the country. The Tigers grabbed 24 against Texas, but converted them into only 11 points. They shot 24.2% for the game and committed 17 turnovers.

HARMON’S IMPACT

Harmon averages 14.1 points, 7.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds. She ranks second nationally in assists and first in assist-to-turnover ratio at 6.64.

Schaefer has advocated repeatedly for Harmon as the top all-around point guard in the country. She provided validation with 27 points, 13 assists and strong defense against UConn star Paige Bueckers during a 80-68 victory against the then-No. 11 Huskies on Dec. 3.

Schaefer said he did not talk much to the team about Harmon before the game.

“My heart hurts for the kids that are out,” Schaefer said. “These (other) kids deserve my best. I’m proud of my team. They really rose to the occasion.”

BIG PICTURE

Jackson State: The Tigers’ four defeats before facing Texas also were against Power Five schools: Kansas State, Oregon State, Mississippi State and Miami. Jackson State begins Southwestern Athletic Conference competition in January as the favorite to win the league for the fifth straight season as voted by the coaches and sports information directors.

Texas: Jones, who leads the Longhorns in scoring (16.2 points per game) and rebounding (7.4) and ranks second nationally in field goal percentage (71.3%), missed her second straight game with a hip injury. Schaefer did not provide a timetable for her return. The 6-foot-4 junior missed nine games last season with what the team said was a lower-body injury. Jones had shoulder surgery and missed the last 21 games of the 2021-22 season while playing at Oregon State.

UP NEXT

Jackson State: Hosts Alcorn State on Jan. 6 in its SWAC opener.

Texas: Hosts No. 10 Baylor on Saturday in its Big 12 opener.

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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball