Texas A&M Women's Basketball
In a season of change and new opponents, A&M head coach Gary Blair and his Aggies are excited to see a familiar face in their latest 'biggest game of the year.'
On Monday evening, the third-seeded Texas A&M women’s basketball team will meet former Big 12 foe and sixth-seeded Nebraska in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Huskers (24-8) hold a 14-9 all-time advantage against the Aggies (25-9).
Led by junior forward Jordan Hooper’s 21 points, the Cornhuskers survived a scare from the 11th-seeded Chattanooga Lady Mocs, 73-59, in the first round of the tournament on Saturday evening.
Hooper comes into Monday’s contest averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game and also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors this season.
“We’ve played a couple of stretch-four players [similar to Hooper],” stated junior Kelsey Bone. “They run a lot of good things for her and bring her off screens a bunch. She’s a great player and it will be a great test for us if we plan on surviving and advancing.”
The Cornhuskers do not stand out in any singular statistical category, but Nebraska head coach Connie Yori has her team playing well at the right time of the year and in the dance for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons.
“Connie is one of the best-kept secrets in women’s basketball,” Blair noted. “She was one of the better coaches when she was in the Big 12.
“This is going to be an outstanding ball game. Neither team has the capability of blowing each other out. It’s not going to happen, they are too well coached.”
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
If
Pratcher (pictured) and the other Aggie seniors can pull off the 2-0
stretch in their final weekend in Reed Arena, they'll be on to the Sweet
Sixteen.
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Pratcher (pictured) and the other Aggie seniors can pull off the 2-0
stretch in their final weekend in Reed Arena, they\u0027ll be on to the
Sweet Sixteen.","MediaItemID":30994}
While Blair believes Monday’s game will be one of the better ones in the second round of the tournament, A&M forward Kristi Bellock has different ideas.
“Of course not,” stated Bellock when asked whether Nebraska has a chance at all. “We’re a very good team and very well coached. We’re very tough and when everyone comes with the right mindset and attitude, this team is very dangerous. If I was Nebraska, I wouldn’t want to play us.”
For Pratcher, Bellock and Cierra Windham, Monday will be their final game at Reed Arena. The 2011 national championship highlights the three A&M seniors' careers, but a victory in their last game in front of the 12th Man would be the perfect ending to their time in Aggieland.
“It’s definitely going to be emotional for us,” said Pratcher. “It’s our last home game and the best way to go out would be to win.”
Blair, Aggies take on Nebraska in NCAA second round
For full quotes and more information about Monday's game, click here.
In a season of change and new opponents, A&M head coach Gary Blair and his Aggies are excited to see a familiar face in their latest 'biggest game of the year.'
On Monday evening, the third-seeded Texas A&M women’s basketball team will meet former Big 12 foe and sixth-seeded Nebraska in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Huskers (24-8) hold a 14-9 all-time advantage against the Aggies (25-9).
We’ve played a couple of
stretch-four players [similar to Jordan Hooper] They run a lot of good
things for her and bring her off screens a bunch. She’s a great player
and it will be a great test for us if we plan on surviving and
advancing.
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"right","Quote":"We’ve
played a couple of stretch-four players [similar to Jordan Hooper] They
run a lot of good things for her and bring her off screens a bunch.
She’s a great player and it will be a great test for us if we plan on
surviving and advancing.","Author":"Kelsey Bone on Nebraska\u0027s
leading scorer"}
“Coming from the Big 12, we had many games where we competed against [Nebraska] very well,” said senior guard Adrienne Pratcher. “It will be good to see two former Big 12 teams go against each other tomorrow night.”Led by junior forward Jordan Hooper’s 21 points, the Cornhuskers survived a scare from the 11th-seeded Chattanooga Lady Mocs, 73-59, in the first round of the tournament on Saturday evening.
Hooper comes into Monday’s contest averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game and also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors this season.
“We’ve played a couple of stretch-four players [similar to Hooper],” stated junior Kelsey Bone. “They run a lot of good things for her and bring her off screens a bunch. She’s a great player and it will be a great test for us if we plan on surviving and advancing.”
The Cornhuskers do not stand out in any singular statistical category, but Nebraska head coach Connie Yori has her team playing well at the right time of the year and in the dance for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons.
“Connie is one of the best-kept secrets in women’s basketball,” Blair noted. “She was one of the better coaches when she was in the Big 12.
“This is going to be an outstanding ball game. Neither team has the capability of blowing each other out. It’s not going to happen, they are too well coached.”
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
If
Pratcher (pictured) and the other Aggie seniors can pull off the 2-0
stretch in their final weekend in Reed Arena, they'll be on to the Sweet
Sixteen.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"If
Pratcher (pictured) and the other Aggie seniors can pull off the 2-0
stretch in their final weekend in Reed Arena, they\u0027ll be on to the
Sweet Sixteen.","MediaItemID":30994}
“Of course not,” stated Bellock when asked whether Nebraska has a chance at all. “We’re a very good team and very well coached. We’re very tough and when everyone comes with the right mindset and attitude, this team is very dangerous. If I was Nebraska, I wouldn’t want to play us.”
For Pratcher, Bellock and Cierra Windham, Monday will be their final game at Reed Arena. The 2011 national championship highlights the three A&M seniors' careers, but a victory in their last game in front of the 12th Man would be the perfect ending to their time in Aggieland.
“It’s definitely going to be emotional for us,” said Pratcher. “It’s our last home game and the best way to go out would be to win.”
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