Friday, March 22
Corvallis, Ore.
9:30 PM
Texas A&M
19-13,6-10SEC
59
vs
61
Nebraska
23-11,11-7Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Texas A&M
12
8
18
21
59
Nebraska
14
13
21
13
61
Photo by: Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics
Women’s Basketball Nearly Erases 17-Point Deficit; Ends Season in NCAA Tournament
Mar 23, 2024 | Women's Basketball
CORVALLIS, Oregon – The Texas A&M women's basketball team made a furious comeback but dropped Friday's NCAA Tournament first round game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 61-59, inside Gill Coliseum.
Nebraska (23-11) led by 17 points with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter, but Aicha Coulibaly led a 29-11 surge covering 13:24, putting the Aggies up 59-58 with 17 seconds remaining in the game. The Cornhuskers were sent to the charity stripe three seconds later and Logan Nissely sank a pair of free throws to put Nebraska back ahead, 60-59.
Janiah Barker was bounced around by three defenders on a drive to the bucket but was granted no relief and the Cornhuskers scooped up the steal and headed back to the foul line with 14 seconds left. Jaz Shelley hit 1-of-2 to stretch Nebraska's cushion to 61-59. Texas A&M (19-13) had a late shot to win the game, inbounding from mid court with 1.7 seconds on the clock, but Endyia Rogers' shot from the top of the arc was off target.
Coulibaly scored all 26 of her points in the second half. After going 0-for-3 from the field in the first half, she hit 11-of-14, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, after halftime. Her effort ranked 11th on Texas A&M's all-time NCAA Tournament list. She recorded a double-double, adding 10 rebounds, along with two assists and two steals.
Barker added 11 points and five rebounds. Sahara Jones added nine boards.
Playing without their top rebounder Lauren Ware, who was out with an injury, the Aggies still managed to own the margins in rebounds (38-30) and points in the paint (24-16). The difference in the game came at the foul line where Nebraska hit 19-of-22 while Texas A&M made the most of its few trips to the charity strip, nailing 8-of-9.
The Cornhuskers jumped out to an early 6-0 edge before Kay Kay Green broke the scoring seal for the Aggies with a 3-pointer at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter. Treys by Rogers and Barker pulled Texas A&M within one point just over two minutes later and the Maroon & White nosed ahead, 11-10, at the 2:40 mark with a layup by Barker. Nebraska got a couple late buckets to take a 14-12 advantage into the first intermission.
The Aggies' second quarter efforts were hampered as the referees' whistles put Nebraska in the bonus 2:44 into the second quarter. Texas A&M was only able to make 3-of-15 field goal shots in the period, but solid defense kept the Maroon & White in striking distance heading into the halftime. The Cornhuskers outscored the Aggies 8-3 in the final 6:16 to take a 27-20 lead to the locker room.
Nebraska made 3-pointer on three consecutive trips down the court, including two by Nissely, staking claim to a 36-22 advantage at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter.
Coulibaly kept the Maroon & White in the fight with a 14-point third quarter. She scored 14 points in a span of 4:51, including all the points in an 8-0 run, trimming the deficit to 47-38 at the 1:47 mark. With a late made free throw, Nebraska took a 48-38 lead into the last intermission.
The Cornhuskers again worked their way into the bonus early in the fourth quarter, this time drawing the fifth foul 2:26 into the period. The disparity did not prevent the Aggies from battling back. Coulibaly continued to carry the Maroon & White, scoring their first seven points of the quarter. A jumper by Maliyah Johnson and 3-point field goal by Barker shaved the Nebraska edge to 54-50 at the 5:49 mark.
After a Shelley Jumper pushed the Cornhusker margin back to 6-points, A&M went on one last 9-2 burst to take its final lead of the game. Green sparked the surge with a jumper at the midway point of the fourth quarter and the Aggies eventually tied the game 56-56 on a pair of Rogers free throws, setting up the late-game dramatics.
POSTGAME NOTES
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Endyia Rogers
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.
Nebraska (23-11) led by 17 points with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter, but Aicha Coulibaly led a 29-11 surge covering 13:24, putting the Aggies up 59-58 with 17 seconds remaining in the game. The Cornhuskers were sent to the charity stripe three seconds later and Logan Nissely sank a pair of free throws to put Nebraska back ahead, 60-59.
