Thursday, February 21
College Station
8 p.m.
Texas A&M
20-6, 9-4SEC
79
vs
62
Tennessee
17-9, 6-7SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Tennessee
16
14
12
20
62
Texas A&M
17
18
27
17
79
No. 21 Women Down Tennessee 79-62 Behind Wells’ 29
Feb 21, 2019 | Women's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION- No. 21 Texas A&M's Kayla Wells had a career-high 29 points and Chennedy Carter added 28, leading the Aggies to a 79-62 rout of Tennessee in a women's basketball game at Reed Arena Thursday.
The Aggies (20-6, 9-4 SEC) blew open a 20-point lead with a dominant third quarter, shooting 69% from the field to outscore the Lady Vols 27-12 in the frame. Wells outscored the entire Tennessee team by herself in the third quarter, scoring 13 of the Aggies' 27 points.
Chennedy Carter added 28 points, setting a Texas A&M record with her 33rd consecutive game scoring in double-digits. Shambria Washington contributed 11 points and a career-high seven assists.
N'dea Jones added 10 rebounds, her fifth straight game with double-digit rebounds.
Tennessee (17-9, 6-7 SEC) was led by Evina Westbrook, who scored 17 points.
The win clinched Texas A&M's 14th consecutive 20-win season, the second-longest active streak in the SEC. Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair has led his teams to 28 seasons of 20+ wins, the most of any active coach in the conference.
The Aggies led 35-30 after a first half that saw six lead changes and neither team lead by more than six points.
Texas A&M returns to action Monday, February 25 at Florida, with tip set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network.
NOTES
Texas A&M
Chennedy Carter
Kayla Wells
Shambria Washington
N'dea Jones
QUOTES
Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Opening Statement…
"I thought the key to the ball game was we stayed with them on the boards early. That is hard to do with Tennessee. The hit their average on offensive rebounds, but our first shot defense was very good. Our guard play tonight was as good as it's been since probably Oregon State. When we beat Oregon State it was just so good and balanced. We got Ciera [Johnson] in foul trouble or I think she would've had a very good night. She has got to learn though how to stay out of foul trouble. [Cheridene] Green was a good player for them down low. We didn't catch Tennessee at their best, and I think we had a lot to do with that. We responded to adversity, which this team has done all year long. Knock us down, we will jump right back up. We find a way to get back up. I was really proud of our kids in the first half finding Kayla Wells. I think she should've even found her more. Chennedy [Carter] wasn't hitting her three's early and I kept telling her to just keep shooting her mid-range shots. But Kayla was special; by far her best game at A&M. I am happy for her because those two have been childhood friends for a long time growing up. Shambria [Washington] did great tonight with her career high in assist. She didn't make a lot of mistakes. Shot selection in the second half was outstanding. I was just real pleased with how our kids came back from losing by 28 against Mississippi State and with how they responded tonight."
On what changed at defense on start of 3rd quarter…
"They made one costly turnover at that time that really helped. The other thing is [assistant coach Bob] Starkey just made a few adjustments at half. While I calm down a little, he has the board. When I have it, I say what we are going to do on the man which we ran our man stuff very well tonight. Kelly [Bond-White] takes over the zone offense and she did a great job of finding the holes in the zone."
On coming back from last week's loss against Mississippi State…
"Like I preach all year, this team has not been a great practice team, but they have practiced well the last two games. They were a little bit embarrassed on how some of them individually played and how our team didn't respond. I think that is what this team is all about. You can't put us down. We are not going to go through the rest of the year undefeated probably. I only hope to lose one more, if any, but at the same time, this team responds. That is what you have to do. We have won twenty games. We have punched our ticket to the NCAA's. We just have to clean our play up."
Tennessee Head Coach Holly Warlick
Opening Statement…
"Hats off to A&M. They played hard. We were uninspired and uninterested."
On Kayla Wells…
"She was awesome. Look, [Chennedy] Carter is going to get her points but we talked a lot about making sure everyone else didn't have a great game, but Kayla [Wells] was awesome. She just did everything. She hit three's, rebounded, drove to the basket, hit her free throws. She was outstanding. We just didn't have an answer for her."
