Spring Break
Seniors looking for perfect send-off against Cowgirls
By: Michael Teague
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
The Texas A&M women's basketball team will celebrate senior night Thursday when the No. 10 Aggies play Oklahoma State at Reed Arena.
A&M (22-5, 10-4) is in third place in the Big 12 standings with two games remaining in the regular season.
A&M Head Coach Gary Blair said the emotions involved for the seniors should keep his team focused.
"These are kids that hopefully someday, you'll see their names in the rafters," Blair said. "They built this program into what it is today."
Takia Stars, A&M's all-time 3-point leader, is one of the Aggies' four seniors. In 2008-2009, Starks has averaged 15.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
"She's one of the best shooters in the country and she's one of the best scorers," Blair said. "Sometimes you can't have both, you're either a shooter or a scorer, but she does both well."
Danielle Gant, another All-American candidate leaving after the season, leads the Aggies in rebounds with 6.8 per game. Gant also averages 2.3 steals per game, ranking second in the Big 12.
"I've never coached a player in 24 years that worked harder than she does on the practice court and during the ball game," Blair said. "She gives you everything that she has and is probably the most humble of all the stars that I have coached."
In the post, the Aggies will say farewell to La Toya Micheaux after the season. Micheaux averages 6.6 rebounds a game and creates a presence underneath the basket.
"She does the little things," Gant said. "She doesn't score a lot but on the defensive end she's there getting rebounds and helping us out."
Despite only playing in seven games, senior Kiley Finstad has gone through a lot to be on the team. Starting off as a member of the men's practice squad, Finstad worked hard and became a walk-on and later a scholarship player.
"She could have went NAIA, Division 2, or Division 3 and played but she wanted to come to Texas A&M," Blair said. "She wanted a degree and wanted walk-on status at our school."
For the Aggies to send the seniors off with a victory, the defense must contain Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley. The junior from Dallas leads her team and the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 23.9 points per game.
Turnovers could be key, as Oklahoma State and Texas A&M rank first and second in the Big 12 in steals.
A&M (22-5, 10-4) is in third place in the Big 12 standings with two games remaining in the regular season.
A&M Head Coach Gary Blair said the emotions involved for the seniors should keep his team focused.
"These are kids that hopefully someday, you'll see their names in the rafters," Blair said. "They built this program into what it is today."
Takia Stars, A&M's all-time 3-point leader, is one of the Aggies' four seniors. In 2008-2009, Starks has averaged 15.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
"She's one of the best shooters in the country and she's one of the best scorers," Blair said. "Sometimes you can't have both, you're either a shooter or a scorer, but she does both well."
Danielle Gant, another All-American candidate leaving after the season, leads the Aggies in rebounds with 6.8 per game. Gant also averages 2.3 steals per game, ranking second in the Big 12.
"I've never coached a player in 24 years that worked harder than she does on the practice court and during the ball game," Blair said. "She gives you everything that she has and is probably the most humble of all the stars that I have coached."
In the post, the Aggies will say farewell to La Toya Micheaux after the season. Micheaux averages 6.6 rebounds a game and creates a presence underneath the basket.
"She does the little things," Gant said. "She doesn't score a lot but on the defensive end she's there getting rebounds and helping us out."
Despite only playing in seven games, senior Kiley Finstad has gone through a lot to be on the team. Starting off as a member of the men's practice squad, Finstad worked hard and became a walk-on and later a scholarship player.
"She could have went NAIA, Division 2, or Division 3 and played but she wanted to come to Texas A&M," Blair said. "She wanted a degree and wanted walk-on status at our school."
For the Aggies to send the seniors off with a victory, the defense must contain Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley. The junior from Dallas leads her team and the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 23.9 points per game.
Turnovers could be key, as Oklahoma State and Texas A&M rank first and second in the Big 12 in steals.
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