University of Missouri
Texas A&M
Texas A&M Women Hand Mizzou 72-52 Setback
1/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2006
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Morenike Atunrase had a game-high 15 points, and Erica Roy added a season-high 13 points and a career-high seven rebounds, to lead Texas A&M to a 72-52 win over Missouri in Big 12 Conference action Saturday evening at Reed Arena.
Despite the loss, Mizzou's second straight on the road, the Tigers (14-4, 4-2) remain in second place in the Big 12, tied with the Aggies (15-4, 4-2). It is Texas A&M's 13th straight win at home.
Senior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) led the Tigers with 13 points and eight rebounds, while junior forward EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS) added 10 points and five rebounds.
"We had a few breakdowns mentally, and that makes their runs. Sometimes there aren't enough timeouts to compensate," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "I don't think we played well, but I walked in that locker room and saw a lot of girls disappointed in how they played. They learned a real hard lesson. It was a tough game to play, a tough place to play, but hats off to A&M for a well-played game."
The first several minutes were played at a fast pace, with both teams trying to push the tempo when it was available. Aside from a drive by senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) down the right side of the lane to open the game's scoring, the game's next three buckets were scored in transition. Bond was held to a season-low six points - her first game scoring in single digits this season - on just 3-of-8 shooting.
Texas A&M missed nine of its first 10 shots, yet also had a 9-7 rebounding advantage in the first five minutes. The Aggies did score 12 of the next 14 points, though, to take a 14-9 lead with 9:50 left in the half.
Riddle had a pair of 3-point plays - one conventional, one from distance - and junior forward Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) had a trey of her own to tie the game at 18.
Mizzou took the lead with an N'Garsanet putback, and then stretched that lead back to three several minutes later when N'Garsanet had back-to-back baskets with less than three minutes left in the half. Yet Texas A&M got the final three field goals of the half, including a putback at the buzzer from Danielle Gant, to take a 30-27 halftime lead.
Turnovers were key to Mizzou's downfall - a season-high 30 that the Aggies converted into 34 points. In addition, Texas A&M took advantage of 23 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points.
N'Garsanet hit a pair of free throws to start second-half action, and also go into double figures in scoring. The Aggies got the next three buckets, though, and took a 36-29 lead with 17:28 to play. Bond hit a pair of acrobatic layups on back-to-back possessions, but that would be Mizzou's last points until a free throw from junior forward Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS / Kansas State) with 11 minutes left. In the meantime, Bond picked up two quick fouls and fouled out of the game with 11:16 to go; A&M converted six Tiger turnovers into nine points during a 16-0 run that covered five minutes. It gave Texas A&M a 52-33 lead.
Mizzou made a quick 8-3 run, capped by a pair of Riddle buckets inside, to trim the A&M advantage. Yet the Aggies held the Tigers at bay with a couple of quick buckets.
The Tigers are off for the next week and will take advantage of the annual midweek bye from the Big 12 scheduling matrix. Mizzou's next game is next Saturday, Jan. 28, against Texas Tech. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally by FSN. Tickets are on sale for $1 at the Mizzou Arena Box Office, or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in mid-Missouri) or going online to www.mutigers.com.
