No. 4 Seed Women Move To NCAA Second Round With 89-76 Win Over No. 13 Seed Drake

Final Stats (PDF) Postgame Quotes YouTube

COLLEGE STATION- National Freshman of the Year Chennedy Carter led No. 4 seed Texas A&M with 26 points, to help the Aggies defeat No. 13 seed Drake 89-76 Friday in the First Round of the 2018 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship at Reed Arena.

With the win, the Aggies (25-9) advance to face No. 5 seed DePaul (27-7) in a Second Round game, March 18 at Reed Arena, with game time to be announced later tonight. Texas A&M is looking for its seventh appearance in the Sweet 16, but its first since 2014.

Carter, playing in her first career NCAA Tournament game, turned in one of the best statistical performances for a Tournament game in school history. Among Texas A&M performances in NCAA Tournament games, her 26 points rank fifth, her 11 assists tie for second, and her six steals match the school record.

Khaalia Hillsman and Danni Williams each scored in double figures for the third straight time in an NCAA Tournament game, as Hillsman added 22 and Williams chipped in 18. In the game, Williams passed Amy Yates' 1997-98 season to set the Texas A&M school record with 69 made 3-pointers this year.

Anriel Howard, who tallied 14 points and 10 rebounds, recorded her first career NCAA Tournament double double in the game.

Drake (26-8), who had their 21-game win streak snapped, was led by Sara Rhine, who had team-highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Tickets for Sunday's game are available online at aggi.es/ncaawbb18 or at the Reed Arena Box Office from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday.

Watch: Chennedy Carter scores from way downtown for @AggieWBB. https://t.co/7VMAuxSuux
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) March 16, 2018

With 68 3-pointers this season, @danniwill3 has set a new Texas A&M Single-Season record for made 3-pointers! pic.twitter.com/q4dtUFMzqw
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) March 16, 2018

Watch: Danni Williams makes her 68th 3-pointer to set a @AggieWBB single-season record. https://t.co/HWmUpWBvDc
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) March 16, 2018

Here are a few ?? from Friday's win over Drake.

We need the #12thMan back at Reed on Sunday!

??? - https://t.co/QiiB2Szpdw pic.twitter.com/gDNcRRMEjX
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) March 16, 2018

.@CoachGaryBlair following Friday's win over Drake

"If we can stay within ourselves & play to our strengths, maybe we can go a long way." #12thMan pic.twitter.com/tNJPtH8znD
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) March 16, 2018

.@danniwill3 meets with the media to talk about Friday's victory.

"We're putting it together, & we're starting to gel at the right time."

?? - https://t.co/KpqfrOGTnT #12thMan pic.twitter.com/1FRSu5Ryzh
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) March 16, 2018

.@lashe5_ talks about the team's effort in Friday's NCAA Tournament win.

"Everybody is getting the ball. Everybody is contributing on offense. That helps us get our flow on defense, as well, so it was definitely a team effort."

?? - https://t.co/KpqfrOGTnT #12thMan pic.twitter.com/nYfuY200fZ
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) March 16, 2018

NOTES
Texas A&M

The Aggies are 25-9 on the season, and advance to the NCAA Second Round for the 11^th time in the past 12 seasons.
The Aggies take on DePaul on Sunday, March 16 in the Second Round. Tickets are available online at aggi.es/ncaawbb18 or at the Reed Arena Box Office from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday.
Drake has its 21-game winning streak snapped, finishing their outstanding 2018 campaign at 26-8.
The Aggies are 24-13 in the NCAA Tournament in 15 appearances, and have a 12-3 mark in the First Round
The Aggies are 8-2 in NCAA Tournament home games and 6-0 in First Round games at home
Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is 36-22 in his NCAA Tournament career. His 36 NCAA Tournament wins rank seventh among active coaches
Blair is 356-150 in 15 seasons in Aggieland. He is 764-313 in his Hall of Fame career, which ranks eighth among active coaches

Chennedy Carter

Among Texas A&M performances in NCAA Tournament games, her 26 points rank fifth, her 11 assists tie for second and her six steals match the school record for a Tournament game.
Scored 20+ points for the 22^nd time this season and the seventh time in eight games
Had her second career double-double
Scored in double figures for the 33^rd time in 34 games this season
Her 11 assists tie for the second-most for an Aggie in an NCAA Tournament game, trailing just Jordan Jones' 16 in the 2014 Second Round.
Her 11 assists also match a career-high
Had 10+ assists for the second time this season

Danni Williams

Set the Texas A&M single-season record for 3-pointers, passing Amy Yates (1997-98, 67). Williams now has 69 3-pointers on the season.
Scored 10+ points for the 27^th time this season and the 58^th time in her career. She has scored 10+ points in her last three NCAA Tournament games

Anriel Howard

Had her 18^th double-double of the season, and extended her Texas A&M record with the 30^th of her career, but her first career double-double in the NCAA Tournament
Scored 10+ points for the 20^th time this season and the 40^th time in her career
Had 10+ rebounds for the 29^th time this season and the 57^th time in her career. She has had 10+ rebounds in four of five career NCAA Tournament games.

Khaalia Hillsman

Scored 20+ points for the 10^th time this season and the 21^st time in her career. It is her second career 20+ point game in the NCAA Tournament
Scored 10+ points for the 25^th time this season and 69^th time in her career. She has scored 10+ points in her last three NCAA Tournament games.