Texas A&M
11-0
Houston
3-5
No. 4 Women Roll to 11-0 with 94-55 Win over Houston
Dec 13, 2014 | Women's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION- No. 4 Texas A&M won its 11th straight game, defeating former SWC foe Houston 94-55 in a women's basketball game at Reed Arena. The Aggies are 11-0 for only the second time in school history and for the first time since 2008-09.
The Aggies (11-0) can match the best start in school history, and the program's longest winning streak, in their next game, which is Dec. 21 against No. 3 Texas. The win moved Gary Blair into a tie with Seattle head coach Joan Bonvicini for 10th on the Division I active wins list, with 683.
Courtney Walker was one of five Aggies in double figures, leading the attack with 19 points, making all six of her field goal attempts and her first seven free throws.
Jada Terry and Khaalia Hillsman had career-highs with 11 and 10 points, respectively, helping the Aggies to a massive 54-12 advantage in points in the paint. Rachel Mitchell added eight points and seven rebounds to give A&M's three centers a combined total of 29 points and 14 rebounds.
Achiri Ade added a season-high 10 points and nine rebounds. Tori Scott was 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from the line for her second straight 10+ point game.
The Aggies led 48-30 at halftime. Texas A&M outscored Houston (3-5) 46-25 in the second half.
The Aggies return to the court on Dec. 21 at 12:30 p.m. in Little Rock, Ark. for the SEC Big 12 Challenge. SEC Network is set to televise the matchup with No. 3 Texas in the event.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas A&M forward Achiri Ade
On the game...
We executed well. We finally came in and did what we were supposed to do at the beginning defensively and offensively. Though we had a lot of turnovers in the beginning of the first half, I felt as though we came in and really pressured and executed.
On coming off the bench vs. starting...
It doesn't really matter to me, but I do feel more energized coming off the bench. Mainly because we are all there, we're hyping them up on the bench, we see what they're doing wrong, so when I do come in I know the mistakes they made. Starting or not starting, I know whatever Coach Blair chooses is best for the team, so when it's my time to go in I just do what I have to do.
Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair
Thoughts on the game...
I told our kids that we were ready to play. Our first group had to get into the flow of the game. Even though we were trading baskets, I still felt like we were doing the right thing. They made a couple of shots that you have to give them credit for. We were shooting over 50% the whole ball game. I liked our shot selection. Early on, we saw that the 3-ball wasn't working, and we got rid of it, and we started to get the ball inside. We saw so much zone, we forgot how to get ball inside early into the game. 11 assists and 1 turnover by my two point guards, they did a great job.
On A&M's post play...
Early on, Houston was packing in the zone off of the I formation 2-3 zone. Sometimes it takes four to five passes against a good 2-3 zone. We have to learn to pin the ball instead of shoot the ball. We are going to have to work on it all year. Early on, when Rachel Mitchell played Jordan Jones made her look better. Thats going to give Rachel a lot of confidence. Jada Terry did the same thing at the end. We just have to keep developing those fives. I love their potential.
Houston head coach Ronald Hughey
On getting open shots...
The one thing we cant simulate in practice is the pressure. A&M plays tremendous pressure. They get up and they stay in front of you. It is hard to get open and to get quality shots from that when you can't simulate the defense in practice. We tried to create some opportunity off ball screen action. They were icing down our ball screens and it made things challenging for us. It made getting quality shots difficult for us.
On the difficulties of facing A&M's size...
We knew that coming in and that's why we wanted to play the tandem zone. We tried to make sure the ball had to go through three defenders before they made an entry pass to the post. Jada Terry is big a body and Khaalia Hillsman is the same thing. Rachel Mitchell is long, and they can just throw it up to her. A&M has a really nice mixture of post players that can really finish inside. That's the one thing they have all improved on, is finishing around the rim.
QUICKIE NOTES
- The Aggies are in sole possession of the nation's longest active winning streak at 11 games
- Texas A&M has started 11-0 for the second time in school history, and the first time since 2008-09. The Aggies can match the best start in school history, and the program's longest winning streak, with a win vs. Texas on Dec. 21
- Gary Blair ties Seattle head coach Joan Bonvicini for 10th among active Division I coaches with 683 career wins. Blair (683-272) and Bonvicini (683-386) are tied for 16th on the all-time Division I wins list. (Seattle plays again on Sunday against San Francisco)
- Texas A&M has won nine straight home games, dating back to last season.
- The Aggies have won 19 straight home games vs. unranked opponents and 73 straight at home against unranked, non-conference opponents
- This is A&M's third win of 30+ points this season
- A&M outscored Houston 54-12 on points in the paint
- Courtney Walker scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and 58th time in her career
- Walker did not miss any of her first 13 shots, going 6-6 from the field and 7-7 from the free throw line to start the game.
- Achiri Ade tied a season-high with 10 points. This is her second 10+ point scoring game this season and the 10th of her career.
- Khaalia Hillsman tied a career high with 10 points. This is her second career 10+ point scoring game.
- Tori Scott scored 10+ points for the second straight game and 11th time in her career
- Jada Terry had a career-high 11 points. It is her first double-figure scoring game.
