February 09, 2007
A battle for conference supremacy is up next for the No. 16/19-ranked Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball team (18-4, 8-2) as No. 12/9-ranked Oklahoma (18-3, 8-2) travels to College Station for what is expected to be a heated rematch between two of the nation?â„¢s and Big 12 Conference?â„¢s top teams on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. at Reed Arena. Similar to the magnitude of Thursday?â„¢s Duke-North Carolina rivalry showdown, both teams will be fighting for co-ownership of first-place in the conference title race. No. 21/21-ranked Nebraska (20-4, 8-2) currently shares the top spot with the Aggies and Sooners with each school carrying an 8-2 mark in league play. The Aggies have found themselves in unfamiliar territory this season especially when it comes to regular season action in the Big 12. They have won a program-best five conference games in a row which included a 69-63 victory over 2006 NCAA Tournament participant Missouri on Feb. 7. No other Aggie squad has come even close to winning six consecutive contests in conference play in the history of the program. Not only will A&M be seeking its first series sweep of the Sooners since the league?â„¢s inception in 1996-97, but in 33 all-time meetings between the two schools. The Aggies have won five of their last six games, while OU has won four of their last six. A&M is the only team in the Big 12 that remains undefeated at home this season with a 13-0 record at Reed Arena. They will put their second-longest home court winning streak on the line against the Sooners. OU will be seeking revenge, after A&M ended its unprecedented 26-game winning streak in conference play with a 54-52 upset in Norman on Jan. 27. The Sooners will have to fend off the nation?â„¢s third-best defense which has allowed opponents only 52.1 points per game this season.
GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans are encouraged to wear white to Saturday?â„¢s game which will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net. Tickets are priced at $11 (courtside), $9 (mezzanine) and $5 (gallery) and can be purchased in advance by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE or online at AggieAthletics.com. The Reed Arena Box Office will open on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. prior to tipoff.
NATIONAL EXPOSURE
The Aggies will play before a national audience for the fourth time this season as Bill Land (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (color analyst) call Saturday?â„¢s game live from Reed Arena on Fox Sports Net. Fans throughout the country can watch the game live on FSN Florida, FSN Midwest, FSN New England, FSN North (Wisconsin), FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain, FSN Southwest, FSN West and Comcast Chicago. Delayed broadcasts will also be available on FSN Arizona (2 a.m.), FSN Bay Area (2 a.m.), FSN Northwest (2 a.m.) and Sportsouth (6 p.m.). Check your local listings. The national exposure is a first for the women?â„¢s program at A&M. The Aggies have been successful when playing on the air with a 3-1 record in televised games this season and 2-1 when playing on FSN.
OKLAHOMA AT A GLANCE
Oklahoma had the luxury of a much-needed six-day break between games to regroup and recuperate from a tough stretch which entailed five games in 11 days. The bye week allowed the Sooners to focus on their final six games of the season to increase their chances of repeating as conference champions. Like Texas A&M, OU must finish out the season against four teams situated in the top half of the league standings including Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor, while Nebraska must contend with four teams in the bottom half with Colorado (twice), Missouri and Oklahoma State on the horizon for the Huskers. The Sooners have posted an impressive 9-1 record away from the Lloyd Noble Center. They lost their first Big 12 road game in nearly two years at Texas (67-62) on Jan. 31 which ironically was their last loss prior to winning 24-straight in conference regular season contests dating back to the end of the 2004-05 season. The Sooners look to turn things around in the month of February having last beaten in-state rival Oklahoma State (78-63) on Feb. 4. Sophomore All-American Courtney Paris is averaging a league-leading 23.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game. She earned co-Big 12 Player of the Week honors with a 41-point and 19-rebound outburst versus the Cowgirls to lead OU to its ninth-straight sweep of the Bedlam Series. The Sooners?â„¢ back-to-back losses against A&M and Texas were the first since falling to Texas Tech and UT on Feb. 23 and 26 respectively in 2004-05.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
TEXAS A&M
No. Name (2006-07 Stats)
#10 A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin, G, 5-3, Jr. (9.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
#3 Takia Starks, G, 5-8, So. (13.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
#21 Morenike Atunrase, G/F, 5-10, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
#24 Patrice Reado, F, 6-0, Jr. (8.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
#12 La Toya Micheaux, C, 6-3, So. (6.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
OKLAHOMA
No. Name (2006-07 Stats)
#33 Britney Brown, G, 5-8, Sr. (4.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
#22 Chelsi Welch, G, 5-9, Sr. (10.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
#34 Erin Higgins, G, 5-9, Sr. (5.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
#24 Leah Rush, F, 6-1, Sr. (10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
#3 Courtney Paris, C, 6-4, So. (23.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg)
SERIES NOTES
Oklahoma leads 23-9 in the all-time series versus Texas A&M. The Aggies snapped an eight-game losing skid in the series with a 54-52 upset of the Sooners on Jan. 27, their first victory in Norman in the 11-year history of the league. OU still owns a 17-4 advantage in Big 12 regular season games played between the two schools. In fact, the Sooners have won the last two consecutive meetings contested in College Station. Three of A&M?â„¢s four regular-season victories have occurred at home including a 69-61 Aggie victory on Feb. 5, 2003 at Reed Arena.
IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
With six games remaining on the Big 12 Conference slate, the Aggies have never been in a closer position to be in the running for a conference title since 1994 when A&M (11-3) posted a second-place finish in the Southwest Conference behind league champion Texas Tech (12-2). The Aggies have never won a regular season conference title, but won their first-ever conference tournament title in 1996. A&M would outlast Texas Tech, 72-68, in the championship game in the final year of the SWC. Not since his days at Stephen F. Austin (1985-93) where he collected seven-straight conference championships has Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair been able to grasp the elusive conference title at Arkansas (1993-03) or A&M (2003-Present). Blair squads at both schools have never posted back-to-back seasons finishing among the top three in the conference. Last season, he led the Aggies to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996 and program-best tied for third finish in the Big 12.
GOING FOR THE SWEEP
It may be February sweeps for executives in television land, but in Aggieland, the term ?sweeps? has not become a normal occurrence in Big 12 competition until late. In fact, the brooms in the storage closet have been gathering dust. The Aggies have never swept OU in the all-time series which first began during the 1978-79 season. Historically, A&M has only swept three Big 12 South counterparts a total of five times including Texas (2005-06), Baylor (1999-2000) and Oklahoma State (1996-97, 2004-05, 2005-06) in the 11-year history of the league. Last season, the Aggies swept the regular-season series versus rival Texas for the first time since 1995 as members of the Southwest Conference. They have never taken the series sweep of OU and Texas Tech, but have beaten the Sooners and Lady Raiders once this season in the home-and home series.
BEST OF THE BEST
There?â„¢s no doubt that two of the best team?â„¢s in the country will take to the hardwood on Saturday. Oklahoma is currently 11th in the nation in scoring offense putting up 77.7 point per game, while A&M is currently third in the nation in scoring defense holding opponents to 52.1 points per outing as of Feb. 8. The Aggie defense will look to pressure the Sooners who are averaging 73.6 points per game in conference games only. A&M ranks second only to No. 7 LSU (47.6) and top-ranked Duke (50.2) in scoring defense nationally. OU has outrebounded opponents by an average margin of 13.6 rebounds per game which ranks second nationally behind star player Courtney Paris?â„¢ 16.0 average on the boards. A&M has been deadly from three-point range this season shooting a league-best 39.7 percent from beyond the arc which ranks second only to No. 14 Vanderbilt (42.7) nationally. The Aggies and Sooners lead the Big 12 in a combined 14 of 19 statistical categories, while two of their players rank among the top 15 scoring leaders with Paris (1st, 23.0) and sophomore Takia Starks (11th, 13.5). Both were named to the inaugural All-Big 12 Rookie Team last season as freshmen.
OH, TO BE 20 AGAIN!
