COLLEGE STATION, Texas - After being on the road for nearly a month, the No. 10 Texas A&M women's basketball team returns home to Reed Arena to face USC on Sunday, Dec. 18. The Aggies and the Trojans tip off at 2:05 p.m. (CT) in a contest that is televised nationally on FSN.
#10/10 TEXAS A&M (7-2) vs. USC (4-4)
Game 10
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011 • 2 p.m. (CT)
Reed Arena (12,989)
College Station, Texas
Television: FSN
Radio: Texas A&M Sports Network (WTAW 1620 AM)
Series History: USC leads 2-0
Internet: Free Live Audio and Live Stats at AggieAthletics.com
TEXAS A&M
Record: 7-2 (0-0 Big 12)
Ranking: #10 (AP), #10 (Coaches)
Last Result: W, 68-53 at TCU on 12/11/11
Up Next: vs. McNeese State on 12/30/11
Head Coach: Gary Blair, Ninth Season
Texas A&M Record: 195-81 (.707)
Career Record: 603-244 (.712)
USC
Record: 4-4 (0-0 Pac-12)
Ranking: RV (AP), RV (Coaches)
Last Result: L, 56-58 at Arkansas State on 12/15/11
Up Next: at Pepperdine on 12/21/11
Head Coach: Michael Cooper, Third Season
USC Record: 43-26 (.623)
Career Record: 43-26 (.623)
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TICKET INFORMATION
- The popular "Holiday Hoops" promotion is in effect and runs through the Oklahoma game on Jan. 8. Fans can purchase tickets starting at just $4 for adults (general admission). Holiday Hoops tickets can be purchased online at: tickets.12thmanfoundation.com, in person at the 12th Man Foundation Ticket Office and Reed Arena Box Office or by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE.
- Season ticket holders have the option of receiving four free tickets to one of our remaining men's and women's basketball home games through Dec. 30. Yes, you read that correctly, we are giving our fans a free present. We hope you will take us up on the offer and attend one of the following games: Sunday, Dec. 18 women vs. USC; Thursday, Dec. 22 men vs. Rice; Dec. 29 men vs. Arkansas Tech; or Dec. 30 women vs. McNeese State. For more information regarding this gift, contact the ticket office online or by phone.
PROMOTIONS
- Danielle Adams, Texas A&M women's basketball's first consensus All-American, will be the first Aggie women's player to have her jersey raised at Reed Arena in a presentation that will take place at halftime. Stay in your seats at the start of the 15-minute break and be a part of history.
- Honor Roll Day - All elementary school students that are on the Honor Roll get in free. Elementary students can use the Promo Code "Honor Roll" to purchase tickets in advance or just bring their report card to the game.
ON THE TUBE
- Sunday, Texas A&M will appear on the tube before a national television audience for the fifth time this season. Play-by-play announcer Ron Thulin and color analyst Brenda VanLengen will call the action live on FSN with the game being carried nationally on Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports Houston, Fox Sports Midwest (Plus), Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Sun Sports, Comcast Bay Area, The Comcast Network (Philadelphia), MSG Plus, Root Sports (Pittsburgh Region) and Root Sports (Rocky Mountain Region).
- The Aggies are 2-2 on national TV this season.
- Sunday also marks A&M's fourth straight game on TV. In the history of the program, the Aggies have only been showcased on national TV in four consecutive regular season games one other time - during the 2008-09 season (Feb. 21, 2009 vs. Texas; Feb. 23 vs. Oklahoma; March 1 at Kansas State and March 5 vs. Oklahoma State).
- The Aggies appear on television a school-record 11 times during the 2011-12 regular season.
QUICK HITS
- Four Aggies are averaging double figures this season with Preseason All-Big 12 selection Tyra White (12.9 ppg) leading the way. She is followed by Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Kelsey Bone (12.4 ppg), senior forward Adaora Elonu (12.3 ppg) and senior guard Sydney Carter (10.8 ppg).
- Bone is also leading the team in rebounding (6.7 rpg). Elonu is second with 6.4 rebounds and sophomore Karla Gilbert averages 5.6 rebounds per game.
