March 21, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
#2 TEXAS A&M (28-5) vs. #7 RUTGERS (20-12)
NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Second Round
Game #34
March 22, 2011 • 8:40 p.m. (CT)
CenturyTel Center (14,000)
at Bossier City, La.
Television: ESPNU (ESPN2*)
Radio: Texas A&M Sports Network (KZNE 1150 AM)
Series History: Texas A&M lead 1-0
Internet: ESPN3.com, Free Live Statistics and Live Audio at www.AggieAthletics.com
*TV Note: Game will be available in its entirety on ESPNU. Some viewers will also be able to view on ESPN2. Check local listings.
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
The second-seeded and ninth-ranked Texas A&M women's basketball team (28-5) will reunite for the second time this season with seventh-seeded Rutgers (20-12) in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship on Tuesday, March 22 at the CenturyTel Center in Shreveport. The rematch between the Aggies and the Scarlet Knights is set for 8:40 p.m. (CT) on ESPNU/ESPN2. For the second straight year, the Aggies face a non-conference opponent in NCAA Tournament play during the same season. A win on Tuesday would guarantee A&M its third trip in four years to the NCAA Sweet 16. The team is 3-2 all-time in second round games.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP ESPN COVERAGE
Texas A&M will appear on the ESPN family of networks for the fifth time this season. Play-by-play announcer Carter Blackburn and color analyst Fran Franschilla will call first-and second-round action live from CenturyTel Center located in Bossier City, La. All women's NCAA Tournament games are also available on ESPN3.com.
AGGIES IN NCAA TOURNAMENT PLAY
The Aggies are 10-7 all-time in postseason play and are making their eighth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance next to 1994, 1996, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Texas A&M head coach Morenike Atunrase (2005-08), Patrice Reado (2005-08), A'Quonesia Franklin (2005-08), Takia Starks (2006-09), Danielle Gant (2006-09), La Toya Micheaux (2006-09) and Damitria Buchanan (07-10).
TEAM SEASONS BESTS
The Aggies will finish the 2010-11 season with the best winning percentage and fewest losses in school history. The team also has a chance to boast the most wins program history. A&M currently has the second-most victories (28) and needs one more W to match the record (29 in 2008) and two to surpass it. In addition, A&M holds the second-best scoring average (78.9) in 37 all-time seasons of women's basketball, next to a 79.7 scoring average in 1995.
ELONU AND WHITE NEARING CAREER MILESTONES
Adaora Elonu and Tyra White are both juniors and are nearing milestones in their Aggie careers. With 478 career rebounds, Elonu is approaching the 500 rebound club and would be just the 21st A&M player to reach that mark. With 992 career points, White is drawing near the 1,000 point club and would be the 23rd Aggie to reach that achievement.
COLSON DISHES IT OUT
Sydney Colson currently has 197 assists this season which is the most in a single season since Lisa Branch (201 in 1995, 214 in 1994, 231 in 1996). If she reaches 200 assists this season, she will be just the second A&M player all-time to reach this feat and it will be only the fourth occurrence in program history. 197 assists shatters her totals from the previous two seasons (129 in 2009-10 and 106 in 2008-09). Colson has been the team leader in assists for the past two years and currently ranks fifth on the career list with 480 assists. Colson has registered 100+ assists for the three straight years.
FROM THE SIDELINES
• Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is in his 26th overall season as a Division I head coach. He currently ranks in the top 20 in career victories (591) and in the top 30 by winning percentage (.710, 591-242) among active Division I coaches in the NCAA women's basketball record books.
• Blair is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 183 wins and a .699 winning percentage (183-79). He surpassed former head coach Lynn Hickey, who compiled 154 career victories from 1984-1994, with an 84-53 win over Portland State in the NCAA First Round on March 20, 2010 in Seattle, Wash.
• Blair is one of only five active Division I coaches (six all-time) to lead three different programs to the NCAA Tournament next to C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers, Joanne P. McCallie of Duke, Jim Foster of Ohio State and Patricia Cage-Bibbs of N.C. A&T. Blair previously coached at Stephen F. Austin (1985-93) and Arkansas (1993-03). Blair and Stringer are the only two coaches to guide three different teams to the NCAA Sweet 16.
• Sophomore Kristi Bellock is the lone Louisianan on the roster. She is a native of St. Rose, La., which is part of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area.
NCAA FIRST ROUND RECAP
Texas A&M 87, McNeese State 47
• For the 23rd time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Sydney Colson, Sydney Carter, Tyra White, Adaora Elonu and Danielle Adams. The Aggies are 18-5 with this starting lineup. Thirteen A&M players saw action in the game.
• Texas A&M holds a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series with McNeese State. The Aggies have won the last seven straight meetings between the two teams.
• The Aggies improve to 10-7 all-time in NCAA postseason play in their eighth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance. They improve to 6-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round and have won five straight first round NCAA Tournament games.
• Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is now 8-5 at A&M and 22-16 in his career in NCAA Tournament games.
• With 28 wins, the Aggies are now one victory away from matching the school record 29 wins.
• Forty points is A&M's largest margin of victory all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
• A&M's 87 points is its second most all-time in NCAA Tournament games next to 91 vs. UTSA in the 2008 NCAA First Round.
• The Aggies' 26 assists is a season-high and is A&M's most assists all-time in NCAA Tournament games. It was also the most assists for the Aggies since distributing 32 against North Texas on Dec. 8, 2009.
• A&M snapped a 12-game winning streak for McNeese State.
• Adrienne Pratcher dished out a first-half career-high five assists and matched career bests with nine points and four rebounds.
• Danielle Adams has now scored in double figures in 41 of her last 42 games.
• Tyra White's 12 points were an NCAA Tournament career best.
• Sydney Colson's six assists were an NCAA Tournament career high.
• Kelsey Assarian's 12 points were a career high. Furthermore, she scored her points in just 12 minutes of play.
• Kristi Bellock, A&M's only product from the state of Louisiana, added four points shooting 2-of-2 from the field.
AGGIES ON THE RADIO
All Texas A&M women's basketball games can be heard via a radio broadcast on the Texas A&M Sports Network. Play-by-play announcer Mike Wright will call the action live from CenturyTel Center alongside color analyst Steve Miller on KZNE 1150 AM. A live audio feed will also be available on AggieAthletics.com and RadioAggieland.com.