Thoughts: Big-time performers boost Ags to Sweet 16

First half reflections

- Alexia Standish's confidence is growing by the minute — not only in her shooting from behind the arc, but in her leadership as well. She is talking in the huddles and directing traffic on the court. There are times when she still makes "freshman" mistakes that result in turnovers and momentum stopping plays, but she gave the Aggies a much needed offensive boost in the first five minutes of the game.

- For the scoreboard to reflect 13-6 after eight minutes of play tonight was the most intense battle between two teams in Reed Arena all year. Arkansas and A&M went back and forth on offense and defense, and while neither team were making a lot of shots, they kept the crowd on the edge of their seats and involved the entire time.

- Tyra White didn't have a memorable first half but she is a player that attracts the defense and gave her teammates opportunities to get open on offense. She has meant so much to this team and can turn things around so quickly that you have to give her the chance to play through the mistakes and the mental errors. All it takes is for Tyra to create one shot for herself or hit an open three to get her going ... and it will be a long night for the opponent.

- Turnovers were the name of the game in the first half. A&M knew coming into the game that Arkansas was going to apply the full court pressure throughout the game. Gary Blair even mentioned in his press conference that his guards were going to have to handle the pressure in the back court if they wanted to come away with the win. The Ags had 12 turnovers in the first 20 minutes that resulted in nine Razorback points. When you're not making the bunnies in the paint, you can't turn the ball over and limit your opportunities at the basket.

The good thing is that A&M can hang its hat on defense, and slowing other teams down in the process.

Second half reflections

- Adaora Elonu! She was the star of the second half ... if not the entire game. In the first half, she was her normal 'solid' self, grabbing a couple rebounds and scoring a couple points. But in the second period, Elonu came to life, notching 17 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block. She was an instrumental part in the Ags taking a double digit lead halfway through the second half.

Elonu continues to play her role and help carry the team. She doesn't force anything, takes what the defense gives her and is deadly from 15 feet and in.

- A&M was in control of the game with a little under 10 minutes left to play. The Ags had a 13-point lead; the tempo was in their favor; and they were controlling the rebounding battle. But, like always, basketball is a game of runs, and the Razorbacks fought their way back into the game. With three minutes remaining, Arkansas took the lead on an off-balanced shot at the end of the shot clock while Harris was about to fall down.

When shots like that fall, you know the momentum has changed hands. There were two things that kept A&M in the game: First, the Ags never gave up and continued to make big plays; and second, the crowd never lost faith and was fully focused and more loud than ever.

You have to give the A&M fans credit for some of this win. The Ags stayed in the game and yelled at the right times. It was a great basketball atmosphere and, when they were down, those same fans pumped the team back up. I was very pleased with the atmosphere, because this is what an NCAA tournament game is supposed to be like.

- Free throw shooting and rebounding were the biggest improvements from Saturday's game to tonight. The things that were the biggest struggles against Albany turned into the winning factors against Arkansas. Down by one, 23 seconds left, Sydney Carter drove the length of the floor and created contact on the layup, sending herself to the free throw line.

She knocked down two of the most calm free throws of the year to give the Ags a one point lead. Then, at the end of the game, Arky misses a shot and White grabbed a rebound in-between three players, solidifying the game and a trip to the Sweet 16.