Texas A&M
(9-2)
George Washington
(9-3)
George Washington 66, Texas A&M 65 (OT)
Dec 20, 2007 | Women's Basketball
December 20, 2007
Senior Patrice Reado (Houston, Texas) scored a career-high 21 points as No. 10 Texas A&M was edged by No. 22 George Washington in an overtime thriller, 66-65, Thursday night at the Charles E. Smith Athletic Center.
Reado recorded her third career double-double adding 10 rebounds in 42 minutes of play for the Aggies (9-2). Both teams traded baskets throughout the ballgame as the lead changed 16 times with the score tied on 13 occasions.
Down by four points to the Colonials with 2:18 to go, junior Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) was fouled on a made three-pointer and later converted the four-point play which tied the game up at 57-57. Starks played with four fouls, but managed to contribute 13 points. Junior Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) added 10 points and nine rebounds including a three-pointer in the final seconds of overtime, but it wasn?™t enough as GW prevailed with four of its six points produced from the charity stripe.
George Washington (9-3) was paced by Sarah-Jo Lawrence who scored 15 of her career-high 29 points in the first half including a crucial three-pointer with four seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime at 60.
There was some initial confusion on the court when the final buzzer sounded. The scoreboard had only counted Lawrence?™s shot as a two-pointer and A&M quickly inbounded the ball and dribbled up the court as if to avoid a foul and not taking a final attempt. When the clock ran out, the scoreboard showed the Colonials down by one point, but the officials quickly signaled Lawrence?™s shot had been a three.
A&M looked to avenge a 59-47 second-round loss to the Colonials in last year?™s NCAA Tournament. The Aggies take a short break for the holidays and return to Reed Arena for a Friday, Dec. 28 rematch with 2007 NCAA First Round opponent Texas-Arlington at 7 p.m.
Postgame Notes?...For the first time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of A?™Quonesia Franklin, Takia Starks, Danielle Gant, Patrice Reado and Damitria Buchanan?...Reado made her second start of the season and Buchanan the third of her career?...A&M and George Washington returned virtually its entire squad from last year?™s NCAA Tournament Second Round matchup between the two schools?...With the victory, the Colonials improve to 2-0 in the all-time series versus A&M?...Reado recorded a career-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor which marked her third game of the season to score in double figures?...She recorded her third career double-double with a season-high 10 rebounds which was one shy of her career-best in the category?...A&M has played back-to-back games in which the game was decided by two points or less against No. 22 George Washington (-1) and No. 14 Auburn (+2)?...Buchanan went down at the 4:04 minute mark of the second half with a foot sprain?...Starks extended her double-digit scoring streak to 17 consecutive games with 13 versus the Colonials?...GW played without leading scorer Jessica Adair, while A&M saw limited minutes from junior center La Toya Micheaux (Missouri City, Texas) who continues to battle severe migraine headaches?...Micheaux nearly fainted as the Aggies toured the White House and had the opportunity to visit with President George W. Bush on Wednesday?...Bush had his personal doctor take a look at Micheaux and checked in on her throughout the team?™s tour of the building?...The Aggies also met with former University President and current U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the Pentagon and U.S. Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX) and U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) at the Capitol Building...Thursday?™s overtime game was the first for A&M since a 65-56 loss in OT to Oklahoma on Jan. 14, 2004?...It also was the 22nd overtime game in school history.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
On the game and George Washington head coach Joe McKeown ?...
?We were having to play small ball. Jazmine Adair hurt us in the first half. Like Coach McKeown said, it was just a street yard fight. It was a great college basketball game. Not enough top 25 teams risk playing each other, because we have to worry about the Big 12 and the Big 12 South. Joe always plays one of the toughest schedules in the country. That is what makes his team tough in the NCAA Tournament. He?™s one of the most underrated coaches in the country. They were taking away our perimeter players (with their matchup zone). We had a lot of problems handling the ball against their zone. We did a poor job of handling the basketball and reading it. But, the best thing we were doing in the second half was getting it inside.?
On the confusion about the last-second three by George Washington?™s Sarah-Jo Lawrence which sent the game into overtime ?...
?It was a great shot by Lawrence. Let?™s don?™t take that away from her. Our point guard A?™Quonesia Franklin thought we were up by one when we looked at the scoreboard. But, we are supposed to overcome that. You give her credit for the shot. It had nothing to do with the game. Both teams played great. The clock operator had two turnovers, my point guard had four turnovers and (Kimberly) Beck had seven turnovers, so it all evens out. This is a text book game for Lawrence. Let?™s give her credit, because she did everything out there tonight.?
TEXAS A&M SENIOR FORWARD PATRICE READO
On the game and the last-second three-pointer ?...
?It was very tough. You have to give them credit for playing defense. Down the stretch we just didn?™t make the plays we should have. They made the plays and got the win. I really thought we had the momentum coming into overtime even though she (Sarah-Jo Lawrence) hit the three. She hit a lot of big shots and penetrated through our guards. She played very well. They had not scored in the last three minutes of play, so we felt that our defensive pressure would help us overcome that three-pointer. We can take a lot from this game. Sometimes it comes down to the last-minute plays. This was a big game for us and now we have to learn and work harder to get ready for conference.?
GEORGE WASHINGTON HEAD COACH JOE McKEOWN
On the game ?...
?I thought A&M brought it to us. They are a very good ballclub. It was one of those wild games. You can go through a lot of games without a lot of four-point plays. Everyone was contesting every shot. Texas A&M makes it tough to score, because they are a very good defensive team.?
