No. 13 Aggies’ Two-Game Road Swing Begins at Kansas Saturday
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 13 Texas A&M women’s basketball team takes to the road for the first of a two-game Big 12 road swing at Kansas on Saturday, Jan. 21. The Aggies and the Jayhawks tip off at 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
#14/13 TEXAS A&M (12-4, 3-2 Big 12) at KANSAS (15-2, 4-1 Big 12)
Game 17
Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 • 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, Kan.
Television: None
Radio: Texas A&M Sports Network (KZNE 1150 AM)
Series History: Texas A&M leads 9-7
Internet: Free Live Audio and Live Stats at AggieAthletics.com
TEXAS A&M
Record: 12-4 (3-2 Big 12)
Ranking: #14 (AP), #13 (Coaches)
Last Result: W, 78-52 vs. Missouri on 1/18/12
Up Next: at Oklahoma State on 1/24/12
Head Coach: Gary Blair, Ninth Season
Texas A&M Record: 200-83 (.707)
Career Record: 608-246 (.712)
KANSAS
Record: 15-2 (4-1 Big 12)
Ranking: RV (AP), RV (Coaches)
Last Result: W, 65-60 at Oklahoma State on 1/18/12
Up Next: vs. Texas Tech on 1/25/12
Head Coach: Bonnie Henrickson, Eighth Season
Kansas Record: 131-110 (.544)
Career Record: 289-172 (.627)
AGGIES ON THE RADIO
• All Texas A&M women’s basketball games can be heard via a radio broadcast on the Texas A&M Sports Network. Play-by-play announcer Mike Wright will call the action live from Allen Fieldhouse alongside color analyst Steve Miller on KZNE 1150 AM. A live audio feed will also be available on RadioAggieland.com.
QUICK HITS
• Four Aggies are averaging double figures this season with Preseason All-Big 12 selection Tyra White (14.5 ppg) leading the way. She is followed by senior guard Sydney Carter (12.4 ppg) and Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Kelsey Bone (11.8 ppg) and senior forward Adaora Elonu (11.8 ppg).
• Bone leads the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg), followed closely by Elonu (7.1 rpg), and White averages 5.6 rebounds per game.
• The Aggies lead the Big 12 Conference by forcing their opponents into an average of 21.3 turnovers per game, with a turnover margin of +5.8, and with 18.7 offensive rebounds per game. The team also averages 10.3 steals per game, which is second-best in the Big 12.
• The Aggies have the 14th-best turnover margin in the nation at 5.81, the 18th-best rebounding margin in the nation (+8.4) and the 19th-best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.03).
• In Big 12 play, senior Skylar Collins leads all players with a 71.4 (5-7) 3-point field goal percentage. White averages 16.0 points per game, sixth-best in the league, and Carter trails her with 15.6 points per game, seventh-best. Elonu’s 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per conference game both rank fifth-best while her 4.0 offensive rebounds per game are second-best in the league.
SCOUTING KANSAS
• The University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kan., has an enrollment of 29,462 and was founded in 1866.
• The Jayhawks return six letterwinners and four starters from their 2010-11 squad that finished the season 21-13 overall and 6-10 (8th) in the Big 12.
• Kansas has had 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and last made the field of 64 in 2000.
• KU is off to its best start since the 1993-94 season at 15-2 and currently second in the Big 12 with a 4-1 record. After a loss versus K-State to open their conference slate, the Jayhawks have won three straight.
• Kansas leads the Big 12 with a 48.9 field goal percentage
• Kansas is led by Carolyn Davis with 18.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with the best field goal percentage in the nation at 62.6. She is followed by four other players that average double figures led by Aishah Sutherland with 13.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Point guard Angel Goodrich leads the nation with 7.8 assists and a Big 12-best 3.6 steals per game.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
TEXAS A&M
No.
Name
2011-12 Stats
10
Alexia Standish, G, 5-8, Fr.
2.6 ppg, 1.9 apg
04
Sydney Carter, G, 5-6, Sr.
