COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 9 Texas A&M women's basketball team wraps up non-conference play on Friday when it hosts McNeese State at Reed Arena. Tipoff between the Aggies and the Cowgirls is set for 7 p.m.
|
#10/9 TEXAS A&M (8-2) vs. MCNEESE STATE (9-3) |
|
Game 11 |
|
Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 • 7 p.m. (CT) |
|
Reed Arena (12,989) |
|
College Station, Texas |
|
Television: None |
|
Radio: Texas A&M Sports Network (KZNE 1150 AM) |
|
Series History: Texas A&M lead 7-2 |
|
Internet: Free Live Video and Live Stats at AggieAthletics.com |
|
TEXAS A&M |
|
Record: 8-2 (0-0 Big 12) |
|
Ranking: #10 (AP), #9 (Coaches) |
|
Last Result: W, 71-70 vs. USC on 12/18/11 |
|
Up Next: at Kansas State on 1/4/12 |
|
Head Coach: Gary Blair, Ninth Season |
|
Texas A&M Record: 196-81 (.708) |
|
Career Record: 604-244 (.712) |
|
MCNEESE STATE |
|
Record: 9-3 (0-0 Southland) |
|
Ranking: NR (AP), NR (Coaches) |
|
Last Result: L, 50-90 at #1/1 Baylor on 12/21/11 |
|
Up Next: vs. Wiley College on 1/3/12 |
|
Head Coach: Brooks Donald Williams, Fifth Season |
|
McNeese Record: 65-68 (.489) |
|
Career Record: 65-68 (.489) |
FOLLOW @Aggie_W_Hoops ON TWITTER
- Not following @Aggie_W_Hoops on Twitter? Sign up or sign in today to find out what's happening. You will stay up-to-date on the latest news and receive live in-game updates at each and every contest.
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: 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.
QUICK HITS
- Four Aggies are averaging double figures this season with Preseason All-Big 12 selection Tyra White (13.3 ppg) leading the way. She is followed by senior forward Adaora Elonu (12.2 ppg), Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Kelsey Bone (11.8 ppg) and senior guard Sydney Carter (10.8 ppg).
- Bone is also leading the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg). Elonu is second with 6.6 rebounds and sophomore Karla Gilbert averages 5.2 rebounds per game.
- The Aggies lead the Big 12 Conference with a turnover margin of +6.3. The team has also forced its opponents into an average of 22.6 turnovers per game and averages 18.5 offensive rebounds per game, both of which are second-best in the Big 12.
- The Aggies are 7-0 when holding their opponents under 60 points.
- A&M begins Big 12 play on the road at Kansas State on Jan. 4, 2011.
SCOUTING MCNEESE STATE
- McNeese State University is located in Lake Charles, La., has an enrollment of 8,992 and was founded in 1939.
- The Cowgirls return three starters and 11 letterwinners from its 2010-11 squad that finished with an overall record of 26-7 and league record of 15-1. They won the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles.
- McNeese State made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season and fell to the Aggies in the first round.
- Texas A&M will be the second ranked opponent the Cowgirls face this season, having last lost 50-90 at No. 1 Baylor on Dec. 21.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
|
TEXAS A&M |
|||||
|
No. |
Name |
2011-12 Stats |
|||
|
32 |
Adrienne Pratcher, G, 5-7, Jr. |
9.2 ppg, 5.1 apg |
|||
|
04 |
Sydney Carter, G, 5-6, Sr. |
10.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg |
|||
|
20 |
Tyra White, G, 6-0, Sr. |
13.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg |
|||
|
21 |
Adaora Elonu, F, 6-1, Sr. |
12.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg |
|||
|
03 |
Kelsey Bone, C, 6-4, Jr. |
11.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg |
|||
|
MCNEESE STATE |
|||||
|
No. |
Name |
2011-12 Stats |
|||
|
10 |
Ashlyn Baggett, G, 5-6, Jr. |
14.1 ppg, 3.1 apg |
|||
|
11 |
Caitlyn Baggett, G, 5-6, Jr. |
14.3 ppg, 3.8 apg |
|||
|
21 |
Kendra Wells, F, 5-11, Sr. |
9.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg |
|||
|
25 |
Candace LaCombe, G, 5-11, Sr. |
7.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg |
|||
|
34 |
Martika Hull, F, 5-11, Sr. |
6.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg |
|||
|
STATISTICAL COMPARISON |
||||
|
2011-12 Category |
TAMU |
MCN |
||
|
Overall Record |
8-2 |
9-3 |
||
|
Conference Record |
0-0 |
0-0 |
||
|
Points Per Game |
72.1 |
67.2 |
||
|
Scoring Margin |
+12.3 |
+13.4 |
||
|
Rebounds Per Game |
42.7 |
36.8 |
||
|
Rebounding Margin |
+8.0 |
+1.1 |
||
|
Field Goal Percentage |
42.3 |
38.0 |
||
|
Field Goal% Defense |
39.2 |
39.2 |
||
|
3-Point FG% |
27.3 |
33.7 |
||
|
Free Throw Percentage |
62.5 |
70.8 |
||
|
Turnovers Per Game |
16.3 |
13.8 |
||
|
Assists Per Game |
15.6 |
11.7 |
||
|
Blocks Per Game |
3.8 |
1.1 |
||
|
Steals Per Game |
10.8 |
10.3 |
||
- Texas A&M holds a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series with McNeese State. The Aggies have won the last seven meetings between the two teams, with their only losses coming in 1975 and 1980. In the Gary Blair Era, A&M has had an average margin of victory of 50 points against the Cowgirls, including a school-record 83-point margin of victory in their meeting in 2006.
