Texas A&M
28-7
Hartford
28-6
Texas A&M 63, Hartford 39
Mar 24, 2008 | Women's Basketball
March 24, 2008
Oh, how sweet it is! After 14 years since its last, second-seeded Texas A&M gets its second taste of the Sweet 16 with a 24-point blowout of 10th-seeded Hartford, 63-39, in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Division I Women?™s Basketball Championship held Monday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The eighth-ranked Aggies (28-7) last advanced to the regional semifinals in 1994 as one of only two No. 13 seeds to ever accomplish that feat since. A&M will await the winner of Tuesday?™s second-round matchup between third-seeded Duke (24-9) or sixth-seeded Arizona State (22-10) on Sunday, March 30 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Times and ESPN network coverage will be announced following the conclusion of Tuesday?™s late games.
Junior Danielle Gant, an Oklahoma City native, is going home for the second time this season as she scored a game-high 21 points including 11 in the first half alone. After a back and forth battle with Hartford (28-6) in the opening minutes, the Aggies got on a run and stretched their lead to nine on a Gant jumper at the free throw line, 16-7, with 11:37 to go.
The A&M defense made the Hawks work for every shot by taking them deep into the shot clock. It proved successful as Hartford committed 12 first-half miscues which resulted into 19 of A&M?™s 34 points in the first half. The Hawks were only able to score most of their 19 first-half points from the charity stripe including 5-of-7 shooting by Erica Beverly who ended the night with nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Aggies led by double digits at halftime, 34-19. A&M became one of four teams this season to hold American East champion Hartford below 20 points in the first half next to then top-ranked Connecticut (17), NCAA Tournament participant Marist (19) and Boston University (19).
Little scoring production by both teams began the second half, but A&M picked up its intensity and increased its lead to as many as 26 points with 25 seconds remaining in regulation. Senior Morenike Atunrase (Shreveport, La.) came off the bench to contribute 13 points, while nine of the 12 players entered the ballgame got in the scoring column including six points each from Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) and A?™Quonesia Franklin (Tyler, Texas).
A&M continues its hot streak winning 15 of its last 16 leading into the Oklahoma City Regional where top-seeded Tennessee is the team to beat. The Aggies are riding a school-best 11-game win streak which ties an 11-game stretch during the program?™s inaugural season in 1974-75.
Postgame Notes?...For the 18th time this season, A&M used the starting lineup of A?™Quonesia Franklin, Takia Starks, Danielle Gant, Patrice Reado and La Toya Micheaux (14-4)?...Gant scored a game-high 21 points to mark her 13th 20-point game of her career?...It stands as the second-most points scored by an A&M player in an NCAA Tournament game next to the same school-record she holds with 24 points versus UT Arlington in the NCAA First Round on March 17, 2007?...With the victory, the Aggies take a 1-0 lead in the all-time series versus Hartford?...The stingy A&M defense held Hartford to 19 first-half points which was its third-lowest half this season?...The Aggies were one of four teams this season to keep the Hawks under 20 points in the first half including then top-ranked Connecticut (17), NCAA Tournament participant Marist (19) and Boston University (19)?...The Aggies are making their second all-time Sweet 16 appearance next to the 1994 Aggie squad, seeded No. 13, who defeated fifth-seeded San Diego State in the NCAA Second Round in a 75-72 overtime thriller in San Diego, Calif?...Two A&M opponents also advanced to the Sweet 16 as Oklahoma State held off Florida State and George Washington beat the buzzer against Cal?...For the second-straight game, A&M?™s opponent turned over the ball more than 20 times as Hartford committed 25?...For the 23rd time this season, the Aggies shot better than 40 percent from the floor (45.5)?...A&M?™s current 11-game win streak ties the school record for longest win streak?...The Aggies have won an unprecedented 15 of its last 16 contests which is also a program-best stretch.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
On the game and Hartford ?...
?Basically, our defense controlled the tempo of the ballgame. We were forcing them into making drives in the last five seconds. I thought our wings did a good job of denying the pass back. I liked our intensity and what we did in transition. We got some good baskets on steals and we are a very unselfish team when giving up the basketball. Eastern style of basketball is an old-school style of basketball that I really admire. They (Hartford) have to play the game between the ears and not above the rim. They are a very good team. I think our team and LSU were a little too athletic for them (Hartford and Marist) and I think that showed. What it didn?™t show was on the rebounding end. They kicked us on the boards. I commend Hartford and what Coach (Jennifer) RIzzotti has built there in a short period of time. Marist made it last year to the Sweet 16, perhaps next year, it will be Hartford?™s time. We got a tremendous break when Lisa Etienne got into foul trouble. I?™m so proud of our young ladies. It was a very business-like game for us, but we have to get a little better in making the right decisions, once we start going up against the teams in the Sweet 16.?
On the positives and negatives of the ballgame and reaching the Sweet 16 ?...
?Our ball handling skills were not good today, but there were some things we did well. We did well in assist-to-turnover ratio. We took care of the ball and Aqua (Franklin) and Takia (Starks) were able to set it up for their teammates. We play both ends of the floor well. We have a tremendous bench that gives me the luxury to stay in the press. You expect to play your best. We are the lowest No. 2 seed, but we are there. Everyone is trying to get there. We want to represent the Big 12 and also represent that you can get to the Sweet 16 without a lot of Parade All-Americans. You can just get there with pure basketball players that can play the game. We want to get to that next-level, but we are in this thing to win now. When this hair gets gray, I get greedy and want to win.?
TEXAS A&M SENIOR GUARD/FORWARD MORENIKE ATUNRASE
On the evolution of the program ?...
?Two years ago, we were still growing as a team, we were inexperienced and didn?™t know how to win (NCAA Tournament) games. We had the talent, but talent doesn?™t always make you win ballgames. Every night you have to play smart. It?™s a great win for us. It gives us great momentum. We have grown and expect to win games. They didn?™t pick us as a No. 2 seed for no reason. We just want to go out and play like a No. 2 seed should.?
TEXAS A&M JUNIOR CENTER LA TOYA MICHEAUX
On the excitement of making their second Sweet 16 ?...
?We?™re happy inside, but we realize that we have a lot of business to take care of. We expected to be there. When we get to the Final Four, there will be a lot more celebration there.?
TEXAS A&M JUNIOR GUARD/FORWARD DANIELLE GANT
On the team?™s defense and going home to Oklahoma City ?...
?We wanted to get a lot of turnovers. Coach (Vic) Schaefer wanted us to come out in the second half and play great defense. It?™s great to be able to go home and play in front of my family and friends again. We went there not too long ago and it?™s going to be a great experience.?
