By IlliniGuys Staff

March 24, 2025

AUSTIN, Tx. - Top-seeded Texas' stifling defense forced Illinois into 20 turnovers as the Longhorns built a 26-point lead and cruised to a 65-48 victory in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The victory sends Texas (33-3) to the regional semifinals for the fourth time in five years.

Illinois (22-10) battled to take a 12-10 lead before coming apart, hitting just 2 of 11 shots and committing 10 turnovers in the next 11 minutes as Texas engineered a 24-4 run and a commanding 34-16 lead.

Adalia McKenzie led the Illini with 13 points while Berry Wallace added 12. All-Big Ten first teamer Kendall Bostic, who set a school record with her 54th double-double in Saturday's win over Creighton, came up just short of one more in her final game in an Illinois uniform. The program's all-time leading rebounder finished with eight points and eight rebounds.

All-American Madison Booker scored 20 points for Texas, which meets SEC rival and the No. 5 seed Tennessee in the Sweet 16 Saturday in Birmingham.

The loss closes the careers of McKenzie, Bostic, Genesis Bryant and Brynn Shoup-Hill, who engineered a program turnaround leading to 63 wins over the past three seasons, two NCAA tournament appearances, the first NCAA tournament victory in 25 years, and winning the WBIT last spring for their first ever postseason tournament championship.