Carter, Howard push Aggies past DePaul & into Sweet Sixteen, 80-79

When the game is on the line, you want your best player to take over. National Freshman of the Year Chennedy Carter did so in dynamic fashion for Texas A&M on Sunday.

With three seconds left on the clock, Carter took the ball to the top of the key and nailed a pull-up three to put the Aggies up on DePaul, 80-79.  Jasmine Lumpkin then stole an inbounds pass on the final possession, and the Aggies ultimately punched their ticket to the Sweet 16.

Down 15 at one point, the Aggies clawed back to post the fourth-biggest comeback in women's NCAA Tournament history.

Before Carter put the game away, A&M struggled to handle the strong three-point shooting and pace of the Blue Demons. Mart’e Grays (14 points), Ashton Millender (11) and Tanta Allen (19) all made shots from downtown in the first half, and the team finished with 12 made three-pointers.

It was a tale of two halves. The first half saw the Aggies fall behind early. A&M struggled to finish at the rim and close out the perimeter defensively. Danni Williams and Carter went into the half shooting just 1-8 and 2-9 from the field, respectively.

Anriel Howard kept the Aggies in the game in the first half while her teammates struggled. Howard put up 13 points in the first two quarters and finished the game with 18 points and 19 rebounds. At the end of the contest, head coach Gary Blair awarded Howard with the first game ball he’s ever given.

“In 46 years, I’ve never given one away,” Blair said. “But I wanted to recognize the heart and soul that made (Chennedy Carter's) shot happen. It was the atmosphere she created.

"I’m sure every little kid that was in the stands is going home in their driveway and getting some shots up or trying to fix their hair like Anriel.”

At the half, the Aggies trailed, 43-28, and the Blue Demons controlled the flow of the game. That changed in the second half.

In the third and fourth quarters, Carter caught fire and took over the game for the Aggies offensively. She dropped 13 points in the third quarter, slashing into the lane and making three-point shots. In the fourth quarter alone, she made five three-pointers, including the game-winner. When it was all said and done, Carter finished with 37 points, three rebounds and three assists.

“I just feel like we had a good talk in the locker room,” Carter said of the halftime adjustments A&M made. “The thing that brought us together was coach not really talking down, just helping us and really encouraging us. We kept playing. It was honestly the hard work, our teammates getting loose balls and everybody staying together. That’s what helped me and encouraged to keep shooting and keep fighting for my teammates out there.”

Blair said the expectations are always high with his program and he is proud of how far his team has advanced in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’ve had enough pressure not just to win these two games, but what I’ve been going through coaching this year as I’ve ever had in my whole life,” Blair said. “Personally, this meant a whole a lot to me and my staff to take a team as far as we're taking it right now. But remember what I said yesterday: How do you go from good to great? You go to the Sweet 16.”

The Aggies will return to the hardwood on March 24 against the winner of Villanova and Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 in Spokane, Washington. Tipoff is TBA.