- The Aggies finished a five-game road stand at TCU on Dec. 11 and return home for the first time since defeating Mississippi State on Nov. 20
- The Aggies have forced their opponents into an average of 22.9 turnovers per game, have a turnover margin of +6.4, and average 11.2 steals and 19 offensive rebounds per game, all of which are second-best in the Big 12 Conference.
- The Aggies are 7-0 when holding their opponents under 60 points.
SCOUTING USC
- The University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, Calif., has an enrollment of 33,000 and was founded in 1880.
- The Trojans return four starters and eight letterwinners from its 2010-11 squad that finished with an overall record of 24-13 and a 10-8 mark (4th) in the Pac-10.
- The Women of Troy have two national championships under their belts ('83 &'84) and have made 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
- USC was the WNIT runner-up last year after a 68-76 loss in the finals to Postseason WNIT Champion Toledo.
- Texas A&M will be the third ranked opponent the Trojans face this season. USC suffered a 58-80 loss to then-No. 3 Notre Dame and defeated then-No. 24 Gonzaga, 58-51.
- USC is just 1-3 on the road this season after falling at Arkansas State, 56-58, on Thursday evening.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
TEXAS A&M
|
No. |
Name |
2011-12 Stats |
|
32 |
Adrienne Pratcher, G, 5-7, Jr. |
7.8 ppg, 4.7 apg |
|
04 |
Sydney Carter, G, 5-6, Sr. |
10.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg |
|
20 |
Tyra White, G, 6-0, Sr. |
12.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg |
|
21 |
Adaora Elonu, F, 6-1, Sr. |
12.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg |
|
23 |
Kelsey Bone, C, 6-4, Jr. |
12.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg |
USC
|
No. |
Name |
2011-12 Stats |
|
00 |
Christina Marinacci, F, 6-1, Jr. |
4.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg |
|
11 |
Cassie Harberts, F, 6-2, So. |
10.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg |
|
15 |
Briana Gilbreath, G, 6-1, Sr. |
13.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg |
|
23 |
Jacki Gemelos, G, 6-0, Sr. |
11.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg |
|
24 |
Ashley Corral, G, 5-9, Sr. |
10.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg |
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
|
2011-12 Category |
TAMU |
USC |
|
Overall Record |
7-2 |
4-4 |
|
Conference Record |
0-0 |
0-0 |
|
Points Per Game |
72.2 |
62.9 |
|
Scoring Margin |
+13.6 |
+3.1 |
|
Rebounds Per Game |
43.4 |
39.5 |
|
Rebounding Margin |
+9.0 |
-0.2 |
|
Field Goal Percentage |
41.8 |
38.3 |
|
Field Goal% Defense |
38.7 |
37.0 |
|
3-Point FG% |
26.6 |
31.3 |
|
Free Throw Percentage |
63.5 |
65.2 |
|
Turnovers Per Game |
16.3 |
16.1 |
|
Assists Per Game |
15.6 |
11.1 |
|
Blocks Per Game |
3.8 |
5.9 |
|
Steals Per Game |
11.2 |
6.9 |
INSIDE THE SERIES
- USC holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series with Texas A&M, even though the two teams have not faced each other in over 30 years. USC and A&M competed in back-to-back season in 1979-80 and 1980-81. The Women of Troy hold the largest margin of victory over A&M in program history with a 70-point win in December of 1980.
USC (0-2)
Feb. 12, 1980 H L 42-71
Dec. 6, 1980 A L 42-112
DEFENDERS OF THE HOME COURT
- Texas A&M has protected its home court well over the last seven seasons with the help of the 12th Man. In fact, the Aggies have compiled an unprecedented 85-8 (.914) overall success rate at Reed Arena in those six years, including a 13-1 mark last season and a perfect 16-0 home stand in 2006-07. The eight tallies in the home loss column have only occurred during Big 12 Conference play against nationally-ranked league foes.
- The Aggies have won 46 straight non-conference home games, dating back to a 40-46 loss to Houston on 12/30/03. In addition, A&M has won 73 of its last 79 home games.
