Texas A&M
18-6, 9-4
Missouri
10-14, 0-13
No. 13 Aggies Pull Out 56-52 Win at Missouri
Feb 14, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Columbia, Mo. (AP) - Kelsey Bone scored 14 points and Alexia Standish added a career-high 11, including two critical free throws, as No. 14 Texas A&M rallied to beat Missouri 56-52 on Tuesday night.
The Aggies (18-6, 9-4 Big 12), trying to bounce back from a 71-48 loss Saturday at No. 1 Baylor, trailed 50-45 when Morgan Eye made a 3-pointer for Missouri with 4:14 to play. Texas A&M scored the next 11 points, taking the lead for good on Tyra White's basket with 51 seconds to play, to deny Missouri its first Big 12 win this season.
Standish made a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left and Adaora Elonu added two more with 9 seconds remaining for A&M.
Christine Flores led the Tigers (10-14, 0-13) with 20 points and Eye scored 19.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM NOTES
- For the 12th time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Alexia Standish, Sydney Carter, Tyra White, Adaora Elonu and Kelsey Bone...The Aggies are 9-3 with this starting lineup.
- Texas A&M holds a 12-7 advantage in the all-time series with Missouri.
- The Aggies have won the last nine straight against the Tigers.
- A&M is 4-5 when playing Missouri in Columbia, Mo., and has won its last four visits to the Mizzou Arena.
- Texas A&M allowed 10 3-pointers, the most it has given up this season.
- A&M was 12-of-14 from the free throw line.
- The Aggies held a 22-10 advantage in the paint, an 18-9 edge in points off turnovers, an 8-0 advantage in fast break points and a 9-1 edge in points from the bench.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- White has now started in 82 straight games, a streak that started on Jan. 4, 2010 against Lamar.
- White just 2 of her 8 points, White moved into seventh place on A&M's career points list.
- Kelsey Assarian swiped a career-best five steals in just 14 minutes of action.
- Bone scored in double figures for the 17th time this season and Standish for the first time in her career.
POSTGAME QUOTES
A&M HEAD COACH GARY BLAIR
Opening Statement
Missouri outplayed us today. They should have won the ball game, but we showed a little bit of what we're all about. This kid (Standish) hit a big 3 and hit two big free throws, but all of a sudden we showed little bit of poise right there. Then, we ran a set play for her (White) and she nailed it. This is her state and she should have nailed it. In the second half, when you saw us miss so many shots, we were short-arming them. We were playing not to lose, not playing to win. Missouri has been in so many ball games this year; right now they're just not mature enough to finish some of those games. We didn't give our best tonight, but somehow we found a way with a freshman and a senior. We're lucky to get out of here alive.
On the play that gave A&M the lead with less than a minute remaining
We hadn't ran that play all night. We put her (White) at the high post. The (Missouri) girl went with her, but she (White) penetrated and just knocked it down.
On A&M knowing what to do in the last few minutes
I think we did. We didn't panic on our last shot when we had a tied ball game. She (Standish) came down on a one-and-one and she's never been in that situation before. She drilled it. That's her first game in double figures this year. (Adrienne) Pratcher played pretty well too. Tonight that (the point guard position) was our strength. We've been there before. We're going to see the exact same thing Saturday against Oklahoma State. We lost at their place with a zone that was even more packed in than Missouri's.
FRESHMAN GUARD ALEXIA STANDISH
On Missouri's defense
They were originally in a 2-3 zone, so that leaves some gaps to shoot the 3. We weren't shooting very well, but they had our players covered most of the time. They're 2-3 zone was pretty effective.
On her 3-pointer to tie the game with less than 2 minutes remaining
Our play had fallen through. I got the ball and I was open, so I figured I'd better shoot it. We needed the 3 and it brought us back into the game. It was exciting and got everyone's energy up. If I can help my team get motivated at the end of a close game, I'm happy.
SENIOR GUARD TYRA WHITE
On the shot she hit with less than a minute remaining
It was kind of rough through the whole game. I don't think I was taking the ball aggressively from the high post. So, when I got it Coach Blair just told me to drive. The shot clock was going down so I just wanted to elevate and get a good shot in.
On playing Missouri
After watching film on them, we knew in their last game they had only lost by four points. We knew coming in that we didn't want to have a sad day on Valentine's, our coaches were saying. They (Missouri) kind of got up the first four minutes, but after that we kept our composure. It was good for us to come back in the second half and make the run we made.
On Missouri's defense
They're zone was good, but I don't think we were as aggressive as we could have been. That's all we're pretty much going to see the rest of the league, so we just have to take it back to practice and get used to it.