The Aggies are two wins away from recording their seventh all-time 20-win season in school history. With its current 18-4 overall record, A&M has already assured itself of its 19th all-time winning season in the 33-year existence of Aggie women?â„¢s basketball. They have posted three consecutive winning seasons under Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair for the first time since the 1995-96 season. A&M went 23-8 in 1993-94, 21-9 in 1994-95 and 20-12 in 1995-96. Blair has led 15 different teams to 20-win seasons combined at Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas and A&M including last season?â„¢s 23-9 NCAA Tournament squad.
FOR BETTER FROM WORSE
It?â„¢s been 14 days since the Aggies and Sooners last saw each other on the court. Both teams have seen vast improvements in their shooting percentages after the A&M defense held OU to its worst shooting performance of the season on Jan. 27. The Sooners shot a season-low 32.7 percent from the field (16-of-49), while the Aggies shot a dismal 33.3 percent from the floor (18-of-54) in Norman. Since then, OU has been back to its normal shooting form connecting on 40 percent of their field-goal attempts against Texas (40.0) and Oklahoma State (43.8). Meanwhile, A&M has shot better than 45 percent from the floor in two of its last three outings including Kansas (49.0) and Missouri (51.9). Both are the Aggies?â„¢ highest field-goal percentages in league play this season. OU is shooting a league-best 47.6 percent through all games played.
A SEASON OF FIRSTS
Three of A&M?â„¢s biggest wins of the season and in the Gary Blair era have occurred on the road in Big 12 play. Last month, the Aggies picked up their first-ever win in Lubbock since 1980 with a 49-47 victory on Jan. 10 and first-ever win in Norman since 1990 with a 54-52 upset on Jan. 27. They added their first win in Columbia with a 69-63 decision over Missouri on Feb. 7. All three were first time victories on the road since the league?â„¢s inception in 1996-97. The Aggies are 4-4 away from Reed Arena this season.
LAST TIME OUT
Junior Morenike Atunrase (Shreveport, La.) scored 18 points before leaving with a right ankle sprain and junior A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin (Tyler, Texas) added 13 points as Texas A&M ended Oklahoma?â„¢s 26-game Big 12 Conference winning streak with a 54-52 upset at Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 27. Texas A&M overcame a seven-point deficit with a 13-0 run, taking a 46-40 lead on sophomore Danielle Gant?â„¢s two free throws following a technical foul on Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale. From there, the Aggies had to prevent the Sooners from staging their second rally from a five-point deficit in the final minute. After Erin Higgins?â„¢ 3-pointer from the right wing pulled the Sooners within 50-48, sophomore Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) answered with a three at the other end. After a series of misses by the Sooners and a turnover by Starks, Higgins drilled another three from the left sideline for a two-point difference with 55.1 seconds to play. Leah Rush made one of two free throws to get Oklahoma within one, but sophomore La Toya Micheaux (Missouri City, Texas) was fouled after grabbing the rebound on Rush?â„¢s miss and hit 1-of-2 to put the Aggies up 54-52 with 3.5 seconds left. Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) then blocked Kendra Moore?â„¢s desperation three-pointer from the right wing to seal the win. Rush scored 16 points to lead Oklahoma and Courtney Paris ended up with a season-low 12 points and 20 rebounds for her 47th straight double-double. Oklahoma?â„¢s scoring output was its lowest of the season and the Sooners committed a season-high 28 turnovers.
BUILDING A BASKETBALL POWER IN COLLEGE STATION
It's not hard to believe with the hirings of Texas A&M men?â„¢s basketball coach Billy Gillispie and Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball coach Gary Blair that they would build a basketball power in College Station. Texas A&M is currently one of four Division I programs in the country with both of its men?â„¢s (16-0) and women?â„¢s (13-0) teams undefeated at home this season. North Carolina previously held the same distinction until the UNC women fell to Duke Thursday night on ESPN2. The others remaining are Ohio State, George Washington and BYU. Of that group, the Aggies are one of just two with both their men and women ranked in the top 25 along with Ohio State. The Aggie women have won all but two games over the last two seasons at Reed Arena with a 27-2 record under Blair. A&M is tied for the most wins at home combined (29) among undefeated programs next to the Ohio State men?â„¢s (15-0) and women?â„¢s (14-0) programs.
