Spring Break
Aggies improve to 2-0 in Big 12 play
Texas A&M stretches a six-game win streak against Texas Tech
By: Brad Cox
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: Sports
The No. 8 Texas A&M women's basketball team improved to 14-1 after defeating upset-minded Texas Tech 67-56 at Reed Arena on Tuesday.
Going into the game against the Aggies, the Lady Raiders had won six of their previous seven games, including a 65-62 upset win against Texas.
Texas Tech struck first with a layup from senior guard Maria Moore 44 seconds into the game. The Lady Raiders controlled the early minutes of the match, taking a 12-5 lead with 15:38 remaining in the first half.
"We just [kept] taking it to the basket," Moore said. "Taking it inside was working for us."
A&M Head Coach Gary Blair said his team was struggling with its man-to-man defense during the first five minutes of the game. He switched to a zone defense and the Aggies began taking control of the game.
Senior guard Takia Starks broke a 1:54 field goal drought with a jump shot with 15:19 remaining in the half. The Aggies fought to within one point of the Lady Raiders four times in the next seven minutes before taking a 23-22 lead with a layup from Starks with 6:55 remaining in the half.
A&M took command and went on a 10-0 run before Tech freshman center Kierra Mallard hit a 3-pointer with 2:13 remaining in the half. The Aggies ended the first half with a 35-28 lead.
Starks paced the Aggies with 15 points while sophomore guard Sydney Colson followed with nine points.
"I think the biggest thing is we didn't control Starks early," said Tech Head Coach Kristy Curry. "I think Starks is, if not the top shooter in the country, I'd have to sit around and think about it."
Both teams posted a field goal percentage of 48 and the Lady Raiders held a 12-10 turnover advantage. However A&M out rebounded Tech 17-14.
Though the Lady Raiders struggled to finish the first half, they came out firing in the second. Tech took a 39-37 lead on a layup by junior guard Tilmila Martin with 16:10 remaining in the game.
Senior forward Danielle Gant, who struggled in the first half with a 16.7 shooting percentage, found her stride with 12:24 remaining in the second half with a layup to give the Aggies a 45-43 lead. A&M did not surrender the lead in the remainder of the game.
Going into the game against the Aggies, the Lady Raiders had won six of their previous seven games, including a 65-62 upset win against Texas.
Texas Tech struck first with a layup from senior guard Maria Moore 44 seconds into the game. The Lady Raiders controlled the early minutes of the match, taking a 12-5 lead with 15:38 remaining in the first half.
"We just [kept] taking it to the basket," Moore said. "Taking it inside was working for us."
A&M Head Coach Gary Blair said his team was struggling with its man-to-man defense during the first five minutes of the game. He switched to a zone defense and the Aggies began taking control of the game.
Senior guard Takia Starks broke a 1:54 field goal drought with a jump shot with 15:19 remaining in the half. The Aggies fought to within one point of the Lady Raiders four times in the next seven minutes before taking a 23-22 lead with a layup from Starks with 6:55 remaining in the half.
A&M took command and went on a 10-0 run before Tech freshman center Kierra Mallard hit a 3-pointer with 2:13 remaining in the half. The Aggies ended the first half with a 35-28 lead.
Starks paced the Aggies with 15 points while sophomore guard Sydney Colson followed with nine points.
"I think the biggest thing is we didn't control Starks early," said Tech Head Coach Kristy Curry. "I think Starks is, if not the top shooter in the country, I'd have to sit around and think about it."
Both teams posted a field goal percentage of 48 and the Lady Raiders held a 12-10 turnover advantage. However A&M out rebounded Tech 17-14.
Though the Lady Raiders struggled to finish the first half, they came out firing in the second. Tech took a 39-37 lead on a layup by junior guard Tilmila Martin with 16:10 remaining in the game.
Senior forward Danielle Gant, who struggled in the first half with a 16.7 shooting percentage, found her stride with 12:24 remaining in the second half with a layup to give the Aggies a 45-43 lead. A&M did not surrender the lead in the remainder of the game.
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