Photo by Texas A&M Athletics
Texas A&M Women's Basketball
}4. I want to this space to give the 2014 senior class a moment in the sun. Consisting of Gilbert, Kristen Grant and walk-on/three-sport star Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar, the class goes out with a four-year record of 110-34 (.764) and an outstanding mark of 12-3 in the NCAA Tournament. Although it was her first and only year on the team, Blair raved about Sanchez-Quintanar’s leadership off the court on multiple occasions. She didn’t see much playing time this season, but still found a way to contribute to the good of the team, and for that she should be commended.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Kristen Grant, Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar, and Karla Gilbert on senior night against Arkansas.
Five Thoughts: #1 Connecticut 69, #3 Texas A&M 54
1. The Aggies have absolutely nothing to hang their head about after Monday night’s loss to Connecticut in the Elite Eight. I believe if you went up to every player on the team, they would honestly say they left everything they had out on the court and while they would be upset they didn’t win, they wouldn’t be upset at themselves for not playing their hardest.
After Connecticut made their run in the first half to take as much as a 13-point lead, it would have been easy for A&M to fold up shop for the year and let the Huskies blow them out like they have done to nearly every single team they have played this season. But no. Whatever was said in the locker room at the half must have been pretty strong because in true Aggie fashion, the team dug in and found a way to get themselves back into the game.
We will show this film to our kids for a long time because we competed. The last two years were knockouts. We competed and I thought we really had a chance.
Although the better team eventually won out, this game will do wonders for the future of the program. Along those lines, here’s something Blair said post-game that resonates well:
“We will show this film to our kids for a long time because we competed. The last two years were knockouts (UConn beat A&M by 30 two years ago and 31 last season). We competed and I thought we really had a chance.”
2. Another day, another game where Courtney Walker earns at-least a share of A&M Player of the Game honors. The sophomore finished the game with 14 points, but 12 of those came during the first half and kept the Aggies relatively close. Although the Huskies did a much better job defending her in the second half, Walker once again proved why Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma said she was one of the best guards in the country during Sunday’s pre-game press conference. Walker was named a unanimous member of the All-Regional team after the game on Monday night.
I feel it’s necessary however to also give mention to the play of the other two stellar sophomores, Courtney Williams and Jordan Jones. Williams’ 13-point performance was enough to garner a spot on the All-Regional team. Jones earns mention because of the energy she provided the team to start the second half. After a sub-par first 20 minutes, Jones regrouped and came out firing out of the locker room. The DeSoto product scored two three-pointers on A&M’s first two possessions of the half and had a couple of more key baskets later in the period as well.
3. I wasn’t able to pick just one turning point in this contest, so I’ll give you the two big ones I noticed. The first came in the first half with A&M up 11-4 with just under 14 minutes left in the half. At that point, A&M head coach Gary Blair subbed out starters Karla Gilbert and Achiri Ade for Rachel Mitchell and Tavarsha Scott-Williams. Connecticut immediately went on a quick 7-0 run with Gilbert and Ade on the bench to tie the game, and Blair made the decision to put Gilbert and Ade back in. With all previous momentum gone, A&M had trouble scoring and the Huskies continued their run to build a double-digit lead.
The second turning point came with 15:08 left in the second half after a layup by Jones cut the Connecticut lead to just three. Jones was fouled on the play but had to wait to shoot her free throw until after the media timeout. Jones eventually missed the free throw, but the Aggies gathered the rebound.
Unfortunately, A&M wasn’t able to score on the possession and Connecticut rattled off a 10-0 run soon after to ultimately put the game away. My thinking is that if Jones would have made the free throw to cut it to two, or A&M would have scored on the extra possession to cut it to one or tie the game, you might have seen the ensuing series play out differently.
}4. I want to this space to give the 2014 senior class a moment in the sun. Consisting of Gilbert, Kristen Grant and walk-on/three-sport star Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar, the class goes out with a four-year record of 110-34 (.764) and an outstanding mark of 12-3 in the NCAA Tournament. Although it was her first and only year on the team, Blair raved about Sanchez-Quintanar’s leadership off the court on multiple occasions. She didn’t see much playing time this season, but still found a way to contribute to the good of the team, and for that she should be commended.
Both four year members, Grant and Gilbert were the last remaining players from the 2011 national championship team. Like Sanchez-Quintanar, Grant provided great leadership and served as a team captain this season. Blair always got a little extra twinkle in his eye when talking about Grant and what she meant to the program the last four seasons.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Kristen Grant, Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar, and Karla Gilbert on senior night against Arkansas.
Finally, it’s tough to decide where to begin when talking about Karla. Born and raised in College Station, it’s got to be tough for her knowing that her time as a player in Aggieland has come to a close. Playing behind All-Americans in Danielle Adams and Kelsey Bone in her first three seasons, Gilbert waited patiently for her turn in the spotlight when she could have easily slacked off and not progressed or transferred out of the program. Again, Blair always seemed to get choked up when talking about his now former 6-5 center and did so again on Monday night in the post-game press conference.
All in all, this crop of seniors truly were something special to the program. It’ll be different not seeing these three around Reed all the time, but they are all destined for great things wherever they may go.
5. Finally, thought number five will be another series of thoughts in its own. Former A&M SID and basketball radio announcer Tom Turbiville was in attendance on Monday and this is what he had to say about the game:
1. Aggie coaches, players, fans all represented Texas A&M in fine fashion, with expected class and sportsmanship. Even when the game was out of hand, down by 18 with 2:15 to play, Aggie were hustling, coaches coaching and fans on their feet.
2. When A&M cut the Connecticut lead to three early in the second half, the Huskies turned it up and showed why they're undefeated.
3. Had A&M shot better in the first 17 minutes of the game, it may have been a different story.
4. Karla Gilbert ends eight great years in Maroon. Four with A&M Consolidated and 4 with A&M. I watched her mom and high school coach Nelda and dad, former Aggie great Jimmie Gilbert across the way. Proud parents.
5. Thanks to my former WTAW Asst. Sports Director Gabe Bock and Ronnie Woodard of TexAgs for letting this old man relive was was 13 great years calling Aggie basketball.
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