Texas A&M
13-1, 1-0
Missouri
9-5, 0-1
No. 3 Aggies Hold Off Tigers In Conference-Opening 62-56 Victory
Jan 10, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2009
Missouri Box Score in PDF Format 
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The third-ranked Texas A&M women's basketball team held off a late Missouri rally with a Big 12 Conference-opening 62-56 victory Saturday night at Mizzou Arena.
Senior All-America candidates Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) led the way for the Aggies (13-1, 1-0) who picked up only their second win on the road against the Tigers (9-5, 0-1) in the all-time series. Gant scored a game-high 22 points on a perfect 10-for-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Starks added 14 points as A&M rebounded from its first loss of the season at Florida State on Monday.
Gant added seven rebounds and four assists for the Aggies, who built a 17-point lead in the second half before MU went on their late second-half run. Missouri was led in scoring by Shakara Jones with 14 points, while Jessra Johnson contributed 13.
A&M led 27-23 after a sluggish first half where the Aggies shot 33.3 percent (11-of-33). A three-pointer by preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Tanisha Smith (Kansas City, Mo.) in the opening minute of the second half extended the lead to seven, 30-23, and sparked an 18-5 run by the Aggies. Missouri cut the deficit to four behind a half-court trap late in the game, but could get no closer.
Up next, the Aggies will have a quick turnaround as they play host to Texas Tech (10-4, 1-0) on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Reed Arena. The Lady Raiders upset No. 12 Texas (65-62) in their conference opener on Saturday.
POSTGAME NOTES
• For the third time this season, Texas A&M used the starting five of Danielle Gant and La Toya Micheaux (3-0). Smith, a Kansas City native, made her fifth career start and first trip home to the state of Missouri as an Aggie.
• With the victory, the Aggies are now 4-9 all-time in Big 12 Conference openers and picked up only their second-ever victory on the road in Columbia (2-5). They also take an 8-7 lead in the all-time series with MU.
• Takia Starks moved into second all-time in career scoring at A&M with her fourth point of the game on a jumper at the 12:25 minute mark in the first half. She surpassed former player Lisa Langston (1,615) and has now knocked down 1,626 career points to date.
• Danielle Gant extended her current double-digit scoring streak to four-straight games with a game-high 22 points against the Tigers. It also marked her 14th career 20-point game and her career-best performance from the floor (10-of-10).
• La Toya Micheaux grabbed 10 rebounds and led the team in rebounding for the seventh time this season.
• The A&M defense, ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense as of Jan. 8, has held all 14 of their opponents to less than 60 points in a game this season. Missouri managed only 56 points versus the Aggies and also held them to 17.6 percent shooting from long range (3-of-17). A&M currently ranks No. 1 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense (.199).
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
On Danielle Gant perfect performance and the road win over Missouri ...
"Danielle Gant in the lane at 5-foot-10. She is a load in there. We were trying to run some sets for her earlier in the ballgame, but we just wouldn't throw it to her. A road win is a road win and we are going to take it."
On Missouri's improvement from last year's Big 12 Quarterfinal game to tonight's game ...
"It was a completely different scenario (from that game). Missouri left their final game on the court against Oklahoma. We were rested and played very well. I would have been in the same situation. We looked at a lot of that film (in preparation of tonight's game). Missouri is a good basketball team. They are so much better now. (Shakara) Jones can take over a game and we did a good job on (Alyssa) Hollins all night."
Texas A&M Senior Forward/Guard Danielle Gant
On going perfect from the floor against Mizzou and A&M's slow start ...
"I never had a night like this (perfect game) before. On the defensive end, we didn't do as well as we usually do against teams. Coach (Blair) wanted me take the mid-range jumper and that is what I did tonight."
On rebounding from the FSU loss ...
"We were on a (12-game) winning streak and Florida Sate took it away from us. We wanted to start off the Big 12 with a win and that's what we did tonight against Missouri."
Texas A&M Senior Guard Takia Starks
On the transition from losing last year's senior class ...
"Right now, we are pretty young at the point guard spot. But, we gained something different this year in Sydney Colson and Sydney Carter. They both have the potential of being great just like Aqua (Franklin) was for us."
On the difference between the Florida State and Missouri games ...
"We didn't deliver when that game (at Florida State) got tough. At times, we were able to withstand Missouri's run in the second half. We weren't ready for their zone press. When we had that great run in the second half, we attacked the press. Every time we attacked it, we had a good run develop from it. In the end, we had the most runs in the game, but Missouri played great tonight."