1T. Texas A&M: 16-0 (men) and 13-0 (women) = 29-0
1T. Ohio State: 15-0 (men) and 14-0 (women) = 29-0
3. BYU: 14-0 (men) and 9-0 (women) = 23-0
4. George Washington: 9-0 (men) and 9-0 (women) = 18-0
MIZZOU RECAP
Takia Starks scored 21 points as Texas A&M weathered a Missouri rally for its fifth-straight win, a 69-63 victory over the Tigers on Feb. 7. Starks scored 16 points in the first half to help the Aggies build a lead that reached 24 points. Danielle Gant added 18 points and A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin had 16. Tiffany Brooks led Missouri with 22 points. Leading scorer EeTisha Riddle (16.4 ppg) shot just 1-for-4 in the first half, but went 5-for-7 in the second half to finish with 16 points. Alyssa Hollins added 11 points. The Aggies led 42-21 at halftime, but Missouri scored the first eight points of the second half. After an 8-2 Aggie run pushed the lead back to 19, Missouri responded with a 25-4 run to get back in the game. Brooks?â„¢ layup with just over 6 minutes remaining gave Missouri a 56-54 lead, its first since early in the first half. Brooks started the Missouri rally when she scored seven straight points in just over a minute. She scored 13 points in the second half. The Aggies extended their program-best Big 12 Conference win streak to five-straight games and picked up their first win in six all-time meetings with Mizzou in Columbia. The A&M defense held Mizzou to a season-low 21 first-half points. It was the Tigers?â„¢ lowest scoring production in a half this season.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
Texas A&M continues to be one of the top 20 teams in the nation in five NCAA statistical categories including scoring defense (3rd, 52.1), three-point field goal percentage (2nd, 39.7), scoring margin (17th, 15.6), assists (19th, 16.8) and steals (21st, 11.5) per game as of Feb. 8. Junior point guard A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin ranks 55th nationally in assists per game (4.6) and first in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.96). OU?â„¢s Courtney Paris ranks third nationally in points (23.0), second in rebounds (16.0) and fourth in blocked shots per game (3.4).
AGGIES IN THE RPI
The Aggies are currently No. 19 in the Jeff Sagarin/CBN Women?â„¢s College Basketball Ratings as of Feb. 9. Eleven Big 12 schools are rated among the top 100 RPI teams in the nation including Oklahoma (12), Baylor (16), Nebraska (23), Texas (24), Texas A&M (33), Kansas State (35), Texas Tech (39), Iowa State (40), Missouri (53), Oklahoma State (83) and Colorado (91) according to CollegeRPI.com. The Aggies have posted a 3-1 record against teams rated in the top 30. A&M has also played top 100 non-conference opponents in Washington (34), West Virginia (61) and Rice (89). In the NCAA RPI report released on Feb. 5, A&M is rated No. 43.
AROUND THE BIG 12
Texas A&M (8-2) is in the running for its first shot at the Big 12 championship title as the Aggies are in a three-way tie for first in the latest league standings with OU (8-2) and Nebraska (8-2). Five of the Aggies?â„¢ last six games are against teams currently ranked among the top half of the Big 12 including Oklahoma, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Texas. Nebraska plays at Colorado, while A&M and OU will battle to remain in the top spot. Baylor (20-4) and Nebraska (20-4) are the first two league schools to reach 20 overall wins this season with all but two league schools above .500.
1T. Oklahoma (18-3, 8-2)
1T. Nebraska (20-4, 8-2)
1T. Texas A&M (18-4, 8-2)
4. Baylor (20-4, 7-3)
5T. Iowa State (17-6, 5-5)
5T. Texas (16-8, 5-5)
5T. Texas Tech (14-10, 5-5)
8T. Oklahoma State (16-7, 4-6)
8T. Colorado (10-12, 4-6)
10. Kansas State (15-8, 3-7)
11. Missouri (14-9, 2-8)
12. Kansas (7-16, 1-9)
AGGIES ON THE RADIO
All Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball games can be heard via a radio broadcast on the Texas A&M Sports Network. Tom Turbiville (play-by-play) and Tap Bentz (color analyst) will call the action live from Reed Arena on KZNE 1150 AM The Zone.