PORTLAND, Ore. — Either Texas or North Carolina will book a trip to Cleveland on Sunday afternoon.
Texas (33-4) and North Carolina State (30-6), the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds in the Portland 4 Region, both advanced to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Tournament. The Longhorns and Wolfpack will play Sunday (2 p.m., ABC, 103.1) at Moda Center.
Texas is looking to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2003, while North Carolina State last reached the Final Four in 1998. The 2024 Final Four will be held in Cleveland.
Here's what you need to know about this matchup.
Texas has had a great defensive record in the postseason.
Through six games in the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament, Texas has been led by a dominant defense.
Follow the madness: NCAA Tournament brackets, scores, schedules, teams, and more.
In the Big 12 Tournament, Texas defeated Kansas State, Kansas State, and Iowa State by scores of 60, 64, and 53 points. These teams averaged 68.2, 71.7, and 75.4 points, respectively, this season.
And in the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament, Texas had wins over Drexel, Alabama, and Gonzaga, giving them 42, 54, and 47 points. These teams averaged 57.2, 73.1, and 80 points, respectively. Gonzaga's 47 points in Friday's Sweet 16 loss to Texas by 22 points was its lowest score of the season by 19 points.
Texas is currently allowing 47.7 points per NCAA Tournament game. The Longhorns' best defensive performance in NCAA Tournament history was 56.5 points allowed in two games in the 2023 postseason showcase. During his run to the 2003 Final Four, Texas averaged 57.4 points allowed in his five games.
NC State is scoring 73.8 points per game.
Aim for victory in the Virgin Islands and Portland
Back in November, Texas and North Carolina won two titles at the Paradise Jam Tournament in the Virgin Islands. Texas defeated Arizona State, High Point and South Florida to win the Leaf Division title. North Carolina State won the Island Division title with wins over Kentucky, Cincinnati, and Colorado State.
Texas and North Carolina State did not play in the Virgin Islands. In fact, the Longhorns and Wolfpack haven't played each other since 2019. In series history, Texas leads 6-2. Two of those UT wins were recorded in the NCAA Tournament.
James and Rivers shine in the Wolfpack's backcourt
Earlier this month, North Carolina State guards Asiaha James and Saniyah Rivers were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll First Team. In the NCAA Tournament, teams across the country are discovering what his ACC coach already knew.
James has scored 70 points in three tournament games. She had 29 points, including 25 in the second half, in Friday's 77-67 win over Stanford. Rivers averaged 16.3 points this tournament and played the full 40 minutes in North Carolina State's second and third games. Rivers previously won a national championship as a reserve guard on South Carolina's 2022 team.
Texas vs. North Carolina State Predictions
Texas. You could argue that no team is currently playing better than the Longhorns, as fellow No. 1 seeds South Carolina and Iowa have each sweated it out at least once in the NCAA Tournament.