12.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg
20
Tyra White, G, 6-0, Sr.
14.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg
21
Adaora Elonu, F, 6-1, Sr.
11.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg
03
Kelsey Bone, C, 6-4, Jr.
11.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg
KANSAS
No.
Name
2011-12 Stats
03
Angel Goodrich, G, 5-4, Jr.
11.8 ppg, 7.8 apg
11
Aishah Sutherland, F, 6-2, Sr.
13.6ppg, 9.5 rpg
13
Monica Engelman, G, 5-11, Jr.
10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg
21
Carolyn Davis, F, 6-3, Jr.
18.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg
42
Natalie Knight, G, 5-7, Fr.
5.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
2011-12 Category
TAMU
KU
Overall Record
12-4
15-2
Conference Record
3-2
4-1
Points Per Game
71.6
75.2
Scoring Margin
+12.2
+15.0
Rebounds Per Game
42.3
38.5
Rebounding Margin
+8.4
+3.4
Field Goal Percentage
42.2
48.9
Field Goal% Defense
40.3
37.8
3-Point FG%
26.4
34.2
Free Throw Percentage
65.0
69.8
Turnovers Per Game
15.4
17.4
Assists Per Game
15.9
16.4
Blocks Per Game
4.9
4.8
Steals Per Game
10.3
10.3
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Texas A&M leads 9-7 in the all-time series with Kansas. The Aggies have won the last eight straight meetings between the two schools dating back to a 69-63 road victory in Lawrence on Feb. 21, 2004.
• The Aggies are also winners in nine of the last 10 matchups.
• Kansas is one of only two league teams, the other being Missouri, in which A&M has a winning record against in the all-time series.
• A&M is 5-2 against the Jayhawks when playing in Lawrence.
• Blair is an undefeated 11-0 lifetime versus Kansas in his 27 years as a Division I head coach. The Aggies are 8-0 against the Jayhawks since Blair’s first season in Aggieland in 2003-04.
LAST SEVEN GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 69-63 (+6) on Feb. 21, 2004 in Lawrence, Kan.
W, 62-60 (+2) on Jan. 15, 2005 in College Station
W, 78-66 (+12) on Jan. 15, 2006 in Lawrence, Kan.
W, 64-53 (+11) on Feb. 3, 2007 in College Station
W, 58-51 (+7) on Jan. 26, 2008 in Lawrence, Kan.
W, 73-60 (+13) on Jan. 31, 2009 in College Station
W, 78-54 (+24) on March 6, 2010 in Lawrence, Kan.
W, 81-58 (+23) on Feb. 12, 2011 in College Staion
KANSAS REWIND
• Danielle Adams scored 26 of her school-record 40 points in the first half and No. 5 Texas A&M coasted to an 81-58 win over Kansas on Saturday night. Adams led the charge in a dominant first half, helping the Aggies build a 19-point halftime lead. The Jayhawks never threatened after the break. Texas A&M (21-2, 9-1 Big 12) has won three straight heading into Monday’s rematch at top-ranked Baylor. Carolyn Davis had 16 points, but Kansas (16-9, 3-8) was hurt by a season-high 31 turnovers. Adams went to the bench to a standing ovation after breaking Lori Foreman’s school record on a layup with 2 1/2 minutes to play that made it 77-55. Foreman scored 39 against Texas Women’s University on Feb. 8, 1980. Sydney Colson finished with a season-high 16 points and nine assists in the Aggies’ eighth straight win over Kansas. Adaora Elonu had eight points, nine rebounds, a season-high four assists, three steals and three blocked shots. Adams also had six rebounds and three steals. The Aggies wore pink shoes and uniforms with pink accents as part of a breast cancer awareness day to raise money for the Kay Yow Foundation.
BLAIR REACHES 200-WIN MILESTONE
• Gary Blair recently reached his 600th career win as a Division I head coach and on Jan. 18, he achieved another coaching milestone with his 200th victory as head coach of the Fightin’ Texas Aggies.
