November 20, 2005
The Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball team will tip off the regular season against Saint Peter?â„¢s on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Reed Arena.
The Aggies are coming off their most successful season since the inception of the Big 12 Conference. Last year the Aggies reached the quarterfinals of the postseason WNIT, it was the first postseason appearance for the Aggies since 1996. The Aggies were 16-15 overall.
A&M split its two exhibition games. The Aggies dropped a 75-73 decision to Everyone?â„¢s Internet, a team of professionals including some with WNBA experience. A&M wrapped its exhibition slate with a 77-70 win over Athletes In Action.
Morenike Atunrase, the 2005 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks during the two exhibition games.
Atunrase is one of four starters returning for the Aggies. Other returning starters are point guard A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin, guard Erica Roy, and forward Tamea Scales. Franklin was among the nation?â„¢s leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio last year as she earned three Big 12 Rookie of the Week citations. Roy and Scales are two-year starters entering their senior season.
A&M coach Gary Blair has been pleased with the progress of his team so far, especially considering the number of plays that usually make up the typical Blair-developed game plan.
?Our wings are starting to understand our offense a little bit better,? Blair said. ?I?â„¢m always giving them something different and adding to our game plans. We want to be able to put in a little bit of every thing, so an actual game will be good work for us.?
Saint Peter?â„¢s was 11-7 last year and returns a senior dominated team from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
?They are a veteran team and we?â„¢ll see that the first two games we play,? Blair said. ?A majority of starters return for each team. East coast basketball teams typically run a lot of sets. Most of the coaches up there tend to be basketball junkies. So we?â„¢ll have to ready for everything.?
Blair is looking to build on last season?â„¢s record setting attendance marks at Reed Arena. The Aggies set records in total home attendance, average attendance, and single game attendance.
?I?â„¢d like a great opening night crowd,? Blair said.
Tickets are available at AggieAthletics.com or via the phone at 979-845-2311.