2008–09 Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball team

2008-09 Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball
Conference Big 12 Conference South
Ranking
Coaches #7[1]
AP #10
2008-09 record 27–8 (11–5 Big 12)
Head coach Gary Blair
Assistant coach Vic Schaefer
Assistant coach Kelly Bond
Assistant coach Johnnie Harris
Home arena Reed Arena
2008–09 Big 12 women's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
#3 Oklahoma 15 – 1   .938     28 – 4   .875
#7 Baylor† 12 – 4   .750     27 – 5   .844
#10 Texas A&M 11 – 5   .688     25 – 7   .781
#18 Iowa State 11 – 5   .688     24 – 8   .750
#22 Kansas State 10 – 6   .625     24 – 7   .774
#23 Texas 8 – 8   .500     21 – 11   .656
Kansas 6 – 10   .375     18 – 13   .581
Texas Tech 6 – 10   .375     16 – 15   .516
Nebraska 6 – 10   .375     15 – 15   .500
Oklahoma State 4 – 12   .250     16 – 15   .516
Missouri 4 – 12   .250     13 – 17   .433
Colorado 3 – 13   .188     11 – 18   .379
† 2009 Big 12 Tournament winner
As of March 14, 2009; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008–09 Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball team represented Texas A&M University in NCAA Division I women's college basketball.

Preseason outlook

The team placed 10th and 11th in the preseason Coaches Poll and AP Poll, respectively.[2] The Big 12 coaches picked the squad to finish 5th in the conference, behind first-place favorite Oklahoma, followed by Texas, Iowa State, and Baylor.[3] Athlon Sports ranked the Aggies 4th in their preseason poll, while Lindy's poll placed them 11th.[4] A Sports Illustrated writer also ranked the team 11th in her power rankings.[5]

Recruiting

During the early signing period in November 2008, the Aggies signed[6] Diamond Ashmore,[7] Adrienne Pratcher,[8] Kristi Bellock,[9] and Cierra Windham.[10] As of 20 November 2008, ESPN Hoopgurlz ranks the recruiting class 7th nationally.[11]

Players

Preseason honors

The Big 12 coaches selected Tanisha Smith as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year, and Tyra White as the Preseason co-Freshman of the Year. Takia Starks also made the preseason all-Big 12 team, and Danielle Gant received honorable mention.[12]

Sporting News included Starks in its preseason All-American first-team. Starks became the first player in school history to be named a preseason first-team All-American.[13] She also made the 25-member Wade Trophy preseason watch list.[14] In addition, she is also one of the 30 John R. Wooden Award candidates.[15]

In October 2008, Gant received the Academic Momentum Award, presented by The Scholar-Baller Program, a partner of National Consortium for Academics and Sports. The award is given to student-athletes who have "demonstrated significant academic improvement throughout their collegiate careers".[16]

The scoreboard after the New Mexico game

Season accolades

Tyra White received the Big 12 Freshman of the Week honor for the week of 14–16 November.[17] Adaora Elonu received the same honor for the week of 17–23 November,[18] and Sydney Carter got the co-honor for the week of 24–30 November.[19] Elonu picked up her second honor for the week of 1 December–7,[20] and got another co-honor for the week of 15–21 December.[21] Takia Starks received her first honor for the week of 22 December – 4 January.[22] Danielle Gant got her first for the week of 5–11 January.[23] After posting 11 points in a career-high 31 minutes of play against Oklahoma, and a game-high and career-high of 17 points at Kansas State, Sydney Carter grabbed the weekly honor for the week of 23 February – 1 March.[24]

Upon defeating New Mexico 83–51, the Aggies set a school record for the largest margin of victory in a home game over a ranked opponent. The previous record was 19, which was compiled in the 2007–08 home matchup against Baylor.[25]

Two players—Damitria Buchanan and Katrina Limbaha—made the 2008–09 Academic All-Big 12 women's basketball team. Both made the first team as they had a GPA greater than 3.20.[26]

