A&M WBB uses second half rally to beat Vanderbilt 77-72 in SEC opener

In their first game of 2017, and their first contest in SEC play this season, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team used a second half comeback to defeat the visiting Vanderbilt Commodores by a score of 77-72 at Reed Arena on Monday night. With the win, the Aggies move to 5-0 all-time in SEC openers, all of which have come at Reed Arena.

“It didn't look good into the third quarter,” said A&M head coach Gary Blair. "In the fourth, we made a couple of good stops, they missed some open looks and we made some big time plays. That was as good of a comeback as we have had in a long, long time."

All five A&M starters scored in double figures while Anriel Howard added 13 rebounds and Khaalia Hillsman added 10 more to record double-doubles. Additionally, point guard Curtyce Knox finished the contest with nine assists.

After back-and-forth play through much of the first quarter, Vanderbilt’s Kayla Overbeck hit on a pair of jumpers in the closing minutes of the period to give the Commodores a 13-10 lead after the game’s first 10 minutes.

With 7:36 remaining before halftime, Knox hit on an and-one play that gave the Aggies an 18-17 lead. But the tide would turn soon after as Vanderbilt then used a 15-4 run to take a 32-22 advantage with just under three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

“Their pick and roll gave us some problems early,” said Blair. "We were not doing a good job on that and their freshman point guard hurt us."

But the Aggies would not give in.

Trailing by as many as 13 midway through the third quarter, the Aggies began to chip away at the Commodores’ advantage and used a 10-1 run to take back the lead at 60-58 with 7:32 remaining in the game.

Down the stretch, the Aggies grew their lead to as many as six before a three-pointer pulled Vanderbilt back within one with 33 seconds to play.

It wouldn’t be enough to steal back the win, however, as A&M went 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the game’s final minute to seal the victory. 

“Don't count us out,” said Blair. "That's the way this team is, we will find a way. We couldn't have done that on the road, we did it at home because of the crowd."

The Aggies now travel to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday night. That game can be seen on SEC Network+.