On if this puts pressure on last two games…
"We could be 20- 0 and there would still be pressure. It is just part of it. It is a missed opportunity just to compete. I mean we knew it would be tough to come down here and win but just compete. We didn't compete. And I don't have an answer for it."
Texas A&M Sophomore Guard Kayla Wells
Kayla Wells on her performance tonight…
"It all started early, usually I don't come out the gate shooting. I did because I felt it, especially in warm-ups. This week I put up a lot of shots. I was confident and just kept shooting, which gradually kept going."
Reaction to leaving Wells open on to top of the 2-3 zone…
"I was not surprised. When Mizzou came out and were playing back, I was surprised by them playing me like this. Then I thought teams may play me like that. I need to be ready to shoot the ball. After a few break downs, after I made two, I thought why am I still open? But, I am not complaining."
On team's defense after halftime (Wells)...
"We were talking a lot more. Shambria Washington and I, have always said we need to talk more. Since the defense we are playing makes us have to talk. We were not letting them get second shots, which is their main offense. We knew if we rebounded the ball, we were going to stop them."
Texas A&M Junior Guard Shambria Washington
On mentality coming out of half time…
"Keep it going, do not give up the lead. We ended the half on a good note. The first three or four minutes of the first quarter were the most important of the game, and we were not letting up."
On staying motivated against Tennessee…
"Coach Blair is always reminding us about that. We hold it to our fans and coaches to play harder. We picked up the intensity in practice. It carried over well into today's game. I am so proud of my teammates."
On the last two days of practice…
"We came together as a team. Sunday's loss could have easily caused us to go one of two ways. We became closer as a team, that is in this together. We are playing for each other."
Tennessee Sophomore Guard Evina Westbrook
On Aggies performance tonight…
"Our initial game play was to not guard anyone from the arc, besides Chennedy Carter. Once [Kayla] Wells started hitting shots we had guard her. She [Wells] had a great game against us unfortunately for us."
On the game being a missed opportunity…
"I think how we came out was totally different from how we played Mizzou. We need to come out with the right mindset through all four quarters. That third quarter killed us. They put up 27 points and we had 12. That was a big difference maker. We need to adjust to certain situations better. It is crunch time, winning games right now is important."
On pressure for next three games to get a good spot in post season…
"We are taking it one game at a time. As we have always done through the season. Being on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, it is now crunch time. Winning games is crucial for us at this point."
The Aggies (20-6, 9-4 SEC) blew open a 20-point lead with a dominant third quarter, shooting 69% from the field to outscore the Lady Vols 27-12 in the frame. Wells outscored the entire Tennessee team by herself in the third quarter, scoring 13 of the Aggies' 27 points.
Chennedy Carter added 28 points, setting a Texas A&M record with her 33rd consecutive game scoring in double-digits. Shambria Washington contributed 11 points and a career-high seven assists.
N'dea Jones added 10 rebounds, her fifth straight game with double-digit rebounds.
Tennessee (17-9, 6-7 SEC) was led by Evina Westbrook, who scored 17 points.
The win clinched Texas A&M's 14th consecutive 20-win season, the second-longest active streak in the SEC. Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair has led his teams to 28 seasons of 20+ wins, the most of any active coach in the conference.
The Aggies led 35-30 after a first half that saw six lead changes and neither team lead by more than six points.
Texas A&M returns to action Monday, February 25 at Florida, with tip set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network.
NOTES
Texas A&M
- Texas A&M improves to 20-6 on the season and 9-4 in SEC play. Tennessee falls to 17-9 overall and 6-7 in SEC play
- Texas A&M has won 20+ games for the 14th consecutive season—the second-longest active streak in the SEC. It is the 19th 20+ win season in school history
- This is head coach Gary Blair's 28th career 20+ win season, which is the most among active SEC coaches
- Texas A&M is 172-7 against unranked teams at home since February 2005
- The Aggies are 12-3 inside Reed Arena this season
- Texas A&M has won its last three home games against Tennessee
- It is the largest margin of victory over Tennessee (17 points) in the career of head coach Gary Blair, and the largest margin of victory over Tennessee in Texas A&M program history
- Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is 376-157 in 16 seasons in Aggieland. He is 784-320 in his Hall of Fame career, which ranks seventh among active coaches in career wins
Chennedy Carter
- Set a Texas A&M record with her 33rd consecutive game of scoring at least 10 points, passing Danielle Adams (32 games, 2010-11).
