February 11, 2006
Morenike Atunrase scored 23 points and grabbed a season high 10 rebounds as No. 24 Texas A&M beat Nebraska, 69-50, in Big 12 Conference play Saturday at the Bob Devaney Center in front of 6,143.
The win was the first for A&M in Lincoln as it captured its third straight league victory to improve to 19-5 overall and to 8-3 in the Big 12. Nebraska (12-10, 4-7) dropped its third consecutive game.
A&M wrapped a stretch of three games in seven days causing coach Gary Blair to say the Aggies are looking forward to a some rest.
?We?â„¢re tired, that?â„¢s honest,? Blair said. ?We had to play Sunday. We had to play Wednesday on the road and we had to take Thursday off. We only had one day of preparation for Nebraska. We?â„¢re tired. This was a trap game for us. We knew Nebraska would play a whole lot better coming off the loss at Baylor.?
Atunrase tallied her first double-double of the season and the second of her career. She scored 19 of her points in the first half which was the most by an Aggie in the first half this season.
Atunrase blocked three shots and had a pair of steals as she shot 8-of-13 from the field for the game while connecting on all three of her three-point attempts.
?She always fills up the stat sheet to the right,? Blair said.
The Aggies jumped out to a 19-4 lead on the Huskers. The start was highlighted by a pair of three pointers by Atunrase. Nebraska never led in the game.
?Coach Blair said their crowd would be big and we had to look for a way to get them out of the game as well as their players,? Atunrase said. ?We were being aggressive and bringing (the intensity) from our home court on the road was a big key for us.?
The Huskers answered with an 11-4 run to pull within 23-15 as freshman Kelsey Griffin tallied seven points during the stretch. She finished with 20 points and five rebounds to lead the Huskers.
A&M responded with a 12-3 outburst to extend the lead to 35-18 midway through the half. Franklin capped the run with a three pointer part of her 11 points. She also had six rebounds and five assists.
Turnovers in the first half hampered the Aggies as they committed a season first half high of 13. The Huskers managed to score 14 points off of A&M miscues which was nearly half of their first half total scoring.
The miscues continued for both teams in the second half. Nebraska finished with 25 turnovers while A&M tallied a season-high 22 turnovers.
Nebraska scored 21 of its points off of turnovers while A&M used 27 points off of turnovers to aid in the victory.
A&M?â„¢s defense held the Huskers?â„¢ leading scorer Kiera Hardy to 10 points which is seven points below her average. She was successful on 3-of-13 from the field.
?We did a good job on Hardy for the first time,? Blair said. ?She had to force some shots because we did not give her the open looks.?
The Aggies outrebounded the Huskers by the margin of 39-24.
A&M?â„¢s defense further troubled Nebraska as the Huskers became the 10th Aggies?â„¢ opponent to be held to double-digits below their normal offensive output.
A&M hosts No. 12 Baylor on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena. Admission for all fans is $1 while hot dogs and Coke products will be $1 each. Discounted tickets must be purchased in person at the Athletic Ticket Center at Kyle Field and at the Reed Arena Box Office.
NOTES?-Atunrase was selected as the State Farm Player of the Game.