Texas forward Taylor Jones to return for Elite Eight game against North Carolina State

PORTLAND, Ore. − After spending her last game in the concussion protocol, Texas veteran forward Taylor Jones has been cleared to play in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament.

A mainstay in the Texas starting lineup this season, Jones will be available off the bench in UT's game against North Carolina State. Texas will start senior forward DeYona Gaston, who won the Big 12 Sixth Player Award, in the place of Jones.

Texas (33-4) and North Carolina State (30-6) are set to play at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.

Jones was injured during the first quarter of a second-round game against Alabama on March 24. Following a hard fall to the court, Jones left the game but later returned. She did not play five days later against Gonzaga.

Jones was allowed to practice on Saturday. Wearing what looked like a Q-Collar device around her neck, Jones was seen both working with Texas sports performance coach Zack Zillner and participating in the team warm-ups ahead of Sunday's tipoff at the Moda Center.

The 6-foot-4 Jones is scoring 12.4 points per game this season. Averaging 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, Jones is the Longhorns' top rebounder and shot blocker. Her 60.0 field goal percentage is the best mark among the players in UT's regular rotation.