Starks became the all-time leading scorer of A&M after posting 19 points in the first round of the NCAA tournament.[27]

Schedule

Date
Time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (Attendance)
City, State
Exhibition
11/07/08*
7:00 p.m.		 #10 Houston Jaguars W 86–43  0–0[28]
 Reed Arena (2,787)
College Station, TX
Regular season
11/14/08*
7:00 p.m.		 #10 Mercer W 73–45  1–0[29]
 Reed Arena (3,387)
College Station, TX
11/16/08*
4:00 p.m.		 #10 vs. #23 Pittsburgh
State Farm Women's Tip-Off Classic		 W 56–50  2–0[30]
 Pete Maravich Assembly Center (7,954)
Baton Rouge, LA
11/20/08*
6:00 p.m.		 #7 at Michigan W 59–56  3–0[31]
 Crisler Arena (1,125)
Ann Arbor, MI
11/25/08*
8:00 p.m.		 #5 at Arizona W 54–44  4–0[32]
 McKale Center (1,604)
Tucson, Arizona
11/28/08*
3:00 p.m.		 #5 vs. Penn State
Timeout 4 HIV/AIDS Tournament		 W 61–57  5–0[33]
 Firestone Fieldhouse (320)
Malibu, CA
11/29/08*
3/5:30 p.m.		 #5 vs. Pepperdine
Timeout 4 HIV/AIDS Tournament		 W 70–60  6–0[34]
 Firestone Fieldhouse (779)
Malibu, CA
12/02/08*
7:30 p.m.		 #4 at Stephen F. Austin W 77–36  7–0[35]
 William R. Johnson Coliseum (5,492)
Nacogdoches, TX
12/07/08*
1:00 p.m.		 #4 SMU W 80–48  8–0[36]
 Reed Arena (3,563)
College Station, TX
12/13/08*
7:30 p.m.		 #3 Texas State W 94–45  9–0[37]
 Reed Arena (3,602)
College Station, TX
12/21/08*
1:00 p.m., ESPNU		 #3 TCU W 64–50  10–0[38]
 Reed Arena (5,395)
College Station, TX
12/30/08*
7:00 p.m.		 #3 #25 New Mexico W 83–51  11–0[39]
 Reed Arena (5,543)
College Station, TX
01/03/09*
5:00 p.m.		 #3 George Washington W 78–59  12–0[40]
 Reed Arena (6,892)
College Station, TX
01/05/09*
6:00 p.m.		 #3 at Florida State L 53–60  12–1[41]
 Donald L. Tucker Center (2,373)
Tallahassee, FL
01/10/09
5:00 p.m., Mizzou SN		 #6 at Missouri W 62–56  13–1[42]
(1–0)		 Mizzou Arena (1,763)
Columbia, MO
01/13/09
7:00 p.m.		 #6 Texas Tech W 67–56  14–1[43]
(2–0)		 Reed Arena (3,860)
College Station, TX
01/18/09
3:00 p.m., FSN		 #6 at #3 Oklahoma L 59–71  14–2[44]
(2–1)		 Lloyd Noble Center (9,531)
Norman, OK
01/21/09
7:00 p.m.		 #7 #4 Baylor
Battle of the Brazos		 L 61–64  14–3[45]
(2–2)		 Reed Arena (5,234)
College Station, TX
01/24/09
6:00 p.m.		 #7 at #25 Oklahoma State W 60–50  15–3[46]
(3–2)		 Gallagher-Iba Arena (4,568)
Stillwater, OK
01/28/09
7:00 p.m.		 #7 at #17 Texas