• Blair is already the all-time winningest coach in program history with 200 wins and a .707 winning percentage (200-83). He surpassed former head coach Lynn Hickey, who compiled 154 career victories from 1984-1994, with an 84-53 win over Portland State in the NCAA First Round on March 20, 2010 in Seattle, Wash.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
• Carter is 10 points away (990) from joining an elite group of players in the 1,000 point club at A&M. She would be just the 24th Aggie player to have 1,000+ career points.
• White is 7 points away (1,295) from moving into ninth place in A&M’s career points and 22 points away from moving into eighth place.
• Carter is four 3-pointers away (114) from moving into fifth place in career 3-point field goals made.
• With six rebounds against Missouri on Jan. 18, White became the 24th A&M player to join the 500-rebound club and now has 504 career boards.
AGGIES AND JAYHAWKS WITH BALANCE
• Both Texas A&M and Kansas have balanced scoring this season. In league games, A&M has four players that average double figures – White, Carter, Elonu and Bone – while KU’s four include Davis, Sutherland, Engleman and Goodrich. A&M’s four have recorded 53.8 ppg in conference play, while KU’s average 57.2 ppg. The Aggies’ four hold the slight edge in rebounds per game, 25.4-24.4.
THE LAST TWO
A&M’s last two games have proved a couple of the best this season defensively. The Aggies limited their opponents to just 34.8 percent shooting from the floor, 29.4 percent from beyond the arc, and forced them into 21.5 turnovers per game with a turnover margin of +11.0. The Aggies have also had 6.5 blocks and 13.5 steals per game, while shooting 90.0 percent (18-20) from the charity stripe.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Here is a comparison of key statistics in A&M’s wins vs. losses:
Team Stat
Wins
Losses
Points per game
75.2
60.5
Opp points per game
55.2
72.0
Scoring margin
+20.1
-11.5
FG Percentage
44.5
35.4
Opp FG Percentage
37.5
48.0
Free-Throw Percentage
67.4
57.3
Turnover Margin
+7.8
-0.2
Steals per game
11.3
7.3
AGGIES’ BIG 12 START
• The Aggies are off to a 3-2 start in Big 12 play. Texas A&M also began its conference slate with a 3-2 record in 2009-10, 2008-09, 2006-07 and 2005-06.
PRESSURE DEFENSE
• Texas A&M is known for its pressure defense has forced seven of its opponents into season high turnovers: Lamar (28), Louisville (27), UALR (24), Mississippi State (18), Temple (27), Iowa (25), Missouri (25).
CARTER TAKES CHARGE
• Texas A&M is known for its signature defense and Sydney Carter is its spokeswoman, regularly given the daunting task of guarding the opponent’s best perimeter player. Her play has earned her a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive team last year and she took home the team’s Miss Defense Award the past two seasons. Add to that, the fact that she has led the team in charges taken every year she’s been at A&M.
Carter’s Charges:
14 – Senior (2011-12)
29 – Junior (2010-11)
28 – Sophomore (2009-10)
12 – Freshman (2008-09)
RPI RATING
• In the most recent release of the NCAA RPI on Jan. 16, Texas A&M was ranked 10th. The Aggies have the 5th-best strength of schedule in the nation. Tennessee holds the top spot in RPI followed by Baylor, Notre Dame, Stanford and Connecticut. Kansas State is sixth, then Maryland, Delaware and Rutgers.
DEFENDERS OF THE HOME COURT
• Despite a recent loss to Texas at home, Texas A&M has protected its home court well over the last seven seasons with the help of the 12th Man. In fact, the Aggies have compiled an unprecedented 89-9 (.908) overall success rate at Reed Arena in those years, including a 13-1 mark last season and a perfect 16-0 home stand in 2006-07.
• The Aggies have won 48 straight non-conference home games, dating back to a 40-46 loss to Houston on 12/30/03. In addition, A&M has won 76 of its last 82 home games.
