PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – The Texas A&M women's basketball team fell to the Villanova Wildcats, 57-65, in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament at Imperial Arena at Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas.
Â
Sahara Jones led the way with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and Taliyah Parker poured in 10 off the bench in a career-high 25 minutes of action.
Â
The first period began with a 9-0 run by Texas A&M (3-3 )and Villanova (4-1) did not take the lid off the basket until the 4:50 mark in the frame. The Aggies continued to stifle the Wildcats and pushed the lead to 14-4 with one possession remaining in the quarter.
Â
The first ended with hounding defense by Aicha Coulibaly which forced Jasmine Bascoe of Villanova to step out of bounds under her own basket to end the period at 14-4 in favor of the Aggies. The Maroon & White held the Wildcats to a dismal 11.8% (2-17) from the field for the lowest scoring output in a quarter by a Texas A&M opponent all year.
Â
Villanova's shooting turned the other way after the break, posting a 57.1% (8-14) mark and closing the gap to one at the half for a 27-26 Texas A&M advantage.
Â
Nova took its first lead, 27-28, at the 8:53 time stamp in the third quarter and pushed the cushion to five at 27-32, but the Aggies would regain the advantage with a 7-0 run midway through the third. Back-and-forth basketball ensued between the two programs with the Aggies taking a one-point deficit into the final frame, 44-45.
Â
Freshman Parker started the fourth with an emphatic and-one opportunity under the rim, but Villanova would outscore the Aggies 20-13 in the fourth as Texas A&M fell 57-65 in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Â
The Aggies will take on Ball State at 8 p.m. on FloCollege in the second round in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Â
POSTGAME NOTES
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
Lauren Ware
Follow the Aggies
Visit for more information on Texas A&M women's basketball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's basketball team on Facebook, Instagram/Threads and X by following @AggieWBB.
Â
Sahara Jones led the way with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and Taliyah Parker poured in 10 off the bench in a career-high 25 minutes of action.
Â
The first period began with a 9-0 run by Texas A&M (3-3 )and Villanova (4-1) did not take the lid off the basket until the 4:50 mark in the frame. The Aggies continued to stifle the Wildcats and pushed the lead to 14-4 with one possession remaining in the quarter.
Â
The first ended with hounding defense by Aicha Coulibaly which forced Jasmine Bascoe of Villanova to step out of bounds under her own basket to end the period at 14-4 in favor of the Aggies. The Maroon & White held the Wildcats to a dismal 11.8% (2-17) from the field for the lowest scoring output in a quarter by a Texas A&M opponent all year.
Â
Villanova's shooting turned the other way after the break, posting a 57.1% (8-14) mark and closing the gap to one at the half for a 27-26 Texas A&M advantage.
Â
Nova took its first lead, 27-28, at the 8:53 time stamp in the third quarter and pushed the cushion to five at 27-32, but the Aggies would regain the advantage with a 7-0 run midway through the third. Back-and-forth basketball ensued between the two programs with the Aggies taking a one-point deficit into the final frame, 44-45.
Â
Freshman Parker started the fourth with an emphatic and-one opportunity under the rim, but Villanova would outscore the Aggies 20-13 in the fourth as Texas A&M fell 57-65 in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Â
The Aggies will take on Ball State at 8 p.m. on FloCollege in the second round in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Â
POSTGAME NOTES
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
- The Aggies fall to 0-1 all-time against the Wildcats.
- Joni Taylor's career record moves to 171-111 all-time and to 31-36 in her three seasons with the Aggies.
- The Aggies gave up less than five points in a quarter for the first time this season and have not held a team below that threshold since allowing just five against Georgia in the third quarter on Jan. 4, 2024.
- The Maroon & White bench scored 30+ for the fourth-consecutive game.
- Texas A&M began with a starting lineup of Lauren Ware, Solè Williams, Janae Kent, Sahara Jones and Aicha Coulibaly (3-2).
Lauren Ware
- Blocked three-or-more shots in a game for the third time this season. The Aggies are 1-2 in those contests.
- Scored in double-figures for the second time in her career with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
- Made a career-best two 3-pointers and swatted away a career-high two shots.
- Played the most minutes of her freshman season (25).
- Moved her career total in points to 1,496, just four shy of the 1,500 mark.
Follow the Aggies
Visit for more information on Texas A&M women's basketball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's basketball team on Facebook, Instagram/Threads and X by following @AggieWBB.