AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team is headed to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five seasons. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda poured in a career-high 19 points off the bench and the top-seeded Longhorns ran away with a 65-48 over Illinois in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament on Monday at Moody Center. Texas forward Madison Booker (35) takes control of a loose ball in front of Illinois guard Adalia McKenzie (24) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) grabs a rebound in front of Illinois forward Brynn Shoup-Hill (23) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Madison Booker (35) looks to shoot against Illinois guard Adalia McKenzie (24) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Madison Booker (35) scores against Illinois during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas forward Taylor Jones, center, celebrates a play against Illinois with teammates Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) and Jordan Lee (7) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Illinois guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger (8) drives to the basket against Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Illinois guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger (8) drives to the basket against Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Illinois guard Adalia McKenzie (24) shoots over Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Bryanna Preston (1) is tripped up by Illinois guard Adalia McKenzie (24) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) reaches out to teammates after a play against Illinois during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) loses control of the ball as she drives against Illinois guard Adalia McKenzie (24) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Bryanna Preston (1) reacts to a play against Illinois during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Rori Harmon, rear, and Illinois guard Genesis Bryant, front, scramble for a loose ball during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Illinois guard Genesis Bryant (1) is blocked by Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Illinois guard Genesis Bryant (1) is blocked by Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) and Illinois guard Genesis Bryant, right, scramble for a loose ball during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) grabs a rebound in front of Illinois forward Brynn Shoup-Hill (23) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Mwenentanda played 29 minutes, well above her season average of 16, shooting 7-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 from the foul line with six rebounds. Madison Booker scored a game-high 20 points on 9 of 18 shooting with six boards. Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said when he's able to play Mwenentanda at forward, it opens things up for other players. "If she stays within herself, she can do that," Schaefer said. "She can get in trouble trying to do too much sometimes, and she's grown. She's confident now, and that's never been her problem. I love that about her." How many perfect brackets remain in the women’s NCAA tournament? Mwenentanda checked out of the game to a standing ovation in the fourth quarter, and she said with a huge smile that she was out there simply having fun. "I've been prepared for this moment since Day 1," she said. "It's really just my teammates having the trust in me and me having trust in myself. You saw the most confident version of myself. I'm happy to make contributions, but every day is a different lineup and a different scout. I have to be ready for the next one." Texas held the Fighting Illini to 38% shooting and the Longhorns scored 23 points off of 20 turnovers. It was the typical Texas game of tough defense and dominating the paint as the Longhorns outscored Illinois 36-18 inside. The last perfect bracket in the men’s NCAA tournament has fallen; which games busted the most brackets? The Longhorns seized control in the second quarter, outscoring Illinois 18-6. The Fighting Illini shot 3-for-10 in the frame while Texas made seven field goals and hit four foul shots. Senior point guard Rori Harmon drew the tough defensive assignment on the Fighting Illini's dynamic guard Genesis Bryant. She entered with a 13-game streak scoring in double figures after netting 17 against Creighton in the opening round, and during the streak, she had a high of 28 against Rutgers in January. Harmon helped lock her down, holding her to eight points and forcing six turnovers. "There's no one like Rori," Schaefer said. "You're welcome to show me anybody else, but I don't think there is that person. She creates so many issues for teams. She's somebody we lean on for so much, and if she's not the best defensive player, I don't know who is." No. 2 Texas picks up SEC sweep with 2nd run-rule win over Auburn 13-2 Harmon had four steals to go with four points and seven assists. She had a tough game shooting 1-for-7, but as long as she facilitates the offense and plays tenacious defense, that's fine with her. "I take pride in defense; that's my thing. It has been like that forever," she said. "I want to play so hard because I wasn't playing in the tournament last year (due to a knee injury). It means a lot to be playing again." Taylor Jones chipped in 12 points with five rebounds and a blocked shot. Jones and Kyla Oldacre teamed up to hold Illinois forward Kendall Bostic to eight points on 4 of 13 shooting. She came into the game averaging 15.8 points per game. Adaila McKenzie led Illinois with 13 points on 3 of 10 shooting. Berry Wallace had 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting. Texas (33-3) will take on Tennessee on Saturday in the Sweet 16 in Birmingham, Alabama. ...read more read less