Texas A&M
18-4, 8-2Big 12
Missouri
14-9, 2-8Big 12
Texas A&M 69, Missouri 63
Feb 07, 2007 | Women's Basketball
February 07, 2007
Three players scored in double figures with a 21-point outburst by sophomore Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) as No. 16 Texas A&M escaped Missouri with a 69-63 win on Wednesday night at Mizzou Arena.
The Aggies (18-4, 8-2) extend their program-best Big 12 Conference win streak to five-straight games and pick up their first win in six all-time meetings with Mizzou (14-9, 2-8) in Columbia. A&M is now 4-4 away from Reed Arena this season.
For the game, A&M shot 51.2 percent from the floor which marked a season-high in conference play. Starks scored 18 of her 21 points in the first half of play including a much-needed three-pointer to push A&M?™s lead to 60-56 with 2:40 remaining in regulation. Starks found her shooting touch after scoring in single digits in her previous two outings. She scored seven of the team?™s first nine points of the ball game including a three from NBA range with 9:52 left to go in the first half of play.
The Aggies took a comfortable 21-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but that was quickly trimmed by a 21-6 run in the second half by the Tigers. Tiffany Brooks led Missouri with a game-high 22 points.
A three-pointer by MU?™s Carlynn Savant tied the game up at 54-54 with 6:44 left in the second half. A&M later stretched its lead back out to six points with 18 seconds left to play to secure the road victory. The Aggies have now beaten Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Mizzou on their home court this season and have two more road games remaining at Iowa State on Feb. 14 and Oklahoma State on Feb. 17.
Junior A?™Quonesia Franklin (Tyler, Texas) scored 16 points for the Aggies, while sophomore Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) had 18. With the nation?™s third-best defense, A&M held Mizzou to a season-low 21 first-half points. It was their lowest scoring production in a half this season.
A&M hosts Oklahoma (18-3, 8-2) in a much-anticipated rematch on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. Both teams are tied with Nebraska for first-place in the current Big 12 standings. The game will be televised nationally from Reed Arena on Fox Sports Net. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game.
Postgame Notes?...With the victory, Texas A&M picked up its first-ever win in Columbia in the all-time series and in Big 12 Conference regular season play?...The A&M defense held Mizzou to its fewest points scored in a half this season (21) next to 22 first-half points at No. 11 Stanford on Nov. 21, 2006?...The Aggies shot 62.1 percent in the first half against the Tigers to mark the second-best shooting percentage in a first half this season and best in a Big 12 Conference game this season?...Sophomore Takia Starks scored 21 points versus MU, her highest-point total this season in league play?...It was her fourth 20-point game of the season and seventh of her career?...Junior A?™Quonesia Franklin continues on a five-game double-digit scoring streak with 16 points?...She has scored in double figures in seven of the team?™s last eight outings?...A&M?™s 21-point lead at the half was its largest in conference play this season?...Mizzou has now held all of the four Big 12 South opponents it has faced thus far to under eight points this year?...A&M shot 51.9 percent in the ballgame, its highest shooting percentage in Big 12 competition this season?...The Aggies extend their program-best win streak in conference play to five games.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
On the game ?...
?We could not have played any better in the first half. We were flat out tired in the second half. We were running out of gas in transition and the tempo (of the game) was bothering them. We felt after looking at their (Missouri?™s) stats, that they were a very good team, but they did not block a lot of shots. When you look at our breakaways and denying the high post, that?™s the difference in the game. When you are on the road, when you can get 10 points that way, you feel very fortunate.?
On Missouri overcoming a 21-point halftime deficit to A&M ?...
?I thought it was a tremendous comeback on their part. (Tiffany) Brooks is just a solid player and you will see her in the league (WNBA) next year. It was a big win for us. We have six games left and this was a key ball game for us. We needed this, because I know how talented Missouri is. This is a very good ball club who you don?™t want to see in the conference tournament.?
On the team?™s upcoming game against Oklahoma ?...
?We are known as a defensive team and we will have to win it on the defensive end. We are trying to play Oklahoma, not (Courtney) Paris. We are playing for first-place and that?™s unbelievable. I am excited about it.?
SOPHOMORE GUARD TAKIA STARKS
On her 21 points against Missouri after being in a scoring slump ?...
?Before the game, Coach (Blair) told me to play with confidence in my shots. Tonight, I just relaxed and let it go.?
JUNIOR GUARD A?™QUONESIA FRANKLIN
On Missouri?™s comeback in the second half ?...
?In the first half, we came out with aggressiveness. In the second half, Missouri did. We didn?™t step up to what they brought to the table in the second half. During their run, we did not want to get down on ourselves. We just wanted to get one defensive stop.?