Lone Star Showdown		 W 68–54  16–3[47]
(4–2)		 Frank Erwin Center (5,998)
Austin, TX
01/31/09
4:00 p.m.		 #7 Kansas W 73–60  17–3[48]
(5–2)		 Reed Arena (7,143)
College Station, TX
02/04/09
7:00 p.m.		 #4 at #23 Iowa State L 50–67  17–4[49]
(5–3)		 Hilton Coliseum (10,278)
Ames, IA
02/08/09
2:00 p.m.		 #4 Nebraska W 86–43  18–4[50]
(6–3)		 Reed Arena (4,468)
College Station, TX
02/11/09
7:00 p.m.		 #8 at Texas Tech L 53–60  18–5[51]
(6–4)		 United Spirit Arena (8,587)
Lubbock, TX
02/14/09
2:00 p.m.		 #8 Colorado W 79–50  19–5[52]
(7–4)		 Reed Arena (4,469)
College Station, TX
02/21/09
11:00 a.m., FSN		 #11 #13 Texas
Lone Star Showdown		 W 76–65  20–5[53]
(8–4)		 Reed Arena (5,840)
College Station, TX
02/23/09
6:30 p.m., ESPN2		 #11 #2 Oklahoma W 57–56  21–5[54]
(9–4)		 Reed Arena (7,035)
College Station, TX
03/01/09
2:00 p.m., FSN		 #9 at #15 Kansas State W 71–45  22–5[55]
(10–4)		 Bramlage Coliseum (6,089)
Manhattan, KS
03/05/09
7:00 p.m., FSN		 #8 Oklahoma State W 79–49  23–5[56]
(11–4)		 Reed Arena (7,075)
College Station, TX
03/07/09
7:30 p.m.		 #8 at #6 Baylor
Battle of the Brazos		 L 60–64  23–6[57]
(11–5)		 Ferrell Center (10,118)
Waco, TX
Big 12 Tournament
03/13/09
1:30 p.m., FSN		 #9 vs. #16 Kansas State
Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament		 W 65–63  24–6[58]
 Cox Convention Center
Oklahoma City, OK
03/14/09
12:00 p.m., FSN		 #9 vs. #3 Oklahoma
Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament		 W 74–62  25–6[59]
 Cox Convention Center
Oklahoma City, OK
03/15/09
12:30 p.m., FSN		 #9 vs. #7 Baylor
Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament		 L 72–63  25–7[60]
 Cox Convention Center
Oklahoma City, OK
NCAA Tournament
03/22/09
11:00 a.m., ESPN2		 #9 vs. Evansville
2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament		 W 80–45  26–7[27]
 Joyce Center
Notre Dame, IN
03/24/09
6:00 p.m., ESPN2		 #9 vs. Minnesota
2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament		 W 73–42  27–7[61]
 Joyce Center
Notre Dame, IN
03/29/09
1:30 p.m., ESPN2		 #9 vs. Arizona State
2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament		 L 84–69  27–8[62]
 Sovereign Bank Arena
Trenton, NJ
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Coaches Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Standard Time.