AGGIES’ AT REED ARENA (SINCE 2005-06)
2011-12
7-1
2010-11
13-1
2009-10
12-2
2008-09
13-1
2007-08
14-2
2006-07
16-0
2005-06
14-2
Total
87-8
AGGIE ATTENDANCE
• Texas A&M finished its 2010-11 regular season averaging a program-best 6,104 fans at each home game, which ranked fourth-best in the Big 12 and 12th-best in the country in attendance. A&M has been in the top 25 in national attendance for the past four seasons.
• After eight home games this season, the Aggies are averaging 6,255 fans per game, fourth-best in the Big 12.
AGGIES IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
• The Aggies are 94-16 (.855) in non-conference play in the Gary Blair Era (2003-Present) and turned in their eighth consecutive non-conference season with just two or less losses in Coach Blair’s ninth overall season in Aggieland.
GARY BLAIR ERA NON-CONFERENCE RECORD
2003-04:
7-4
2004-05:
9-1
2005-06:
11-2
2006-07:
10-2
2007-08:
12-2
2008-09:
12-1
2009-10:
12-1
2010-11:
12-1
2011-12:
9-2
Totals:
94-16 (.855)
TWO TOUGHEST ROAD TESTS
• In the history of Texas A&M women’s basketball, #13 Purdue and #2 Connecticut were the highest-ranked opponents the Aggies have ever faced consecutively on the road.
• The Aggies came away with two tough losses, but had not dropped two consecutive games since February 2010.
AGGIES IN THE POLLS
• A&M has been ranked in the AP Poll for 75 consecutive weeks and 55 all-time in the top 10
• A&M has been ranked in the Coaches Poll for 111 consecutive weeks and 60 all-time in the top 10.
TWELVE STRAIGHT
• Prior to their loss at Purdue, the Aggies had won 12 straight games (including six from last season) which matched a school-record 12-game streak that occurred on three other occasions – during the 2010-11, 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons.
BLAIR GETS 600TH WIN
• With a victory over Mississippi State on Nov. 20, 2011, A&M head coach Gary Blair earned his 600th career win as a Division I head coach. The victories included 192 at A&M (2003-present), 198 at Arkansas (1993-03) and 210 at Stephen F. Austin (1985-93) for 600 total wins.
• Blair became the 25th-fastest all-time coach (in all divisions) to reach 600 victories, the 22nd all-time Division I coach and the 36th all-time coach (in all divisions) to reach 600 victories. He is one of just 13 active Division I coach with 600 victories.
2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
• In April, Texas A&M won its first NCAA National Championship in program history in its first-ever trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four and eighth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance.
• Texas A&M ended the season with a 33-5 record, the most victories in program history. It was the first 30-win season in 37 all-time season of Aggie Basketball.
• Texas A&M made a school-record sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to the streak, the Aggies had never played in consecutive NCAA Tournaments and had not been a part of March Madness since 1996.
• A&M received a program-best No. 1 national ranking in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll, improving on its previous school-best of No. 3 in the Coaches Poll in 2008.
WHAT’S BACK
• The Aggies return three starters and 10 letterwinners from last year’s national championship squad, including Preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention Sydney Carter (DeSoto, Texas), senior Adaora Elonu (Houston, Texas), and Preseason All-Big 12 Tyra White (Kansas City, Mo.).
AGGIES PICKED SECOND IN BIG 12
• A&M was selected to finish second in the Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll. The Aggies received one first-place vote and 73 points, listed only behind preseason favorite Baylor (81).
• A&M was picked second for the second consecutive year, which is its highest spot in the preseason poll since the team was chosen as the favorite prior to the 2007-08 season.
• For the sixth consecutive year, the Aggies were selected among the top five teams in the league. A&M was the preseason favorite to win the regular-season title in 2007-08 (Big 12 postseason champion and NCAA Elite Eight), picked second in 2006-07 (Big 12 regular-season co-champion), fifth in 2008-09 (NCAA Sweet 16), fourth in 2009-10 (Big 12 postseason champion) and second in 2010-11 (NCAA National Champions)
2011-12 Big 12 Preseason Poll
1.
