Spring Break
Dominated
Super seniors
By: Michael Teague
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: News
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Seniors Takia Starks, Danielle Gant, La Toya Micheaux and Kiley Finstad played their last game at Reed Arena in front of 7,075 fans including more than 1,500 members of the Corps of Cadets.
"We made some believers out of that Corps," said A&M Head Coach Gary Blair. "They make everybody else yell. It was special. I'd love to have them here more often. If I can get them here as individuals, then they'll spread the word because that's what we're all about. We're all about leadership at this school. They just do a tremendous job of presenting themselves there."
Starks and junior Tanisha Smith led the Aggies in scoring with 18 points. A&M shot more than 55 percent from the field in the second half, outscoring the Cowgirls 40-22.
"In the second half, I think my penetration brought my shot along," Smith said. "If I penetrate, then I know my threes are going to fall, so I just had to be patient with my shot."
Blair told Smith at halftime to start driving to the bucket instead of settling for the 3-point shot. Smith responded by shooting 6-for-7 from the field.
"I think she's the most explosive wing in our conference as far as putting the ball on the floor and being able to create her shot," Blair said. "What she did to open up the second half was pretty doggone good. The kid is just going to get better and better."
Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley, the Big 12's leading-scorer, was held to 15 points and shot 3-for-14 from the field.
"This wasn't really wasn't one of my best nights defensively on Riley, but I tried to make it tough for her," Starks said. "She got past me a couple times, but I have a great helping team and they made some great defensive plays tonight."
Following its fifth consecutive win, A&M (23-5, 11-4) clinched a first-round bye in the Big 12 Tournament.
Saturday, the Aggies will travel to Baylor (23-5, 11-4), where the second seed in the Big 12 Tournament will be on the line.
"That has been the talk lately around our locker room," Starks said. "I'm looking forward to Baylor, playing them at their house and locking up that No. 2 seed."
The Bears' attack will be led by seniors Jhasmin Player, Jessica Morrow and Rachel Allison, who will be playing their last game at home.
"Player and Morrow will be sky-high for that ballgame," Blair said. "That's how it should be, those three kids against our three seniors. I recruited all of theirs, and they tried to recruit all of mine. It's a good friendly rivalry."
In the first meeting of the 2008-2009 season, Baylor edged out a 64-61 victory at A&M. In a game that featured 19 lead changes, the balance and similarities between the two teams was displayed.
"Our two teams match up better than any two teams in the conference," Blair said. "We're similar to them more so than any team that we've played."
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