January 24, 2006
A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin scored 13 points including five of the last points in the game for Texas A&M as it beat Colorado, 55-46, in Big 12 Conference play Tuesday at Coors Events Center.
Franklin hit five of her six free throw attempts in the final minute to give the Aggies their first win in Boulder.
?(Frankin) saved us,? A&M coach Gary Blair said. ?When nothing was working for us she wanted the ball and we wanted her at the line.?
A&M improves to 16-4 overall and to 5-2 in the Big 12. Colorado falls to 6-13 overall and to 1-6 in the league. A&M moves into sole possession of second place in the league.
The Aggies overcame a sloppy start to the second half after holding a 26-18 advantage at halftime. A&M started the second half shooting just 2-of-14 from the field as Colorado battled back and tied the game at 37-37 when Whitney Law hit a pair of free throws with 8:02 to play.
The Buffs took their only lead, 40-39, when Yari Escalara hit a long three-point basket from the left wing with 6:50 remaining.
?Give credit to Colorado for a great game plan,? Blair said. ?I commend them on a solid defensive game plan.?
The Aggies caught fire as La Toya Micheaux converted a three-point play for A&M to retake the lead, 41-40, with 4:56 to play.
?The shot and play of the game was La Toya Micheaux?â„¢s only basket,? Blair said. ?We put a 38 percent free throw shooter at the line.?
Late in the game, the Aggies switched to a zone defense and Colorado managed just five points the final 3:56.
?We had to change something up,? Blair said. ?We were playing ?'hope they miss?â„¢ defense.?
A&M outscored the Buffs 16-6 over the final six minutes. The Aggies an 8-of-12 effort from the free throw line during the stretch to seal the win.
?When you can not play your best and still win on the road?...,? Blair said. ?I?â„¢m just proud of how we finished it off.?
Blair used a smaller lineup for the majority of the game which featured a combined 48 fouls and 25 turnovers of the Buffs.
?We set basketball ball and television back several years,? Blair said. ?But it was effective.?
Morenike Atunrase led the Aggies with 15 points, five rebounds, and a blocked shot. Takia Starks added 11 points for A&M.
Danielle Gant had a solid outing for the Aggies with six points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Colorado used a 20-of-30 showing from the free throw line to maintain its position in the game.
A 10-0 run by the Aggies midway through the first half featured six points from Gant to give them a 17-7 lead.
A&M?â„¢s defense helped forced 15 turnovers by the Buffaloes which were converted into 12 points.
The Buffs also suffered a scoring drought from the field over the last 10 minutes of the half as Escalera hit the lone field goal during the stretch. They did score seven free throws while the Aggies scored 10 points.
A&M will host No. 13 Oklahoma on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Reed Arena. Fans holding an A&M men?â„¢s ticket for that game at 5 p.m. will be admitted free to the women?â„¢s game.
?I promise we?â„¢ll play better when we get home,? Blair said.
NOTES?-Franklin was selected as the State Farm Player of the Game. The win matches the Aggies total from last season which is the most wins since 1996. The five league victories match the most by the Aggies in the league set in the 2002 season.