Texas A&M
20-5, 8-4
Texas
19-7, 7-5
No. 11 Aggies Take Series Sweep Of Rival Texas In 76-65 Victory
Feb 21, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2009
Box Score In PDF Format 
| Box Score | AP Gallery 
| Game Highlights 
Post Game Audio [mp3]:
Head Coach Blair
Players Starks & Colson
Texas Head Coach Goestenkors & Players
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - No. 11 Texas A&M claimed its fifth-straight victory over No. 12 Texas, 76-65, to earn another half-point toward the State Farm Lone Star Showdown standings between the two in-state rivals Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 5,840 at Reed Arena.
The Aggies (20-5, 8-4) also turned in their fourth-straight 20-win campaign under Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair and swept the Longhorns (19-7, 7-5) for only the fourth time in program history and third time since the league's inception in 1996-97.
Senior All-America candidate Takia Starks (Houston, Texas) kept her double-digit scoring streak intact against all Big 12 opponents pouring in 16 of her game-high 18 points in the second half of play. She was one of five A&M players to reach double figures including 12 points and 11 rebounds by senior All-America candidate Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, Okla.) who collided with Texas' Ashleigh Fontenette for a loose ball at the 13:41 minute mark of the second half and did not return to the game. It marked Gant's fifth double-double of the season and 17th of her career in only 26 minutes of action versus the Longhorns.
Texas led for most of the first half and by as many as seven. Gant scored eight-straight points in a span of three and a half minutes to get A&M within one of the Longhorns, 19-18, with under four minutes to go in the half. Freshman Tanisha Smith (Kansas City, Mo.) to take a 31-27 lead into halftime.
A&M would continue to wear Texas down in the second half with its pressure defense and forced the Longhorns to a season-high 29 turnovers in the ballgame. Freshman Adaora Elonu (Houston, Texas) came off the bench in the second half of play in relief of Gant and turned in back-to-back layups to give the Aggies their biggest lead of the contest and they never looked back. Elonu finished with a league career-high 10 points followed by Smith with 11 and sophomore point guard Sydney Colson (Houston, Texas) with 10.
The Aggies will have a quick two-day turnaround in preparation for second-ranked and league leader Oklahoma on Monday, Feb. 23 in an ESPN2 Big Monday rematch between the two Big 12 South rivals at 6:30 p.m. (CT). A&M will host Dollar Day at Reed Arena with concession items such as hot dogs, soft drinks and popcorn priced at $1 while supplies last. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game.
Dollar Day tickets must be purchased in person at the Kyle Field Ticket Office or Reed Arena Box Office in advance of the game or on game day. Both ticket offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased at all Aggie sporting events leading up to Monday's game including A&M baseball at Olsen Field.
Dollar tickets will not be available by phone or online. Tickets purchased online or by phone will remain at regular price ranging from $11 (courtside), $9 (mezzanine), $7 (gallery) and $5 (general admission).
POSTGAME NOTES
• For the eighth time this season, Texas A&M used the starting five of Takia Starks, Takia Starks continues on her current 12-game double-digit scoring streak through Big 12 Conference play with a game-high 18 points against the Longhorns.
• Danielle Gant has now reached double figures in the last three ballgames against league opponents. She collided with Texas' Ashleigh Fontenette for a loose ball on a hustle play at the 13:41 minute mark of the second half and did not return to the game with a hit in the head and a headache. She left the game after turning in her 17th career double-double and fifth double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes of play.
• Freshman Adaora Elonu tied her league career-high with 10 points against the Longhorns. She previously scored 10 against Texas Tech on Jan. 13 in College Station.
• The A&M defense forced rival Texas to a season-high 29 turnovers to tie an opponent season-high of 29 by Mercer on Nov. 14, Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 2 and George Washington on Jan. 3.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
On the game ...
"One of the keys in the ballgame was the first half when we were not playing very well and doing a poor job of dissecting their zone. They were playing very wide. We were able to hang in there because we were making them miss on the other end. They were turning over the ball more than us. That's when they could have really stretched the lead. They didn't take advantage of it. I thought they had a very good game plan coming in to use the zone against us. We were not running our zone offense correct. We would pass up a lot of wide open shots by (Tanisha) Smith and (Takia) Starks to take the contested shot. But, when you hang in and the crowd hangs in there with you, we were able to make our run with five minutes to go in the first half. It started a little bit in transition and we finally caught up. They knew how hard we were working without play our best. It was a great game for TV. Our kids did a great job and made good decisions down the stretch. It might not have been pretty basketball, but it was execution down the stretch. Give Texas credit for a good game plan. We had to fight the entire game."
Texas A&M Senior Guard Takia Starks
On the team's slow start in the first half and Danielle Gant play ...
"It was execution on our part. We were kind of in a frenzy and didn't really know what to do. There was no leadership on the floor. We pulled it together at times. We took what the defense was giving us and got some easy baskets. Like always, when we revert to our defensive mindset, we always make things happen. Our defense always gives us a chance to actually execute on offense, because that's what we strive upon. When you get steals and stops that gives you momentum and confidence to execute on the offensive end. D.G. (Danielle Gant) gave us huge minutes before she went out of the game. She was our offensive key in the first half and the start of the second. Her game is inside. She is just a finisher."
Texas A&M Sophomore Guard Sydney Colson
On forcing 29 Texas turnovers ...
"In the past few games, we have been trying to force a lot of a turnovers and get back to the way Texas A&M plays defense. A few games ago, we forced 28 turnovers. We want to keep putting pressure on people to make them have to make tough decisions when we are in their face. We thrive on our defense. When we get steals and we are finishing on the other end, it's a real confidence booster for us and gives us the momentum to finish out a half or game."
Texas Head Coach Gail Goestenkors
On the game ...
"Congratulations to A&M. I thought they played a tremendous defensive game. I know they weren't hitting their offensive shots earlier on. They did a good job defensively and caused us to turn the ball over. They got some tips and steals and got their offense going. They just played a good basketball game. We had some really senseless turnovers. We were trying to force things that weren't there. I also give A&M credit because they put great pressure on the ball and open up passing lanes. It was a bad combination for us."
On going with the zone against Texas A&M ...
"A&M only makes a little less than three threes a game. We felt like we would start off with a zone and see how they would attack it. I thought we did a pretty good job in our zone. Unfortunately, we didn't convert on the other end as much as we would have liked. Overall, our zone was pretty good. We started to lose (Danielle) Gant a little bit in the zone. I thought she did a good job on the boards and finding gaps in the zone."
Texas Senior Guard Carla Cortijo
On the team's turnovers ...
"It's hard. When you have that many turnovers, you have to go in and take care of the ball. A&M scored off of our turnovers and offensive rebounds. You just can't have that many turnovers in a game. Their pressure was unbelievable."
Texas Junior Guard Brittainey Raven
On Texas A&M's defense ...
"It starts with their pressure defense. They've always played really good defense. They are in the passing lanes and they put pressure on the ball. They rebound and all of their players go hard to the boards. When a team plays good defense which causes turnovers and has good offensive rebounding, it's going to be hard to beat a good team who is playing that way."
