Texas A&M
22-9
Missouri State
24-10
Women's Basketball Tops Missouri State in NCAA First Round
Mar 19, 2016 | Women's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION -- Anriel Howard set an NCAA Tournament record with 27 rebounds, and No. 4 seed Texas A&M defeated No. 13 seed Missouri State 74-65 in the NCAA First Round on Saturday at Reed Arena.
Howard, a freshman from Atlanta, shattered the NCAA Tournament record, which was previously 23, with 27 boards, eight of which came on the offensive end. Howard also broke the Texas A&M single-game record, which was previously 21.
The Aggies (22-9) got out to a slow start, leading by just two points at halftime, by a score of 25-23. A&M pulled away from Missouri State (24-10) by outscoring the Lady Bears 29-14 in the third quarter, as Walker scored 15 in the frame.
Walker led the Aggies with 29 points, the second-most points by an A&M player in an NCAA Tournament game. Walker, who has scored 20+ points in 14 games this season, needs six more points to tie Takia Starks' (2005-09) A&M career scoring record.
Chelsea Jennings added 15 points for A&M in the victory.
The Aggies advance to the Second Round for the ninth time in the past 10 years, and improve their all-time NCAA Tournament record to 22-11. A&M hosts No. 5 seed Florida State on Monday, March 21 for the right to advance to the Dallas Regional.
QUICKIE NOTES
- Anriel Howard set an NCAA Tournament record with 27 rebounds. The mark was previously held by Cheryl Taylor (Tennessee Tech, 1985 First Round) and Charlotte Smith (North Carolina, 1994 Championship Game), who both had 23 in a game
- Howard is the first freshman to have 21+ rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game.
- Howard also set the A&M single-game rebounding record o Michell Tatum had the previous A&M single-game record with 21 against Baylor on Feb. 6, 1985
- Karla Gilbert had the previous A&M NCAA Tournament record with 15 rebounds against James Madison in the 2014 Second Round o It was Howard's career-high and third career double-digit rebound game
- Texas A&M will make its 10th appearance in the NCAA Second Round.
- Texas A&M is now 22-9 on the season, while Missouri State finishes their season at 24-10.
- Chelsea Jennings scored in double figures for the 15th time this season and 20th time in her career. It is her first career NCAA Tournament double-figure scoring game.
- Courtney Walker had 29 points. She ranks second all-time at Texas A&M with 1,971 career points. She needs six to tie Takia Starks' (2005-09, 1,977 points) career record
- It was her 14th 20+ point game of the season and the 34th of her career.
- Her 29 points were the second-most by an Aggie in an NCAA Tournament game. Danielle Adams has the A&M Tournament record with 30 in the 2011 NCAA Championship game
- It was Walker's 23rd consecutive double-digit scoring game. She has 30 double-digit games this year and her 104 in her career
- Walker has scored in double digits in each of her last six NCAA Tournament games
- This was Walker's career-high for an NCAA Tournament game.
- She set the Texas A&M career record with her 784th career made field goal, breaking Takia Starks (2005-09, 783 FGM)
- The Aggies are 22-11 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, and 7-1 in NCAA Tournament home games.
- The Aggies are now 9-1 in their last 10 First Round games
- Texas A&M is 13-3 at home this season, and is 133-4 against unranked teams at home since Feb. 2005
- The Aggies had a season-high 55 rebounds as a team
- Gary Blair is 717-291 in his coaching career and 309-128 at Texas A&M. He is 34-20 in the NCAA Tournament. His 34 NCAA Tournament wins tie for 10th all-time with Kim Mulkey (Baylor) and Jim Foster (Chattanooga).
- Blair is 14th among Division I coaches all-time with 717 wins. He is ninth among active coaches.
- The Aggies return to action for the NCAA Second Round at Reed Arena on Monday, March 21 to take on No. 5 seed Florida State