- She has scored 10+ points in 58 of her 59 career games. She scored eight in the other game.
- Scored 20+ points for the eighth time in nine games and the 17th time this season. She extends her school record with her 41st career game of 20+ points
Kayla Wells
- Scored a career-high 29 points
- Made a career-high five 3-pointers
- Outscored the entire Lady Vol team 13-12 during the third quarter
- Had her fifth 20+ point game of the season
- Scored 10+ points for the ninth straight game and the 21st time this season
Shambria Washington
- Scored 10+ points for the fifth time this season
- Had a career-high seven assists
N'dea Jones
- Had 10+ rebounds for the fifth straight game and the 17th time this season
QUOTES
Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Opening Statement…
"I thought the key to the ball game was we stayed with them on the boards early. That is hard to do with Tennessee. The hit their average on offensive rebounds, but our first shot defense was very good. Our guard play tonight was as good as it's been since probably Oregon State. When we beat Oregon State it was just so good and balanced. We got Ciera [Johnson] in foul trouble or I think she would've had a very good night. She has got to learn though how to stay out of foul trouble. [Cheridene] Green was a good player for them down low. We didn't catch Tennessee at their best, and I think we had a lot to do with that. We responded to adversity, which this team has done all year long. Knock us down, we will jump right back up. We find a way to get back up. I was really proud of our kids in the first half finding Kayla Wells. I think she should've even found her more. Chennedy [Carter] wasn't hitting her three's early and I kept telling her to just keep shooting her mid-range shots. But Kayla was special; by far her best game at A&M. I am happy for her because those two have been childhood friends for a long time growing up. Shambria [Washington] did great tonight with her career high in assist. She didn't make a lot of mistakes. Shot selection in the second half was outstanding. I was just real pleased with how our kids came back from losing by 28 against Mississippi State and with how they responded tonight."
On what changed at defense on start of 3rd quarter…
"They made one costly turnover at that time that really helped. The other thing is [assistant coach Bob] Starkey just made a few adjustments at half. While I calm down a little, he has the board. When I have it, I say what we are going to do on the man which we ran our man stuff very well tonight. Kelly [Bond-White] takes over the zone offense and she did a great job of finding the holes in the zone."
On coming back from last week's loss against Mississippi State…
"Like I preach all year, this team has not been a great practice team, but they have practiced well the last two games. They were a little bit embarrassed on how some of them individually played and how our team didn't respond. I think that is what this team is all about. You can't put us down. We are not going to go through the rest of the year undefeated probably. I only hope to lose one more, if any, but at the same time, this team responds. That is what you have to do. We have won twenty games. We have punched our ticket to the NCAA's. We just have to clean our play up."
Tennessee Head Coach Holly Warlick
Opening Statement…
"Hats off to A&M. They played hard. We were uninspired and uninterested."
On Kayla Wells…
"She was awesome. Look, [Chennedy] Carter is going to get her points but we talked a lot about making sure everyone else didn't have a great game, but Kayla [Wells] was awesome. She just did everything. She hit three's, rebounded, drove to the basket, hit her free throws. She was outstanding. We just didn't have an answer for her."
On if this puts pressure on last two games…
"We could be 20- 0 and there would still be pressure. It is just part of it. It is a missed opportunity just to compete. I mean we knew it would be tough to come down here and win but just compete. We didn't compete. And I don't have an answer for it."
Texas A&M Sophomore Guard Kayla Wells
Kayla Wells on her performance tonight…
"It all started early, usually I don't come out the gate shooting. I did because I felt it, especially in warm-ups. This week I put up a lot of shots. I was confident and just kept shooting, which gradually kept going."