|
THE SERIES |
|
L, 60-79 (-19) on Feb. 1, 1975 in Beaumont, Texas |
|
L, 54-62 (-8) on Jan. 10, 1980 in College Station |
|
W, 76-71 (+5) on Dec. 19, 1981 in Dallas, Texas |
|
W, 69-59 (+10) on Dec. 21, 1987 in Lake Charles, La. |
|
W, 81-48 (+33) on Nov. 26, 1988 in College Station |
|
W, 74-48 (+26) on Dec. 13, 2003 in College Station |
|
W, 96-45 (+51) on Dec. 12, 2004 in College Station |
|
W, 109-26 (+83) on Nov. 21, 2006 in College Station |
|
W, 87-47 (+40) on March 20, 2011 in Shreveport, La. |
MCNEESE STATE REPLAY
Danielle Adams had little trouble dashing McNeese State's hopes of being one of few teams who were tough enough to stop the Texas A&M star from dominating the inside. Adams scored 18 points and Texas A&M rolled to an 87-47 victory over McNeese on Sunday in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Kelsey Assarian and Tyra White each added 12 points for second-seeded Texas A&M, which raced to a 22-3 lead. The victory moved Texas A&M into the second round at the Shreveport site and marked the fifth straight year the Aggies have gotten through the first round. Caitlyn Baggett scored 22 for McNeese State (26-7), which had a size disadvantage and struggled to stop the Aggies in the paint or in transition. Texas A&M scored 54 points inside, including 18 fast-break points. Ten Aggie players assisted on at least one basket as Texas A&M racked up a season-high 26 assists, also their most in a tournament game. A&M's lead never got below 28 in the second half and grew as large as 42 in the final minutes, at 85-43. Thanks to their dominance inside, the Aggies shot 56.9 percent (37 of 65) for the game despite going only 3 of 11 from 3-point range. Adaora Elonu had 10 points for A&M, which was also 10 of 11 from the foul line and outrebounded McNeese State 45-25.
PRATCHER PERFORMS
Junior Adrienne Pratcher led the Aggies against USC to their largest come-from-behind victory since stunning Stanford in the Women's Final Four last April. With a career- and game-high 22 points, including 17 in the second half, Pratcher shot a career-high 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the field and was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. In fact, she put up career bests in nearly every statistical category including nine assists, five rebounds and five steals. Her ninth assist was to Sydney Carter for the game-winning 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining. Before dishing to Carter, Pratcher's pair of jumpers with about two minutes remaining brought A&M within four. She was the reason the Aggies stayed close in the second half shooting 70 percent (7-of-10) with key baskets throughout. Pratcher's nine field goals and 35 minutes played were also career-bests.
A&M'S STATS AT HOME
Texas A&M is 4-0 playing behind the 12th Man at Reed Arena this year and their numbers show it. At home this season, the Aggies average over 80 points per game, shoot nearly 48 percent, outrebound their opponents by nearly 10 rebounds per game, nearly double their opponents' assists (77-38) and force over 23 turnovers per game. Pratcher's numbers increase to 11.5 points, 7.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting over 56 percent. White averages 15.8 point per game at home.
RPI RATING
In the most recent release of rpiratings.com's women's college basketball RPI on Dec. 26, Texas A&M was ranked eighth. Notre Dame holds the top spot followed by Delaware, Tennessee, Baylor, Connecticut, Stanford and Maryland. The NCAA has not released its first RPI of the year yet.
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 86-8 (.915) overall success rate at Reed Arena in those 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 47 straight non-conference home games, dating back to a 40-46 loss to Houston on 12/30/03. In addition, A&M has won 74 of its last 80 home games.
AGGIES' AT REED ARENA (SINCE 2005-06)
|
2011-12 |
4-0 |
|
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 |
86-8 |
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 four home games this season, the Aggies are averaging 5,952 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 72 consecutive weeks and 53 all-time in the top 10
- A&M has been ranked in the Coaches Poll for 108 consecutive weeks and 58 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 (604) 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 196 wins and a .708 winning percentage (196-81). 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.
USC RECAP
TEXAS A&M 71, USC 70
TEAM NOTES
- For the second 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 sixth start of Gilbert's career, the 11th career start for Pratcher, 64th for Carter, 81st for White and 84th for Elonu.
- Texas A&M moves to 1-2 in the all-time series against USC.
- Texas A&M is now 3-2 on national television this season.
- In addition to its 47-game streak, A&M has won 74 of its last 80 home games.
- The Aggies outscored USC in the paint 42-18, its second-largest margin this season.
- A&M shot 50 percent in the second half to came back from a 10-point deficit. The win marked A&M's first come-from-behind victory since stunning Stanford in the Women's Final Four last April.
- A&M used a 14-3 run over the last 3:56 minutes and held USC without a field goal in that stretch to earn the victory.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Pratcher 's nine assists, five steals, five rebounds, nine field goals and 35 minutes played were all career bests.
- White has now started in 68 straight games, a streak that started on Jan. 4, 2010 against Lamar.
- White grabbed a season-high eight rebounds and made a season-high eight field goals.
- White has scored double figures in 17 of her last 18 games.
- With 11 points against USC, Elonu has scored double figures in 8 of 10 games this season.
- Carter added 11 points for the Aggies.
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 KZNE 1150 AM. A live audio feed will also be available on RadioAggieland.com.
- aTm -