Texas A&M
(3) 22-9, 11-7
Oklahoma
(2) 20-12, 11-7
No. 14 Aggies Make Fifth Straight Big 12 Championship Final
Mar 09, 2012 | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Kelsey Bone's 16 points led No. 22/14 Texas A&M past Oklahoma 79-66 in the semifinals of the Big 12 women's tournament Friday.
The third-seeded Aggies (22-9) will face top-ranked Baylor for the championship Saturday.
Skylar Collins scored 15 points, Alexia Standish 13 and Sydney Carter 10 for Texas A&M, which becomes the first school in league history with five straight appearances in the title game. Kristi Bellock's eight rebounds spearheaded a 38-27 edge on the boards.
Whitney Hand's 24 points paced the second-seeded Sooners (20-12), who shot just 38 percent (20 of 53). Aaryn Ellenberg added 13 and Sharane Campbell 11.
An 8-0 run by the Aggies broke a tie and put them ahead 25-17 with 8:18 left in the first half. They never trailed again. The run was sparked by Collins who had an assist on a jumper by Elonu and back-to-back 3's from the corner.
Oklahoma closed within 49-45, but Texas A&M ripped off a 12-3 run for a 61-48 lead with 9:35 left to virtually seal it.
The Aggies led 40-35 at halftime and shot a staggering 54 percent.
Top-seeded Baylor cruised past Kansas State 86-65 to reach the final.
POSTGAME NOTES
- For the first time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Alexia Standish, Sydney Carter, Skylar Collins, Adaora Elonu and Kelsey Bone.
- Texas A&M moves to 20-27 in the all-time series with Texas A&M. The Aggies have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two rivals.
- The Aggies are 4-2 when playing OU in the Big 12 Championship and have faced the Sooners in the tournament each of the last three years.
- The Aggies move to 5-2 all-time in the semifinals, 3-1 against the No. 2 seed and 15-13 overall in all Big 12 Championship games.
- The Aggies are 8-5 on national TV this season.
- The Aggies are 11-2 this season when four or more players score double figures.
- The Aggies are 15-1 when scoring over 70 points this season.
- The Aggies are 18-2 when leading at the half.
- A&M took advantage of 16 OU miscues, outscoring the Sooners 17-8 off turnovers.
- A&M dominated down low, doubling up OU's points in the paint, 32-16.
- For just the fifth time this season and second straight game, A&M made five 3-point field goals.
- Collins had a first-half career-best 10 points on the way to a career-high 15.
- Bellock's eight rebounds were a career-best and she added 6 points and two assists in just 13 minutes of action.
- Standish continues her hot streak from 3-point range going 13-18 (.722) in the last five games.
- Bone scored in double figures for the 23rd time this season, Carter for the 19th, Standish for the fourth and Collins for the third time.
