Texas A&M
11-3/1-1
Texas Tech
10-7/1-2
Texas A&M 49, Texas Tech 47
Jan 10, 2007 | Women's Basketball
January 10, 2007
Junior All-American candidate Morenike Atunrase (Shreveport, La.) hit a jumper with 1:04 left to give No. 19 Texas A&M a 49-47 victory over Texas Tech Wednesday night before a crowd of 10,185 at United Spirit Arena.
It marked A&M?™s first win in Lubbock since 1980 and first victory against Texas Tech on the road in Big 12 Conference play. The Aggies (11-3, 1-1) also picked up only their 10th win in the all-time series versus the Lady Raiders. Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair also claimed his first victory against his alma mater in seven tries.
The Aggie defense held Tech scoreless for the final three minutes of the game. Down by three and looking to score, junior A?™Quonesia Franklin (Tyler, Texas) drained a long-range three-pointer with 1:57 to go to tie the game up at 47-47.
Senior Lenka Zimova (Partizanske, Slovakia) scored a team-and season-high 11 points including nine key baskets in the first half of play. Sophomore Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) added 10. Atunrase, the team?™s leading scorer, had five points and four rebounds in her second game since suffering a foot fracture in early December.
Alesha Robertson turned in a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds for Texas Tech (10-7, 1-2). Chesley Dabbs added 11 in the loss.
The game was tied at 25-25 at halftime and the lead changed nine times. Up by five points, A&M held its largest lead of the contest with 12:40 remaining in the second half.
Texas Tech shot 29.3 percent (17-of-58) from the field to 35.7 percent (20-of-56) by the Aggies.
A&M looks to fend off another Big 12 South rival in Baylor (15-2, 2-1) as they host the Lady Bears on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Reed Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with the game televised nationally on Fox Sports Net. Fans can take advantage of Dollar Day specials with tickets and concession items priced at $1 while supplies last.
Thursday Basketball Luncheon?...Join Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair and the Aggies for the fourth basketball luncheon of the season on Thursday, Jan. 11 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Reed Arena (Room 301). Cost is $10 per person and can be paid for at the door (cash and checks only please).
Postgame Notes?...For the first time in the 11-year existence of the Big 12 Conference, the Aggies beat the Lady Raiders on their home court to pick up only their 10th all-time victory versus Texas Tech since the series first began between the two schools during the 1975-76 season?...Tech still holds a 52-10 edge in the all-time series?...A&M is now 2-19 in Big 12 regular season play versus the Lady Raiders?...It marked the first time for the Aggies to turn in back-to-back victories in the series since doing so in 1979 and 1980?...In their last meeting, the Aggies snapped a 19-game losing skid in the series with a decisive 65-48 victory over Tech at Reed Arena on Feb. 5, 2006?...Both of A&M?™s two victories in Lubbock have now been decided by exactly two points?...The Aggies last defeated Tech on the road, 66-64, on Feb. 4, 1980?...The last three contests between the two schools in Lubbock have now been decided by three points or less?...A&M opened the game on a 6-0 run, behind six-straight points by sophomore Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) who registered six points and eight rebounds in the contest?...Zimova scored a season-high and Big 12 career-best 11 points versus the Lady Raiders?...It was her most points scored in five-straight games and most points ever scored against Tech?...Starks recorded her seventh-straight double-digit game for the Aggies?...Freshman Katrina Limbaha (Riga, Latvia) made her Big 12 debut seeing four minutes of action?...Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair picked up his first-ever win in Lubbock in his 22-year coaching career?...He is now 1-6 all-time versus Texas Tech?...Blair graduated from Tech in 1972 (bachelor?™s degree) and 1974 (master?™s degree).
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
On the game and his alma mater Texas Tech ?...
?It was a defensive game. Both of us don?™t have enough scoring and are going to have to rely on our defense. I said at the half that the first team to hit 50 would win. But, they were struggling from the free throw line all night. It?™s hard to go against your alma mater, but I respect them. Texas Tech has been one of the guiding lights for women?™s basketball programs in the country. This is a special place to play basketball. Hopefully when March rolls around, you will have two NCAA (Tournament) teams here.?
On Lenka Zimova?™s team-high 11 points in the game ?...
?She stepped up huge in the first half with those nine points. That was huge and gave us momentum. I thought we won the game inside, because our defense inside was the difference in the ballgame. But, they (Texas Tech) rebounded a whole lot better than we did, particularly with their guards.?
On A?™Quonesia Franklin?™s 3-pointer to the tie up the game near the end of regulation ?...
?We were dying out there against that zone. She?™s not afraid. That?™s the most important thing about a point guard. Can you step up and make the shot ?- the shot you have to have at the end of a ballgame or when the shot clock is going down? This kid?™s got ice water in her veins. A relationship between a point guard and a coach is pretty special. She?™s out there feeling it, while I am watching it. You have to have a little bit of give and go. She stepped up and hit the big shot when we had to along with the shot by Morenike (Atunrase) down the stretch. That was the first big time move she?™s made since she?™s been back.?
On his relationship with Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry ?...
?It?™s easier after the game to hug someone you like. I sure like Kristy Curry, Kelly Curry, Bill Brock and Shereka Wright. I love that whole staff. This is what makes the women?™s game special. We can put all of our differences aside and still respect our opponents and our friends and just realize that was a hard-fought game.?
JUNIOR GUARD A?™QUONESIA FRANKLIN
On snapping the 27-year-old losing streak in Lubbock ?...
?This is a big win for us. Coach (Blair) just mentioned the fact that we haven?™t won here since 1980. It?™s a great big win, especially bringing coach back home to his alma mater. It?™s also just a great win for us on the road.?
JUNIOR GUARD/FORWARD MORENIKE ATUNRASE
On the victory and building confidence for the next game ?...
?This definitely gives us more confidence going into the Baylor game, but also for all of our Big 12 games ahead and even the ones on the road. This is a great confidence boost for us. We know what we are capable of doing from the past and we know we can bring the same type of defense on the road. We will keep the same intensity up and keep on believing in each other and sticking with each other. We knew what we were capable of doing and we got it done.?