Janiah Barker was bounced around by three defenders on a drive to the bucket but was granted no relief and the Cornhuskers scooped up the steal and headed back to the foul line with 14 seconds left. Jaz Shelley hit 1-of-2 to stretch Nebraska's cushion to 61-59. Texas A&M (19-13) had a late shot to win the game, inbounding from mid court with 1.7 seconds on the clock, but Endyia Rogers' shot from the top of the arc was off target.
Coulibaly scored all 26 of her points in the second half. After going 0-for-3 from the field in the first half, she hit 11-of-14, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, after halftime. Her effort ranked 11th on Texas A&M's all-time NCAA Tournament list. She recorded a double-double, adding 10 rebounds, along with two assists and two steals.
Barker added 11 points and five rebounds. Sahara Jones added nine boards.
Playing without their top rebounder Lauren Ware, who was out with an injury, the Aggies still managed to own the margins in rebounds (38-30) and points in the paint (24-16). The difference in the game came at the foul line where Nebraska hit 19-of-22 while Texas A&M made the most of its few trips to the charity strip, nailing 8-of-9.
The Cornhuskers jumped out to an early 6-0 edge before Kay Kay Green broke the scoring seal for the Aggies with a 3-pointer at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter. Treys by Rogers and Barker pulled Texas A&M within one point just over two minutes later and the Maroon & White nosed ahead, 11-10, at the 2:40 mark with a layup by Barker. Nebraska got a couple late buckets to take a 14-12 advantage into the first intermission.
The Aggies' second quarter efforts were hampered as the referees' whistles put Nebraska in the bonus 2:44 into the second quarter. Texas A&M was only able to make 3-of-15 field goal shots in the period, but solid defense kept the Maroon & White in striking distance heading into the halftime. The Cornhuskers outscored the Aggies 8-3 in the final 6:16 to take a 27-20 lead to the locker room.
Nebraska made 3-pointer on three consecutive trips down the court, including two by Nissely, staking claim to a 36-22 advantage at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter.
Coulibaly kept the Maroon & White in the fight with a 14-point third quarter. She scored 14 points in a span of 4:51, including all the points in an 8-0 run, trimming the deficit to 47-38 at the 1:47 mark. With a late made free throw, Nebraska took a 48-38 lead into the last intermission.
The Cornhuskers again worked their way into the bonus early in the fourth quarter, this time drawing the fifth foul 2:26 into the period. The disparity did not prevent the Aggies from battling back. Coulibaly continued to carry the Maroon & White, scoring their first seven points of the quarter. A jumper by Maliyah Johnson and 3-point field goal by Barker shaved the Nebraska edge to 54-50 at the 5:49 mark.
After a Shelley Jumper pushed the Cornhusker margin back to 6-points, A&M went on one last 9-2 burst to take its final lead of the game. Green sparked the surge with a jumper at the midway point of the fourth quarter and the Aggies eventually tied the game 56-56 on a pair of Rogers free throws, setting up the late-game dramatics.
POSTGAME NOTES
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
- Texas A&M is now 29-17 in the NCAA Tournament and 14-4 in the opening round.
- The Aggies are 9-16 versus Nebraska all-time.
- Joni Taylor's career record falls to 168-108 all-time and to 3-5 in the NCAA Tournament.
- The Aggies increased their win total from last year by 10. Taylor tied for the largest jump in victories from year one to year two in SEC history with Carolyn Peck who set the mark at Florida from 2002-04.
- The Maroon & White were 17-6 this season when trotting out a healthy lineup.
- Texas A&M began with a starting lineup of Kay Kay Green, Janiah Barker, Aicha Coulibaly, Sahara Jones and Lauren Ware for the sixth time this season (2-5).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Endyia Rogers
- Finished her career with 1,949 points.
- Recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Both were team-highs.
- Poured in a career-high 11 field goals on 64.7% (11-17) shooting from the field.
- All 26 of her points came in the second half, which is the most an Aggie has scored in a half this season.
- Averaged 29.0 points per game over the final two games of the season.
- Matched her season-high in rebounds with nine.
- Stole the ball three times, tying her season best.
- Scored a season-high nine points.
- Led the team in assists with four.
- Played a season-high 29 minutes.
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.
Team Stats
TA&M
Nebr
FG%
.361
.367
3FG%
.269
.286
FT%
.889
.864
RB
38
30
TO
17
12
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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