References

  1. ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/rankings
  2. ↑ "2009 NCAA Women's Basketball Rankings (Nov. 10)". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "Oklahoma Tabbed Favorite in Big 12 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll" (Press release). Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Women's Basketball No. 4 In Preseason Athlon's Top 25". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  5. ↑ "UConn tops the '08-'09 preseason power rankings". CNN. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  6. ↑ "Women's Basketball Lands One Of The Nation's Top Recruiting Classes". Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  7. ↑ "Ashmore pledges to Blair, A&M women's basketball program". Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  8. ↑ "PG Pratcher picks Texas A&M". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  9. ↑ "Bellock to Texas A&M". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  10. ↑ "Windham to Texas A&M". Archived from the original on 23 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  11. ↑ "2009 recruiting class rankings". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  12. ↑ "Big 12 Announces Women’s Basketball Preseason Individual Honors" (Press release). Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  13. ↑ "Starks Named Preseason First Team All-America By The Sporting News". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  14. ↑ "The 2009 State Farm Wade Watch". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  15. ↑ "2008-09 John R. Wooden Award: Preseason Top 30 List - Women's Category". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  16. ↑ "Ricketts and Gant Garner Academic Momentum Award". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  17. ↑ "Allison and White Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  18. ↑ "Paris and Elonu Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  19. ↑ "Montgomery, Hand and Carter Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  20. ↑ "McCray and Elonu Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  21. ↑ "Riley, Anderson and Elonu Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  22. ↑ "Starks and Mallard Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  23. ↑ "Gant and Hand Earn Big 12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week Honors". Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  24. ↑ "McCray and Carter Named Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  25. ↑ "No. 3 Texas A&M defeats No. 25 New Mexico 83-51". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  26. ↑ "2009 AcaAdemiIc All-BigIG 12 wWomenN’s baBAsketbaTBAll TeaAm" (PDF). Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  27. 1 2 "Defense leads Texas A&M past Evansville 80-45". Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  28. ↑ "Houston Jaguars vs Texas A&M (11/7/08 at Reed Arena - College Station, Texas)". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  29. ↑ "No. 10 Aggies Too Much For Mercer In Season-Opening 73-45 Rout". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  30. ↑ "Pittsburgh vs Texas A&M 11/16/08". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  31. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Michigan 11/20/08". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  32. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Arizona (11/25/08 at McKale Center - Tucson, Ariz.)". Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  33. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Penn State - 11/28/08 1:05 PM at Firestone Fieldhouse - Malibu, Calif.". Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  34. ↑ "Waves Battle #8 Texas A&M in Loss". Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  35. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Stephen F. Austin (12-02-08 at Nacogdoches, Texas (Johnson Coliseum))". Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  36. ↑ "SMU vs Texas A&M (12/07/08 at Reed Arena - College Station, Texas)". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  37. ↑ "Texas State vs Texas A&M (12/13/08 at Reed Arena - College Station, Texas)". Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  38. ↑ "Starks scores 21 as Texas A&M beats TCU 64-50". Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  39. ↑ "Starks and Gant Combine For 51 Points In Blowout Of No. 25 New Mexico". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  40. ↑ "No. 3 Texas A&M Makes It 12 Straight With 78-59 Win Over Colonials". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  41. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Florida State". Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  42. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Missouri: 1/10/09 5 p.m. at Mizzou Arena - Columbia, Mo.". Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  43. ↑ "No. 8 Texas A&M beats Texas Tech 67-56". Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  44. ↑ "Courtney Paris' double-double streak survives as OU downs A&M". Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  45. ↑ "No. 4 Baylor Takes No. 7 Aggies Down-To-The-Wire, 64-61". Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  46. ↑ "Locked down". Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  47. ↑ "Texas A&M beats Texas behind Starks' 26 points". Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  48. ↑ "Texas A&M women overcome Kansas". Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  49. ↑ "Iowa State women's basketball: Ezell, Bolte spur No. 21 Cyclones past No. 10 Aggies". Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  50. ↑ "A&M women dominant in 86-43 win over Nebraska". Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  51. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Texas Tech (2/11/09 at United Spirit Arena - Lubbock, Texas)". Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  52. ↑ "Texas A&M 79, Colorado 50". Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  53. ↑ "Turnovers sink Texas women against Aggies, 76-65". Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  54. ↑ "OU Women's Basketball: Aggies edge Sooners on last-second shot". Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  55. ↑ "Kansas State 45 (21-6, 8-6 Big 12), Texas A&M 71 (22-5, 10-4 Big 12)". Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  56. ↑ "Aggies Beat Oklahoma State On Senior Night". Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  57. ↑ "Texas A&M vs Baylor (2/7/09 at Ferrell Center - Waco, Texas)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  58. ↑ "Gant hits winning shot as Texas A&M beats K-State". Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  59. ↑ "Big 12 Women: No. 10 Aggies down Courtney Paris, No. 3 Sooners 74-62". Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  60. ↑ "Big 12 women: Baylor scores Big 12 title after defeating Texas A&M". Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  61. ↑ "Texas A&M crushes Gophers women 73-42". Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  62. ↑ "January has 20 as Arizona State beats A&M 84-69". Retrieved 29 March 2009.

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