Texas Longhorns Tackle Breya Cunningham’s Persistent Foul Challenges

On a wild Thursday night, Texas women’s basketball forward Breya Cunningham stepped back into the starting lineup. The Longhorns rolled to a 79-50 win over No. 23 Georgia at Moody Center.

Cunningham battled foul trouble, but her play showed real growth. The team’s defense looked sharp, too.

This blog takes a look at the game’s key moments, Cunningham’s presence, and the ongoing foul issues Texas needs to fix before their next matchup.

Breya Cunningham’s Return to the Starting Lineup

At 6-foot-4, Cunningham reclaimed her starting spot after Kyla Oldacre started on senior day. This was her 29th start of the season, and she made it count.

She played 17 minutes against the Bulldogs, hitting all four of her shots and one out of two free throws. She also grabbed six rebounds and gave the team a strong boost.

Customized Handshake with Teammate Sarah Graves

Before tipoff, Cunningham and Sarah Graves went through their now-traditional handshake. It’s a front-hand slap, a back-hand tap, and an around-the-world clap.

Honestly, it’s a fun ritual and just feels like a great sign of how close this squad is.

Foul Trouble: A Persistent Challenge

Still, Cunningham couldn’t escape foul trouble. She picked up four fouls—something that’s dogged her for weeks.

Between February 5-19, she fouled out of four out of five games, never playing more than 18 minutes in those. In just the last two games, she’s been whistled seven times.

Coach Vic Schaefer’s Reaction

Coach Vic Schaefer didn’t hide his frustration. In the third quarter, after a foul call on Cunningham, he tore off his suit jacket and argued with referee Fatou Cissoko-Stephens.

That earned him his second technical of the season. The call didn’t change, and Cunningham sat down with Texas up by 30.

Defensive Prowess and Areas for Improvement

Even with the fouls, Cunningham makes a big difference on defense. She anchors a unit that leads the SEC in scoring defense (55.7 points allowed per game) and turnovers forced (23.47).

Texas also keeps opponents to the sixth-lowest field-goal percentage in the conference (37.9) and allows just 22.3 paint points per game.

Learning to Contest Without Fouling

Schaefer says Cunningham needs to make better defensive decisions. She has to figure out how to contest shots without picking up cheap fouls.

Kyla Oldacre is in the same boat, with at least three fouls in seven of her last nine games. Schaefer keeps preaching discipline and avoiding those little, unnecessary fouls that pile up fast.

Looking Ahead: Final Regular Season Game

No. 4 Texas (27-3, 12-3) wraps up the regular season on Sunday at No. 24 Alabama (21-8, 7-8). The Crimson Tide features 6-4 forward Essence Cody, who puts up 11.3 points and 4.5 rebounds a game.

This one’s going to be a real test for Cunningham and the Longhorns. They’ll need to tighten up defensively and, above all, stay out of foul trouble.

Continued Growth and Team Support

Cunningham’s growth since joining the Longhorns from Arizona really stands out, even with all the challenges she’s faced. She averages 3.3 defensive rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, often splitting minutes with Oldacre.

Guard Rori Harmon noticed Cunningham’s defensive effort. She pointed out that Cunningham’s become more physical and moves quicker these days.