Texas A&M
3-0
McNeese State
1-3
Texas A&M 109, McNeese State 26
Nov 21, 2006 | Women's Basketball
November 21, 2006
Junior All-American candidate Morenike Atunrase (Shreverport, La.) scored 19 points to lead six Texas A&M players in double figures as the No. 12-ranked Aggies defeated McNeese State, 109-26, Tuesday night at Reed Arena.
Freshman Adrian McGowen (Goodrich, Texas) came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points. Freshman Ashlaa Horton (Cedar Hill, Texas), sophomore Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) and sophomore Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) each scored 12 points and sophomore La Toya Micheaux (Missouri City, Texas) added 11. Gant also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to record her first career double-double.
Texas A&M (3-0) shot a season-best 63.8 percent from the field (44-69). The Aggies also scored 46 points off 28 McNeese State turnovers. Leading the way for McNeese State (1-3) was Shonice Sprouse who had nine points.
The 83-point margin of victory tied a school-record previously set in a 99-16 victory over Rice on Jan. 21, 1975. The Aggies also set a new Reed Arena record for most points scored in a single game (109). It was the second fewest points scored by an opponent behind 16 versus Rice during the 1974-75 season.
The Aggies held their third-straight opponent to under 19-or-fewer second-half points, after sprinting out to a 33-4 stretch in 12 minutes of play in the second half. The A&M defense allowed only 12 first-half points and 14 second-half points to the Cowgirls. The Aggies extend their non-conference home win streak to 17-straight games.
Up next, A&M (3-0) travels to Southern California for the Loyola Marymount Ayres Hotel Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 24 and 25 in Los Angeles, Calif. The Aggies will take on West Virginia (2-2) in the opening round on Friday, Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. (CT). They will then meet either host LMU (2-2) or American (1-3) in the consolation or championship game on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 4 or 6 p.m. (CT). All games to be played at the Gersten Pavilion on the LMU campus.
Postgame Notes?...Sophomore Danielle Gant recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds?...She reached the milestone in just the first half of play?...It marked the fourth time of her career to grab double-digit boards?...Junior All-American candidate Morenike Aturnase also had 12 of her game-high 19 points in the first half?...It was the second time this season for four-or-more Aggies to score in double figures?...Six players ended the night in double figures?...A&M tied the school-record for largest margin of victory with its 83-point win over McNeese State (109-26)?...The Aggies last defeated an opponent by 83 points versus Rice on Jan. 21, 1975?...It was also the second fewest points scored by an opponent in school history behind 16 scored by Rice on Jan. 21, 1975?...A&M reset the Reed Arena record for most points scored in a single-game with 109 points?...The previous record was 103 against UT-Pan American on Dec. 8, 1988?...The game marked the 10th time in school history that an Aggie team reached the century mark and first in the Gary Blair Era?...The Aggies were two points shy of the school single-game record set against Lamar (111 points) on Nov. 15, 1995?...The McNeese State game ranks third all-time in most points scored in a game?...A&M shot a season-high 63.8 percent from the floor (44-69) and season-high 77.8 percent from beyond the three-point arc (7-9)?...It was the second consecutive game for the Aggies to shoot over 70 percent from downtown?...A&M also brought down a season-best 50 boards with 13-of-14 Aggie players contributing to the team rebound total?...The Aggies also dished out a season-high 33 assists with junior point guard A?™Quonesia Franklin (Tyler, Texas) turning in her fourth career double-assist game with 10.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
On the game ?...
?We are a lot better zone team now, then what we were before. McNeese State was a young team and one of their post players was injured. But, we have to make sure our kids understand the press. How can you not be pleased with this game? All 14 kids did something in the game to contribute. We have an unselfish team who has great chemistry and likes to share the basketball.?
On the team?™s goals before the game?...
?We had several goals before the game and our kids responded to those goals. We were not trying to get 100 points tonight, but wanted to run our offense. I?™ve been on the other end and sometimes it happens to all of us. McNeese is a quality program and when they get healthy, they will be fine. This is our dress rehearsal for the season ahead. We?™re ready to play good competition out on the west coast this weekend. This team has a chance to be special, if we can stay healthy and improve.?
On Danielle Gant?™s double-double in the first half?...
?I don?™t think I?™ve ever had a player (Danielle Gant) turn in a double-double in a half. Danielle can play any position on the court, but she is content with coming off the bench.?
JUNIOR GUARD/FORWARD MORENIKE ATUNRASE
On the early run?...
?From our last game, we have been practicing on dissecting the zone. Tonight, we played against a zone which we will face numerous times against Big 12 North opponents this season. It (the game) was a great opportunity to work on our zone defense. It was also a good opportunity for my teammates to come off the bench, which showed that we have the depth and the ability to hold them (opponents) off defensively.?
SOPHOMORE GUARD/FORWARD DANIELLE GANT
On the team?™s gameplan on the boards ?...
?Our goal was to allow them fewer offensive rebounds. Coach (Blair) wanted us to play good defense and get a lot of rebounds and that?™s what we did.?
