Dec. 9, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M women's basketball program continues to reach new heights receiving a program-best No. 3 national ranking in the latest USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday.
The Aggies, who improved on their previous school-best of No. 4 in last week's Coaches Poll, are off to an undefeated 8-0 start of the season and currently rank No. 1 in the country in three-point field goal defense (.167), No. 6 in scoring defense (49.5) and No. 6 in field-goal percentage defense (31.3). They are one of a handful of unbeaten teams in the nation. A&M will play host to Texas State on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. (CT).
Head coach Gary Blair, who is in his sixth season with the Aggies, also achieved his highest-ever national ranking with one of his basketball squads in 24 overall seasons of coaching on the Division I level at Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas and A&M combined. He previously led SFA to a No. 4 national ranking during the 1991-92 season and A&M to a No. 4 national ranking in last week's Coaches Poll.
The Aggie women hoopsters are among several successful varsity women's sports on campus to be ranked No. 3 or higher in the national polls over the last two years. The Texas A&M equestrian team is currently ranked No. 2 in the latest Women's Intercollegiate Equestrian National Coaches Poll, the A&M soccer team was ranked as high as No. 2 in the NSCAA National Poll during the 2007 season, the A&M women's track and field team was ranked as high as No. 1 in the Women's USTFCCCA Rankings in the 2008 season and the A&M softball team was ranked as high as No. 2 in the USA TODAY/NFCA Top 25 Poll during its run to the Women's College World Series Championship Game in the 2008 season.
USA TODAY/ESPN COACHES TOP 25 POLL
1. Connecticut (6-0)
2. North Carolina (9-0)
3. Texas A&M (8-0)
4. Stanford (6-1)
5. Texas (8-0)
6. Oklahoma (6-2)
7. Cal (7-1)
8. Notre Dame (7-0)
9. Baylor (8-1)
10. Tennessee (6-1)
11. Auburn (10-0)
12. Duke (6-1)
13T. Louisville (7-1)
13T. Rutgers (4-2)
15. Virginia (7-2)
16. Maryland (7-2)
17. Ohio State (7-2)
18. Kansas State (7-0)
19. Vanderbilt (8-2)
20. Pittsburgh (6-1)
21. Arizona State (6-2)
22. TCU (8-2)
23. Purdue (5-3)
24. Oklahoma State (3-2)
25. Minnesota (8-1)