Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jon Eilts Texas A&M's Tanisha Smith (22) shoots a layup in the second half Wednesday against Baylor. A&M lost 61-64 but Smith finished 9-15 for 19 points. [Click to enlarge]

In a close game at Reed Arena, the No. 9 Texas A&M women's basketball team lost to the No. 5 Baylor Lady Bears Wednesday night 64-61.

In back and forth fashion, the Aggies and Lady Bears squared off in a first half that had seven ties and 13 lead changes.

The Aggies got off to a 4-0 lead with a field goal from junior guard Tanisha Smith and two free throws from senior guard
Danielle Gant.

But the Lady Bears struck back with a pair of layups from senior forward Jessica Morrow to tie the game.

Gant stopped the Baylor momentum with a block on the inside that led to back-to-back jumpers from Smith.

The teams exchanged field goals and were neck and neck throughout the half, with the no lead extending past four points.

Morrow sunk a 3-pointer in the final minute of the half to give the Bears a three point half-time lead and a score of 37-34.

Lead scorers for the Lady Bears were junior forward Morghan Medlock with 15 and Morrow with nine. Baylor shot a 56 field goal percentage and out-rebounded the Aggies 14-11.

A&M shot 48 percent from the field in the first half and had leading scorers in Tanisha Smith and Takia Starks, who each scored 12 points.

At the start of the second half, the Aggies regained the lead from Baylor with a jump shot from Smith and an inside layup from senior center La Toya Micheaux.

But the Baylor squad took back the lead with a layup from sophomore guard Kelli Griffin.

With 17 minutes remaining in the half, sophomore guard Sydney Colson went down on her elbow after fighting for a rebound in the paint. Colson rejoined the game soon after with no major injuries.

The bout stayed within a four-point game throughout the half, as both teams struggled with accuracy and had frequent turnovers.

In the final five minutes of the game, both teams exchanged steals before sophomore Melissa Jones hit two free throws to give the Lady Bears a three-point lead with three minutes remaining.

"This game was the best we've played in conference by far, maybe even the year," said A&M Head Coach Gary Blair.

Starks got the Aggies within one point with less than two minutes remaining with a layup in the paint. Micheaux had a defensive rebound on the other end that led to a fast break by A&M finished off with a free throw by Gant to tie the game.

With only 35 seconds remaining, Baylor had possession and the Aggies played close defense to force an out of bounds deflection with two seconds remaining on the shot clock.

After a time out, Baylor completed an inbound pass to junior center Danielle Wilson, who made an inside layup and was fouled with five seconds remaining on the game clock.

"I just knew to either finish and get fouled, or just go to the line and make my free throws," Wilson said.

After sinking the free throw, the Aggies got the ball back, but Starks came up short on a 3-point attempt and the game went to Baylor.

Smith ended the game with 19 points and Starks finished with 18 for the Aggies. Baylor closed with lead scorers from Medlock with 17 and Morrow with 15.

"We have to go right back to the practice court," Starks said. "We're going to leave this game in the past and just work hard."

The Aggies fall to 14-3 with the loss, and play next at Oklahoma State on Jan. 24. The Lady Bears improve to 20-1.

"It was a big win, but it's still early in the season," said Baylor Head Coach Kim Mulkey. "We're all just trying to joust for a spot at the top of the Big 12 echelon."

Player of the game: Tanisha Smith
19 points
6 rebounds
3 assists
4 steals
3 fouls
2 turnovers
35 minutes of play

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