Baylor (9)
81
2.
Texas A&M (1)
73
3.
Texas
60
4.
Oklahoma
58
5.
Iowa State
43
6.
Texas Tech
37
7.
Kansas
35
8.
Oklahoma State
30
9.
Kansas State
23
10.
Missouri
10
WHAT’S NEW
• For the third straight year, Texas A&M welcomes one of its highest-ever rated recruiting class with the addition of three freshmen in 6-foot-7 center Rachel Mitchell out of Atascocita High School in Houston, 5-foot-10 guard Tori Scott from John Ehret High School in Marrero, La., and 5-foot-8 guard and Big 12 Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year Alexia Standish out of Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas. This class was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country by The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
FROM THE SIDELINES
• Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is in his 27th overall season as a Division I head coach. He currently ranks in the top 15 in career victories (608) and in the top 25 by winning percentage (.712) among active Division I coaches in the NCAA women’s basketball record books.
• Blair is one of only three all-time NCAA Division I women's basketball coaches to lead two different teams to the NCAA Women’s Final Four (Texas A&M and Arkansas) next to C. Vivian Stringer (Rutgers, Iowa and Cheyney) and Marianne Stanley (Stanford and Old Dominion).
• Blair is one of only four active Division I coaches (six all-time) to lead three different programs to the NCAA Tournament next to Stringer of Rutgers, Joanne P. McCallie of Duke and Jim Foster of Ohio State. Blair previously coached at Stephen F. Austin (1985-93) and Arkansas (1993-03).
• Blair and Stringer are the only two coaches to guide three different teams to the NCAA Sweet 16.
MISSOURI RECAP
TEXAS A&M 78, MISSOURI 52
TEAM NOTES
• For the fourth time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Alexia Standish, Sydney Carter, Tyra White, Adaora Elonu and Kelsey Bone… The Aggies are 3-1 with this starting lineup.
• Texas A&M improves to 11-7 in the all-time series against Missouri and is 7-1 against the Tigers in Aggieland.
• The Aggies’ 40 points at the half marked the fourth time, and the first in Big 12 play, this season A&M has tallied 40 or more points in the first half.
• Texas A&M forced Missouri into a season-high 25 turnovers.
• The Aggies held the Tigers to just a 27.3 field goal percentage in the second half, six field goals and a second-half season-low 19 points.
• The Aggies registered a season-best 17 steals.
• A&M has shot 90 percent (18-20) from the free-throw line in its last two games.
• A&M dished out 19 assists, the second-most all season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• White has now started in 74 straight games, a streak that started on Jan. 4, 2010 against Lamar.
• White dished out the ball a career-best five times against Missouri and Carter matched a season-high with five.
• With six rebounds against Mizzou, White became the 24th A&M player to join the 500-rebound club with 504 career boards.
• Elonu scored in double figures for the 12th time this season, Carter for the 10th time and White has scored in double figures 22 of her last 24 games.
• Elonu shot a season-best 6-of-7 (85.7%) from the field.
• Collins had a career-best three steals and three assists.
• Kelsey Assarian contributed season-highs with 5 points, two steals and two blocked shots.
• In just two minutes of action, Cierra Windham contributed 4 points, two rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.
COMING IN 2012-13
• Next season, Blair and his coaching staff will welcome A&M’s highest-ever rated recruiting class that was ranked as high as No. 2 in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz, The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, Premier Basketball Report and All-Star Girls Report. The Aggie signees were: 5-foot-10 wing Chelsea Jennings from Fort Worth, Texas, 5-foot-6 point guard Jordan Jones from DeSoto, Texas, 5-foot-7 combo guard Curtyce Knox from Humble, Texas, six-foot wing Peyton Little from Abilene, Texas, 5-foot-8 wing Courtney Walker from Edmond, Okla., and 6-foot-1 forward/guard Courtney Williams from Houston.