AGGIES' AT REED ARENA (SINCE 2005-06)
|
2011-12 |
3-0 |
|
2010-11 |
13-1 |
|
2009-10 |
12-2 |
|
2008-09 |
13-1 |
|
2007-08 |
14-2 |
|
2006-07 |
16-0 |
|
2005-06 |
14-2 |
|
Total |
85-8 |
AGGIE ATTENDANCE
- Texas A&M finished its 2010-11 regular season averaging a program-best 6,104 fans at each home game, which ranked fourth-best in the Big 12 and 12th-best in the country in attendance. A&M has been in the top 25 in national attendance for the past four seasons.
- After three home games this season, the Aggies are averaging 5,893 fans per game.
TWO TOUGHEST ROAD TESTS
- In the history of Texas A&M women's basketball, #13 Purdue and #2 Connecticut were the highest-ranked opponents the Aggies have ever faced consecutively on the road.
- The Aggies came away with two tough losses, but had not dropped two consecutive games since February 2010.
PRESSURE DEFENSE
- Texas A&M is known for its pressure defense and forced its first six opponents into season high turnovers: Lamar (28), Louisville (27), UALR (24), Mississippi State (18), Temple (27) and Iowa (25).
AGGIES IN THE POLLS
- A&M has been ranked in the AP Poll for 70 consecutive weeks and 51 all-time in the top 10
- A&M has been ranked in the Coaches Poll for 106 consecutive weeks and 56 all-time in the top 10.
TWELVE STRAIGHT
- Prior to their loss at Purdue, the Aggies had won 12 straight games (including six from last season) which matched a school-record 12-game streak that occurred on three other occasions - during the 2010-11, 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons.
BLAIR GETS 600TH WIN
- With a victory over Mississippi State on Nov. 20, 2011, A&M head coach Gary Blair earned his 600th career win as a Division I head coach. The victories included 192 at A&M (2003-present), 198 at Arkansas (1993-03) and 210 at Stephen F. Austin (1985-93) for 600 total wins.
- Blair became the 25th-fastest all-time coach (in all divisions) to reach 600 victories, the 22nd all-time Division I coach and the 36th all-time coach (in all divisions) to reach 600 victories. He is one of just 13 active Division I coach with 600 victories.
2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
- In April, Texas A&M won its first NCAA National Championship in program history in its first-ever trip to the NCAA Women's Final Four and eighth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Texas A&M ended the season with a 33-5 record, the most victories in program history. It was the first 30-win season in 37 all-time season of Aggie Basketball.
- Texas A&M made a school-record sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to the streak, the Aggies had never played in consecutive NCAA Tournaments and had not been a part of March Madness since 1996.
- A&M received a program-best No. 1 national ranking in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll, improving on its previous school-best of No. 3 in the Coaches Poll in 2008.
WHAT'S BACK
- The Aggies return three starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's national championship squad, including Preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention Sydney Carter (DeSoto, Texas), senior Adaora Elonu (Houston, Texas), and Preseason All-Big 12 Tyra White (Kansas City, Mo.).
AGGIES PICKED SECOND IN BIG 12
- A&M was selected to finish second in the Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll. The Aggies received one first-place vote and 73 points, listed only behind preseason favorite Baylor (81).
- A&M was picked second for the second consecutive year, which is its highest spot in the preseason poll since the team was chosen as the favorite prior to the 2007-08 season.
