Texas A&M
13-3, 3-1
Colorado
8-8, 2-2
Texas A&M 74, Colorado 58
Jan 18, 2007 | Women's Basketball
January 18, 2007
Sophomore Takia Starks (Houston, Texas), junior A?™Quonesia Franklin (Tyler, Texas) and sophomore La Toya Micheaux (Missouri City, Texas) scored 13 points apiece to lead No. 17 Texas A&M to a 74-58 rout of Colorado Thursday night at Reed Arena.
Junior All-American candidate Morenike Atunrase (Shreveport, La.) added 11 points and seven rebounds, while juniors Patrice Reado (Houston, Texas) and Katy Pounds (Shallowater, Texas) each had 10 for the Aggies (13-3, 3-1). Starks also had seven rebounds.
Jackie McFarland led the Buffaloes (8-8, 2-2) with a game-high 15 points and 13 rebounds. She was 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Jasmina Ilic had 14 points, including four 3-pointers and Whitney Houston came off the bench to add 10.
Texas A&M led 34-25 at the half and built a 19-point lead with 4:16 remaining. The Aggies never trailed and turned 23 Colorado turnovers into 29 points.
Up next, the Aggies will take on rival Texas (13-5, 2-2) in the first edition of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. in Austin, Texas. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net.
Postgame Notes?...Junior Morenike Atunrase made her second start in Big 12 play this season against Colorado?...The Buffaloes turned in their third-fewest points ever scored (58) in the all-time series?...CU?™s lowest output of all-time was a 55-46 loss in Boulder last season on Jan. 24, 2006?...They became the first Big 12 team the Aggies have handily defeated by double digits this season (+16)...Of the six players who scored in double figures, five were A&M?™s starters?...It marked the first time in the last three seasons to have six players score in double figures in a single game?...The most was five which occurred twice during the 2004-05 season against McNeese State on Dec. 12, 2004 and Cleveland State on Nov. 27, 2004?...Junior Katy Pounds scored a season-high 10 points with a season-best three three-pointers (3-of-4) against the Buffaloes?...The Aggies picked up only their third win at home versus Colorado in the series and third in Big 12 regular season play?...A&M committed a season-low 11 turnovers in the contest, while CU committed 23?...The Buffaloes became the 12th opponent this season to commit more than 20 turnovers in a single game.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
On the game ?...
?We forced 23 turnovers, but our pressure was the key in the ballgame. They played pretty good half-court defense on us. I thought our scoring was very balanced tonight. I really think La Toya Micheaux is turning out to be an All-Big 12 center. She?™s playing the game more under control. She hit a couple of timely shots. Takia Starks is turning out to be one of the top guards in the league. She?™s starting to play the complete game and filling up the right side of the stats sheet.?
On Colorado ?...
?Colorado is a good ball club and are better than they were last year. (Jackie) McFarland never wears out. I like to give Colorado a lot of credit for recruiting her. She?™s just a load. It was a workman like game tonight. We worked hard out there and got the key shots out there. The press really hurt them at times.?
On the team?™s confidence ?...
?This was a big game for us. One of the keys on the board before the game was momentum and putting the hammer down. Our confidence is good, because we have practiced well. This is a team that is going to get better and better. A lot of people think we are overrated, but I hope we will be underrated as the year goes on.?
On the upcoming Texas game ?...
?Texas is better defensively now, because they have lost their best shooter in Erica Arriaran. You have to have both teams at the highest level (of their game) and I think we both do. It?™s going to be a fun game on national television with a great rivalry.?
TEXAS A&M SOPHOMORE GUARD TAKIA STARKS
On the team?™s defensive game plan ?...
?We wanted to get out and deny the wings. If they got it into the wings, they were going to start their offense. We tried to limit (Jackie) McFarland?™s touches. When she did get it, we wanted to help out (La Toya) Micheaux and being able to rebound. Some people are surprised at me being 5-foot-8. With rebounding, I just do what my coaches say. I just box out and go get the ball. It helps when you have post players such as Micheaux, (Patrice) Reado, Lenka Zimova and Katrina Limbaha blocking out so we can get the ball sometimes.?
TEXAS A&M SOPHOMORE CENTER LA TOYA MICHEAUX
On the game ?...
?We just went hard today. Shots weren?™t falling, but we were going to the boards. I didn?™t think either team boxed out. We were going off athleticism and we were just jumping higher than them. From the post, I think it was important to rebound tonight.?
TEXAS A&M JUNIOR FORWARD KATY POUNDS
On her three-pointers ?...
?This week in practice, I was shooting the ball decently. Not great, but not bad. They (three-pointers) weren?™t going in smoothly, but at least they were going in. When I get the open looks, the ball should be going up. Basically, that?™s the whole game plan if you are open, you shoot it.?
COLORADO HEAD COACH KATHY McCONNELL-MILLER
On the game ?...
?We knew coming in how much pressure Texas A&M puts on their opponents, particularly at home. It wasn?™t because of lack of preparation. I think our program needs to get better with taking care of the basketball. Colorado needs to get better in handling the pressure and the ability to play on the road. I really like Texas A&M?™s team. I like their energy. I like their teamwork. I like their fire. I just really love their defensive energy. They were on a different level on the defensive end tonight.?
COLORADO JUNIOR FORWARD JACKIE McFARLAND
On the game ?...
?We cut the lead down to five or six in the second half and we were making a little bit of a run and getting things together. Instead of pushing that run, I think we turned around and gave them the game. We had a lot of unforced turnovers right in a row and that hurt us. The turnovers really didn?™t come once the ball was inbounds. We just had problems getting it inbounds. That was frustrating for everyone involved.?
