Aggies Cruise Past Southern, 88-47

Sunday, November 15

College Station

4:00 PM

Texas A&M

2-0

Southern

1-1

Southern

Texas A&M

Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics

Nov 15, 2015 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Media Relations

COLLEGE STATION- No. 13 Texas A&M put five players in double figures, as the Aggies cruised to an 88-47 win over Southern in a women's basketball game Sunday afternoon at Reed Arena.

The Aggies (2-0) shut down the Southern (1-1) offense in the second half, holding the Jaguars to 4-34 (11.8%) shooting in the second half. A&M outscored Southern 39-13 in the second frame en route to victory.

Courtney Williams led the way for the Aggies, scoring 18 points. She was joined in double figures by Jordan Jones (15), Anriel Howard (13), Courtney Walker (11) and Chelsea Jennings (10). Khaalia Hillsman led the Aggies with 10 rebounds.

A&M opened the game on a 9-0 run, and led 49-34 at halftime. The Aggies shot 53.1% in the first half to build their lead.

The Aggies have scored 87+ points in each of their first two games this season, marking the first time the Aggies have scored 87+ in back-to-back games since the 2010-11 season.

The win was career victory No. 697 for head coach Gary Blair, who is ninth among all active Division I coaches in career wins. He needs three more to become the 16th Division I coach all-time with 700 career victories.

A&M returns to action on Wednesday, November 18 at 6 p.m. CT for a showdown with No. 14 Duke, a game broadcast on ESPN3. The Aggies return to Reed Arena on Saturday, November 21 at a new tip time of 12:30 p.m. to host TCU.

QUICKIE NOTES

Texas A&M has started 2-0 for the third consecutive year and 10^th time in the past 11 seasons.
Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair needs three more wins to become the 16^th Division I coach all-time with 700 career wins. Blair is 697-282 in his career and 289-119 in 13 seasons at Texas A&M.
This is the first time Texas A&M has scored 87+ points in back-to-back games since Dec. 30, 2010 & Jan. 4, 2011, when the Aggies beat San Diego State 96-52 and ULM 105-57
The 41-point win is A&M's largest since Nov. 26, 2014
Jordan Jones had double figure points for the 22^nd time in her career and first time since Feb. 19, 2015. Jones missed the final four games of the 2014-15 season with an ACL tear.
- Jones had 5+ assists for the 52^nd time in her career.
- Jones tied her career-high with four 3-pointers made
- Her 15 points were the most she has scored since scoring 21 on Dec. 21, 2014 against No. 3 Texas
Courtney Williams scored in double figures for the 59^th time in her career and 12^th straight game, dating back to last season.
Anriel Howard had 13 points, reaching double figures for the first time in her two-game career
Courtney Walker scored in double figures for the 76^th time in her career
Chelsea Jennings scored in double figures for the sixth time in her career and first time this season
Khaalia Hillsman had double figure rebounds for the fifth time in her career and first time this season. She has had six or more rebounds in each of her last 12 games, dating back to last season. She has averaged 9.2 rebounds per game in that span.
The Aggies had four-or-more players score in double figures for the second straight game
Texas A&M has not lost a game in regulation in which Jordan Jones has played in the second half since Jan. 26, 2015. The Aggies are 7-1 in those games in that span, with the one loss coming to Mississippi State on Feb. 8.
Texas A&M is 31-3 at home since the start of the 2013-14 season. The Aggies are 125-4 against unranked opponents at home since Feb. 2005, and have won their last 76 games against non-conference opponents who are unranked.

Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair

Opening Statement…
"I thought we started off the ball game very well with our defensive intensity, just like we did against Texas State. I thought we were flowing pretty well and forcing turnovers. I really liked how that first unit played. Courtney Williams started learning how to score easy, she got to the line nine times. I thought she was very active. By far she was the best player out there on the court. Jordan Jones has played limited minutes, because I'm trying to build her up to what we need out of her when we play Duke. She was very good, she hit the open three. If they're going to give it to her, she's going to take it; that's what a senior does. Anriel Howard came in at the four spot because I wanted to see what she could do with that first unit. Once she gets an awareness of the game and understands the little things you have to do as a post player, she's going to learn the game. Her ability is off the charts for what we envision her to be in the next year or two. I'm going to take this game and I'm going to look at what we're going to have to do against a great zone team like Duke. We're going to have to shoot the three ball as well as we did tonight. We finished strong with five kids in double figures. Jennings played well off the bench."

On what he wanted to see in this game…
"I wanted to see the W. I wanted to see this because Southern made us work defensively. We got out of our press because we got tired, so we ran a half-court defense in the second quarter which allowed them to run their motion very well. In the second half they went 4-34, which means our team tightened up. Our bench played so much better in the second half than in the first and it allowed me to call our man defense. They came in and settled it down and then we finished it up very well."

Texas A&M Forward/Guard Courtney Williams
On her performance after Friday's game...
"Tonight, I just took my time. Friday, I was a little anxious to get out there. Well not to get out there, but to have good stats. I tried to get my stats up so that probably broke my rhythm a little bit. But tonight I just took my time. I could have taken more shots, but I have a whole season to go. So hopefully my percentages and stats can catch up and be in the positive."

On putting the game away...
"I think our defense wasn't where it needed to be. They kept hitting range shots and we weren't boxing out or rebounding. They gave them easy buckets or second chance points that they used to keep the game close enough. Coach Starkey is always saying to put a team like that out early, but we didn't do that."

Texas A&M Forward Anriel Howard
On her first start...
"I just have to listen to the veterans on my team, they've been leading the way. They know what they're talking about; this is their fourth year. The coaching staff, they tell me what I need to know, I just have to execute. It's a big transition from high school but I'm learning."

On starting the game fast...
"It sets the tempo of the game. Our coaches just want us to get out there fast, especially against a team like this, that's just how we need to play."

On the difference between starting today...
"The difference between Friday and today was probably a mental thing. I know physically I still need to be up-tempo, I think I did that. I'm just making sure I know what I'm doing. If you are in the starting five you have to know what you are doing. That is my main concern, making sure I am in the right spots at the right time and listening."