Fourth-seeded Aggies set to take on Missouri State in NCAA first round

Click here to see full quotes from Friday's press conference and more first and second round information on 12thMan.com

Just months after winning the national championship in 2011, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team signed a five-member recruiting class that was ranked as high as second in the nation by multiple publications.

Over the last four years, that group has helped bring an SEC Tournament championship, four NCAA Tournament  appearances and an Elite Eight run back to Aggieland. Additionally, that same group has achieved many individual honors at both the conference and national level and has also put their names near the top of the A&M record books.

And while their stay in College Station is quickly coming to an end, there is still time for one more run at the big crown.

“I feel like we're all motivated now more so than we were last year because it's our last go around,” said A&M senior point guard Jordan Jones at Friday's media gathering. "The main focal point for this team has been senior leadership all year. As a team, I feel like we're ready."

After a lackluster finish to the regular season due to a senior night loss to Kentucky and an SEC Tournament quarterfinal loss to the Tennessee Lady Vols, uncertainty arose around A&M’s hosting chances.

However, when the bracket was unveiled on Monday evening, the Aggies were given a four-seed and the right to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Reed Arena. As an additional gift, A&M was slotted in the Dallas region of the bracket meaning they could potentially avoid leaving the state until the Final Four if they were to advance that far.

It would also mean a homecoming for Jones and Chelsea Jennings who both hail from the surrounding area.

“I feel like [potentially playing in Dallas] is a great opportunity for us,” said Jennings. "You can see on the (reaction) videos that we were really excited about hearing we were in the dallas region."

But before A&M can start thinking about playing in Big D, the Aggies must take care of business at home as they host 13th-seeded Missouri State in their first round game on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Bears are making their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance and have already recorded two wins against SEC opponents this season (Arkansas, Ole Miss).

Coming off their 10th Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title, the Lady Bears are led by MVC Player of the Year Tyonna Snow. Snow, a 5-10 senior guard, is averaging 16.6 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game and 3.2 steals per game this season.

“Courtney Walker has been to the free-throw line more than any kid in the SEC. Snow, who we're going to play has made more free throws than Walker has attempted,” said A&M head coach Gary Blair. "She drives the ball, she gets to the foul line, she'll post you up, she does the whole thing."

If Snow and the Lady Bears are going to have any chance of becoming the first 13-seed to beat a four-seed since 2012, they will have to find a way to limit the seniors that drive the Aggies’ wagon. With four of the five seniors currently on the A&M roster garnering postseason accolades from the SEC’s coaches, Missouri State head coach Kellie Harper definitely has her hands full.

"They're led by their senior guards, as are we,” said Harper. "I think strong guard play is what really propelled A&M throughout their season."

Should the Aggies defeat Missouri State on Saturday, the focus would then turn to their second round matchup between the winner of the College Station sub-regional’s first game that pits fifth-seeded Florida State against 12th-seeded Middle Tennessee. Whoever it would be against, I'm sure the A&M seniors would be happy to have one more game on the Reed Arena floor.

“My seniors, that's the whole key," said Blair. "The seniors, they've been pretty special."

Texas A&M (21-9)

• Seed: 4
• Conference: SEC
• Coach: Gary Blair
• Mascot: Aggies
• Bid: SEC At-large
• Last 10 games: 6-4
• Leading scorer: Courtney Walker (18.1 ppg)

Missouri State (24-9)

• Seed: 13
• Conference: Missouri Valley
• Coach: Kellie Harper
• Mascot: Lady Bears
• Bid: Missouri Valley Conference Champions
• Last 10 games: 9-1
• Leading scorer: Tyonna Snow (16.6 ppg)

Florida State (23-7)

• Seed: 5
• Conference: ACC
• Coach: Sue Semrau
• Mascot: Seminoles
• Bid: ACC At-large
• Last 10 games: 7-3
• Leading Scorer: Shakayla Thomas (17.1 ppg)

Middle Tennessee (24-8)

• Seed: 12
• Conference: Conference USA
• Coach: Rick Insell
• Mascot: Blue Raiders
• Bid: Conference USA Champions
• Last 10 games: 9-1
• Leading Scorer: Brea Edwards (17.9 ppg)