Courtney Walker's late heroics lead #13 A&M to 81-77 OT win over #23 Mizzou

After falling just short of upsetting a top-five team on Sunday, one could reasonably ask if the 13th-ranked Texas A&M women’s basketball team would be able to emotionally respond when playing another ranked opponent just days later.

While it wasn’t pretty down the stretch, the Aggies showed they had just enough heart to gut out an 81-77 overtime victory over the 23rd-ranked Missouri Tigers at Reed Arena on Thursday night.

A&M (14-5, 4-2) led by as many as 15 points late in the third quarter before Missouri (15-4, 2-4) rallied to take a four-point advantage with 1:14 remaining in regulation. However, A&M put together a rally of their own and three free throws from Courtney Walker and a late steal by Jordan Jones sent the game to extra time where the Aggies ultimately prevailed.

“What a comeback,” said A&M head coach Gary Blair. “We were down four at the end. We made some plays down the stretch.”

Chelsea Jennings drew her fourth straight start and scored a team-high 22 points for the Aggies in the win. Jones added 20 points and six assists, while Walker scored 20 – 18 of which came after halftime – and grabbed six rebounds as well.

“She’s been really important,” Walker said of Jennings. “She’s been guarding the other team’s hardest player. She’s been big defensively and has been hitting big shots.”

With A&M leading 58-46 at the 5:34 mark in the fourth quarter, Missouri’s Morgan Stock hit a three-pointer that sparked a 17-1 Tiger run over the next 4:20 of game time. In that stretch, the Tigers went 5-of-6 from the floor and also added six free throws.

Missouri had momentum and looked as if they would steal a victory from the Aggies until Walker was fouled while shooting a three with eight seconds left on the clock and proceeded to knock down all three free throws to force the tie.

“I wasn’t really trying to think about the free throws (during a stoppage in play just before shooting),” said Walker. “I was just listening to Coach Blair talk about what I needed to do on the defensive end. Then I just stepped up to the line and knocked them down.”

The Tigers had a final chance under the A&M basket with three seconds remaining, but Jones nabbed the inbounds pass and threw it into the open court, letting time expire on regulation.

In overtime, neither side led by more than two points until a pair of Jennings free throws with 28 seconds remaining gave A&M a three-point advantage. After a quick Missouri layup cut it back to one, Walker was clutch again as she nailed two from the stripe with 12 seconds to play. The Aggies then got a defensive stop which ultimately sealed the game.

Drawing on previous close games earlier this season, it was the A&M seniors that made the big plays when it mattered most. Specifically, Jennings gave credit to Walker.

“Courtney Walker, she didn’t score much in regulation but she scored a lot in the overtime,” said Jennings. “That’s what big players do.”

In total, the Aggies went 21-of-25 at the free throw line, with Walker hitting on 12-of-13 attempts.

“She is such a good player,” Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton said of Walker. “She’s used to taking big times shots and as the game got closer down the stretch, you saw her trying to make something happen for her team.”

More than a third of the way through conference play, the Aggies now get a much needed “bye” weekend before traveling to Alabama next Thursday. With the extra rest, A&M hopes to get guard Courtney Williams back on the floor. Williams has been battling a back injury and held herself out of competition on Thursday night according to Blair. It’s unknown whether she was cleared by the training staff to play.

“She decided she wasn’t going to play,” said Blair. “She thought her back wasn’t ready to play and help us, but she has worked out the last two days.”

Blair also stated that even if Williams is ready to play, she would not be starting against the Crimson Tide.

“I’m going to quit guessing on [when Williams will be back],” said Blair. “Because I know who will be starting the next game and that’s Chelsea Jennings. She’s earned it and she’s playing great.”

With just two games separating second from 13th place in the league, A&M will need to be in top-shape for the road contest – regardless of the lineup – as every game is extremely valuable in the grind that is the SEC.