Texas A&M
1-0
Pepperdine
0-1
Texas A&M 72, Pepperdine 48
Nov 10, 2006 | Women's Basketball
November 10, 2006
Morenike Atunrase had 18 points and seven steals to lead No. 14 Texas A&M to a 72-48 win over Pepperdine on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Atunrase was 8-of-8 from the line and had three assists and four blocked shots.
The game was tied at 33 early in the second half, before Texas A&M used a 13-1 run to pull away.
Patrice Reado added 16 points and Takia Starks had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Aggies. Daphanie Kennedy was Pepperdine?™s only double-digit scorer, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Aggies shot just 28 percent in the first half, but made 13-of-14 free throws for a 29-29 halftime tie. They scored six-straight points in the final minutes of the first half to overcome a 29-23 deficit.
Texas A&M was much sharper in the second half, shooting 60 percent, while Pepperdine was 6-of-23.
Up next, the Aggies (1-0) host Mercer (0-1) on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena.
Postgame Notes?...Texas A&M officially opened its 33rd season and won its 14th all-time season home opener?...The Aggies now lead the all-time series versus Pepperdine, 2-1?...It was the earliest start of the year for the Aggies since opening the 1982-83 season versus Southwestern on Nov. 12, 1982?...All five returning starters from last year?™s 23-9 NCAA Tournament squad started the contest?...Four players scored in double figures including junior All-American candidate Morenike Atunrase (Shreveport, La.) who had a game-high 18 points and career-high seven steals?...The 6,443 fans in attendance marked the largest opening day crowd in school history?...Sophomore Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) turned in her first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds against the Waves.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
On the atmosphere of the game?...
?The crowd was tremendous and it was a great atmosphere. We had over 6,000 fans and our crowd really fed our defense which helped us when our offense wasn?™t clicking. Morenike hit the key shots for us tonight. We turned the ball over too many times. Pepperdine is a top-30 team and we have to prepare better for the next game.?
On Morenike?™s steal and last-second shot at the end of the first half?...
?It was a real momentum builder for us. We were about to go into the half down by four, but instead, we ended up tied and that gave us momentum going into halftime. The first five minutes of the second half won the ballgame for us.?
JUNIOR GUARD/FORWARD MORENIKE ATUNRASE
On her last-second shot to tie up the ballgame before halftime?...
?It was a real emotional booster. I thought I traveled at first, but it gave us momentum going into halftime. We later carried that momentum into the first five minutes of the second half.?
