WBB: Dominant defense leads No. 16 A&M to 88-30 win over PVAMU
The end of the calendar year brings resolutions galore and a chance to reset goals. It also signals the switch to conference play for basketball teams across the country.
In their final non-conference tune-up of the season, the 16th-ranked Texas A&M women’s basketball team decimated the visiting Prairie View A&M Panthers 88-30 in front of 4,124 fans at Reed Arena on Tuesday afternoon.
The Aggies (10-3) gave up just 10 points in the first half and held the Panthers (4-5) to just 14% from the field in that span.
“We’ll take the game,” said A&M head coach Gary Blair. “I’m sure Prairie View has played a lot better games than tonight, but our defense was pretty good.”
TexAgs
Sophomore center Khaalia Hillsman scored a game high 22 points on Tuesday.
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Four A&M players registered in double figures with sophomore center Khaalia Hillsman pouring in a career high 22 on 10-of-13 shooting. The performance was the first 20+ point game of her career.
“It was the passes to be perfectly honest,” Hillsman said of her performance. “I wasn’t doing anything by myself. It was just great passes from people willing to share the ball. I give it up to them because anyone could have made the shots I made.”
In addition to Hillsman’s strong performance, freshman forward Anriel Howard scored a career high 14 points and added nine rebounds off the bench in just 16 minutes of play.
Blair commented on her outing after the game.
“Look what Anriel Howard can do,” said Blair. “Once she learns the game, the kid is going to be pretty good. I was pleased with both of my four players.”
But as good of a game it was offensively for the Aggies, it could be argued their defensive performance was even better.
Through the first 10 minutes of play, the Panthers mustered just four points on 1-of-12 shooting, allowing A&M to take an 18-4 lead after the first quarter. With the majority of their starters on the bench for much of the second quarter, the Aggies continued their defensive dominance to the tune of a 39-10 lead at halftime.
“Coach Starkey was almost happy,” said Blair. “I thought we identified their offense very well and did a great job on (Bryan product) Lamaria (Cole).”
Abigail Cook, TexAgs
Senior Jordan Jones is day-to-day after a hard fall in the first quarter of Tuesday's game.
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Though the first 20 minutes was total domination by the Aggies, the one low point of the half occurred with 1:23 remaining in the first quarter. Starting point guard Jordan Jones gathered a steal and took it the length of the court for the layup where she was fouled hard and crashed to the floor. Jones was eventually helped off the floor by the training staff and did not return to the game.
Jones, who tore her ACL at the end of last season, is officially listed as day-to-day with a sprain of the same knee she hurt last year.If Jones is unable to play against Georgia on Sunday, Blair says it’ll be a combined effort at the point guard spot.
“We’ll go with the trifecta (Curtyce Knox, Shlonte Allen, Courtney Walker) if Jones can’t go,” said Blair. “But knowing Jones, she’ll be ready.”
Regardless of Jones’ status for Sunday, Hillsman believes the team is ready for the rigors of conference play.
“There is no more winning by 50 because everyone in our league is good,” said Hillsman. “It’s really exciting to know you’re playing in the best conference in the nation and that every game is going to be a big one.”