- For the sixth consecutive year, the Aggies were selected among the top five teams in the league. A&M was the preseason favorite to win the regular-season title in 2007-08 (Big 12 postseason champion and NCAA Elite Eight), picked second in 2006-07 (Big 12 regular-season co-champion), fifth in 2008-09 (NCAA Sweet 16), fourth in 2009-10 (Big 12 postseason champion) and second in 2010-11 (NCAA National Champions)
2011-12 Big 12 Preseason Poll
|
1. |
Baylor (9) |
81 |
|
2. |
Texas A&M (1) |
73 |
|
3. |
Texas |
60 |
|
4. |
Oklahoma |
58 |
|
5. |
Iowa State |
43 |
|
6. |
Texas Tech |
37 |
|
7. |
Kansas |
35 |
|
8. |
Oklahoma State |
30 |
|
9. |
Kansas State |
23 |
|
10. |
Missouri |
10 |
WHAT'S NEW
- For the third straight year, Texas A&M welcomes one of its highest-ever rated recruiting class with the addition of three freshmen in 6-foot-7 center Rachel Mitchell out of Atascocita High School in Houston, 5-foot-10 guard Tori Scott from John Ehret High School in Marrero, La., and 5-foot-8 guard and Big 12 Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year Alexia Standish out of Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas. This class was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country by The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
CARTER TAKES CHARGE
- Texas A&M is known for its signature defense and Sydney Carter is its spokeswoman, regularly given the daunting task of guarding the opponent's best perimeter player. Her play has earned her a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive team last year and she took home the team's Miss Defense Award the past two seasons. Add to that, the fact that she has led the team in charges taken every year she's been at A&M.
Carter's Charges:
29 - Junior (2010-11)
28 - Sophomore (2009-10)
12 - Freshman (2008-09)
FROM THE SIDELINES
- Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is in his 27th overall season as a Division I head coach. He currently ranks in the top 15 in career victories (603) and in the top 25 by winning percentage (.712) among active Division I coaches in the NCAA women's basketball record books.
- Blair is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 195 wins and a .707 winning percentage (194-81). 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 three all-time NCAA Division I women's basketball coaches to lead two different teams to the NCAA Women's Final Four (Texas A&M and Arkansas) next to C. Vivian Stringer (Rutgers, Iowa and Cheyney) and Marianne Stanley (Stanford and Old Dominion).
- Blair is one of only four active Division I coaches (six all-time) to lead three different programs to the NCAA Tournament next to Stringer of Rutgers, Joanne P. McCallie of Duke and Jim Foster of Ohio State. 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.
TCU RECAP
TEXAS A&M 68, TCU 53
TEAM NOTES
- For the first time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Adrienne Pratcher, Sydney Carter, Tyra White, Adaora Elonu and Karla Gilbert... It marked the fifth start of Gilbert's career, the 10th career start for Pratcher, 63rd for Carter, 80th for White and 83rd for Elonu.
- Texas A&M moves to 31-4 in the all-time series against TCU. The Aggies have won four of the last five meetings between the two teams.
- Texas A&M is now 2-2 on national television this season.
- A&M nearly doubled TCU in rebounds, holding a 48-27 advantage, which included a 21-10 edge in offensive rebounds.
- The Aggies limited TCU to just 6 second chance points, while scoring 18.
- The Aggies are now 7-0 when holding their opponents under 60 points.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- White has now started in 67 straight games, a streak that started on Jan. 4, 2010 against Lamar.
- White has scored double figures in 16 of her last 17 games.
- Elonu's 12 rebounds were a season-high mark and with her game-high 15 points she recorded her fourth career double-double. She also matched a career-high with four steals.
- Karla Gilbert grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
- Sydney Carter and Adrienne Pratcher combined for 10 assists.
- Pratcher's block in the first half was the second of her career.
- White matched a first-half season-high with six rebounds.
- Off the bench, Skylar Collins contributed 5 points on 1-of-1 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.
COMING IN 2012-13
Next season, Blair and his coaching staff will welcome A&M's highest-ever rated recruiting class that was ranked as high as No. 2 in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz, The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, Premier Basketball Report and All-Star Girls Report. The Aggie signees were: 5-foot-10 wing Chelsea Jennings from Fort Worth, Texas, 5-foot-6 point guard Jordan Jones from DeSoto, Texas, 5-foot-7 combo guard Curtyce Knox from Humble, Texas, six-foot wing Peyton Little from Abilene, Texas, 5-foot-8 wing Courtney Walker from Edmond, Okla., and 6-foot-1 forward/guard Courtney Williams from Houston.
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 Reed Arena alongside color analyst Tap Bentz on WTAW 1620 AM. A live audio feed will also be available on RadioAggieland.com.
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