Reaction to leaving Wells open on to top of the 2-3 zone…
"I was not surprised. When Mizzou came out and were playing back, I was surprised by them playing me like this. Then I thought teams may play me like that. I need to be ready to shoot the ball. After a few break downs, after I made two, I thought why am I still open? But, I am not complaining."
On team's defense after halftime (Wells)...
"We were talking a lot more. Shambria Washington and I, have always said we need to talk more. Since the defense we are playing makes us have to talk. We were not letting them get second shots, which is their main offense. We knew if we rebounded the ball, we were going to stop them."
Texas A&M Junior Guard Shambria Washington
On mentality coming out of half time…
"Keep it going, do not give up the lead. We ended the half on a good note. The first three or four minutes of the first quarter were the most important of the game, and we were not letting up."
On staying motivated against Tennessee…
"Coach Blair is always reminding us about that. We hold it to our fans and coaches to play harder. We picked up the intensity in practice. It carried over well into today's game. I am so proud of my teammates."
On the last two days of practice…
"We came together as a team. Sunday's loss could have easily caused us to go one of two ways. We became closer as a team, that is in this together. We are playing for each other."
Tennessee Sophomore Guard Evina Westbrook
On Aggies performance tonight…
"Our initial game play was to not guard anyone from the arc, besides Chennedy Carter. Once [Kayla] Wells started hitting shots we had guard her. She [Wells] had a great game against us unfortunately for us."
On the game being a missed opportunity…
"I think how we came out was totally different from how we played Mizzou. We need to come out with the right mindset through all four quarters. That third quarter killed us. They put up 27 points and we had 12. That was a big difference maker. We need to adjust to certain situations better. It is crunch time, winning games right now is important."
On pressure for next three games to get a good spot in post season…
"We are taking it one game at a time. As we have always done through the season. Being on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, it is now crunch time. Winning games is crucial for us at this point."
A night to remember ??@kaylawells101 scores a career-high 29 PTS with 5 threes and leads the Aggies to a W. @ChennedyCarter right behind her with 28 of her own.@CCCreationsUSA // #GigEm pic.twitter.com/etKcgkoDIt
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Blair Ball at its finest ??
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Watch live here: https://t.co/IVCvJBi4nL #aggieATMosphere #GigEm pic.twitter.com/ZMmfgMejs7
DIME CITY ??@ChennedyCarter ?? @NdeaJones for ??
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Watch live here: https://t.co/IVCvJBi4nL #aggieATMosphere #GigEm pic.twitter.com/SGfXisbFbf
?????? HEAT CHECK ??????@kaylawells101 can't miss right now, she's up to 25 PTS on the night.
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Watch live here: https://t.co/IVCvJBi4nL #aggieATMosphere #GigEm pic.twitter.com/X19SqRSqj2
Picking off right where she left off.
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Sham wowing the crowd with another AND 1.
Watch live here: https://t.co/IVCvJBi4nL #aggieATMosphere #GigEm pic.twitter.com/CO4w9EZjfV
We could get used to this ?????
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Sham Washington hits from deep at the buzzer, the team's fifth of the half.
Watch live here: https://t.co/IVCvJBi4nL #aggieATMosphere #GigEm pic.twitter.com/YkDEhq8Ton
STRAIGHT WATER ??
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Get your umbrellas, @kaylawells101 is making it rain in Reed ??
Watch live here: https://t.co/IVCvJBi4nL #aggieATMosphere #GigEm pic.twitter.com/q0Xxuo4Yu4
Basket bullies ??@_CieraJ & @NdeaJones gettin' to business early.
— Texas A&M Women's Basketball (@AggieWBB) February 22, 2019
Watch live here: https://t.co/IVCvJBi4nL #aggieATMosphere #GigEm pic.twitter.com/ZCy2RS7hNk
Team Stats
UT
TAMU
FG%
.375
.477
3FG%
.267
.353
FT%
.500
.647
RB
44
41
TO
12
9
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
10
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
28
FGM
12
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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