Texas A&M
7-0
Stephen F. Austin
4-3
No. 4 Texas A&M Routs Stephen F. Austin, 77-36
Dec 02, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2008
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Box Score |
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Post Game Audio [mp3]
Coach Blair (Part 1)
Coach Blair (Part 2)
Players Smith and White
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - No. 4 Texas A&M delivered a 41-point rout of Stephen F. Austin, 77-36, to claim its best start in school history on a historic night Tuesday at William R. Johnson Coliseum.
A&M improved to an undefeated 7-0 on the season and picked up its second-ever road victory over SFA (4-3) in seven tries in Nacogdoches. Head coach Gary Blair, who coached the Ladyjacks from 1985-93, was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame at halftime with words from University President Dr. Baker Pattillo and several of his former SFA players in attendance for the special occasion.
Blair thanked the administration and school that gave him his first head coaching job which has extended into 24 successful seasons on the Division I level at SFA, Arkansas and A&M combined. He led both programs to No. 4 national rankings in 1991-92 for the Ladyjacks and this season for the Aggies.
Three A&M players reached double figures including a career-and game-high 17 points by freshman Tanisha Smith (Kansas City, Mo.) and preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tyra White (Kansas City, Mo.) each added 13.
In the opening minutes of the first half, A&M sprinted out to an 8-0 run and held SFA without a basket until the 14:31 minute mark on a Whitney Cormier layup in traffic. The Aggies never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 43 points with 3:05 remaining in regulation. It marked A&M's largest margin of victory over an opponent and the fewest points scored by an opponent this season.
The Aggie defense held the Ladyjacks to an opponent season-low 25.5 percent shooting from the floor (12-of-47) including 16 percent on 4-of-25 shooting in the first half of play. SFA committed 29 turnovers in the game which resulted in 29 of A&M's total points. Natashia Green led the Ladyjacks with 12.
After nearly three weeks on the road, the Aggies will return to Reed Arena for a five-game homestand which begins with a Sunday, Dec. 7, matchup against former Southwest Conference rival SMU (2-4) at 1 p.m. (CT).
Tickets are available for purchase by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE, online at www.12thmanfoundation.com, or in person at the 12th Man Foundation Ticket Center's Kyle Field or Reed Arena locations. The SMU game marks the start of Half-Price Holiday Hoops which runs through the men's and women's doubleheader versus McNeese State and George Washington on Jan. 3.
POSTGAME NOTES
• For the third time this season, Texas A&M used the starting five of Takia Starks, Danielle Gant, La Toya Micheaux (3-0).
• With the victory, the Aggies picked up their second-ever road win at Stephen F. Austin in seven tries and made their first trip back to Nacogdoches in close to 25 years. It marked only their fourth win in the 17-game series and their largest margin of victory of their four all-time victories versus SFA.
• A&M turned in its best start in school history with its seventh-straight win. No squad had ever started the year off with more than six-straight wins to open a season in 35 years of Aggie Basketball.
• Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair was inducted into the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack Hall of Fame at halftime and was congratulated with a tribute video that included a message from NCAA Division I Vice President For Women's Basketball Sue Donohoe who was one of his first assistant coaches at SFA.
• With one of the top scoring defenses in the country, A&M held SFA to its second-lowest first half production of the season with 12 points behind a nine-point first half at No. 9 Baylor on Nov. 21.
• The Aggies shot a season-best 53.7 percent from the floor (29-of-54) including a 5-for-5 performance by Tanisha Smith and 8-of-11 performance by Adaora Elonu. All 15 players saw action in the game versus the Ladyjacks.
• SFA was the first A&M opponent to score 36 total points or less since Wichita State suffered a 70-36 loss to the Aggies in the Paradise Jam on Nov. 11, 2007. It tied for 29th all-time in largest margin of victories over an opponent in 35 seasons of Aggie Basketball.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
On playing his old school and his halftime induction speech ...
"I am sort of like a preacher who runs out of time, because there were more people I wanted to thank. The most important thing that I wanted the fans to realize that the SFA men's and women's teams can win conference this year. They need more people out there to see them, because they are both very good ballclubs. SFA did not play their best game against us. But, I thought we were hooked up and ready to play. My assistants did a great job of preparation and getting our team ready. I was not very thrilled to coach this game. I knew how hard is was for (SFA head coach) Lee Ann (Riley) and I would like to give her a lot of credit. I hope that I can sit in the stands someday as she is being inducted into the hall of fame. She recruits the right type of kids here at SFA who graduate and handle themselves with class. Every player greeted me at the reception tonight and thanked me for coming back here. Most Southland Conference schools would not play Auburn, Baylor and Texas A&M. Give Lee Ann a lot of credit for doing that."
On playing on the road and the team's defense ...
"I thought we played pretty well on defense in parts of the game. Teams are having a hard time running their offense against us this season. It (our defense) only opens up dribble penetration. What we have to do is quit fouling. That is a teaching point and that is what November and December is all about. It is very gratigying to get another win on the road. This team is getting mentally tough and this is what six games on the road is all about, to gain that mental toughness for places on the road in conference play like Baylor and Texas. We are such a better basketball team than when we last played at home against Mercer. We have seen very good teams on the road who are trying to make a name for themselves by knocking down a top 10 team. It is unbelievable to be ranked No. 4 in the national polls."
On his response to comments made by his players about the win being for him and not the team ...
"It means that we recruited the right student-athletes at Texas A&M. They have `We' written on their forehead instead of an `I'. I am very proud of these kids, because they are always thinking of others. We were able to get everyone in and they were cheering on their teammates. I am so happy for this team and what we have accomplished so far this season."
Texas A&M Junior Forward/Guard Tanisha Smith
On the win and what it meant to the team ...
"It was exciting and we knew it was a big honor for Coach Blair. We also wanted to go out and prove that we are that No. 4 team everyone's talking about. It was about Coach and not us, it was his night."
Former Stephen F. Austin Assistant Coach Sue Donohoe
On Coach Blair's induction into the SFA Hall of Fame ...
"Stephen F. Austin State University and the community of Nacogdoches have provided Gary with one of their highest honors - induction into the Stephen F. Austin Hall of Fame. Gary worked tirelessly and passionately on behalf of the university and the Ladyjack basketball program. Gary Blair, the university administration and the SFA women's basketball fans provided student-athletes with a program that was a national contender and a multiple Southland Conference champion. Most importantly, Gary provided young women an opportunity to compete at the highest level, earn a degree from a highly-respected institution and be a part of a community that truly embraced the Ladyjack program and its' student-athletes."
