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 | No. 7[1] |
| AP | No. 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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] and was 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]
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. |
No. 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. |
No. 10 | Mercer | W 73–45 | 1–0[29] |
Reed Arena (3,387) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 11/16/08* 4:00 p.m. |
No. 10 | vs. No. 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. |
No. 7 | at Michigan | W 59–56 | 3–0[31] |
Crisler Arena (1,125) Ann Arbor, MI | ||||||
| 11/25/08* 8:00 p.m. |
No. 5 | at Arizona | W 54–44 | 4–0[32] |
McKale Center (1,604) Tucson, Arizona | ||||||
| 11/28/08* 3:00 p.m. |
No. 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. |
No. 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. |
No. 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. |
No. 4 | SMU | W 80–48 | 8–0[36] |
Reed Arena (3,563) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 12/13/08* 7:30 p.m. |
No. 3 | Texas State | W 94–45 | 9–0[37] |
Reed Arena (3,602) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 12/21/08* 1:00 p.m., ESPNU |
No. 3 | TCU | W 64–50 | 10–0[38] |
Reed Arena (5,395) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 12/30/08* 7:00 p.m. |
No. 3 | No. 25 New Mexico | W 83–51 | 11–0[39] |
Reed Arena (5,543) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 01/03/09* 5:00 p.m. |
No. 3 | George Washington | W 78–59 | 12–0[40] |
Reed Arena (6,892) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 01/05/09* 6:00 p.m. |
No. 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 |
No. 6 | at Missouri | W 62–56 | 13–1[42] (1–0) |
Mizzou Arena (1,763) Columbia, MO | ||||||
| 01/13/09 7:00 p.m. |
No. 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 |
No. 6 | at No. 3 Oklahoma | L 59–71 | 14–2[44] (2–1) |
Lloyd Noble Center (9,531) Norman, OK | ||||||
| 01/21/09 7:00 p.m. |
No. 7 | No. 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. |
No. 7 | at No. 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. |
No. 7 | at No. 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. |
No. 7 | Kansas | W 73–60 | 17–3[48] (5–2) |
Reed Arena (7,143) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 02/04/09 7:00 p.m. |
No. 4 | at No. 23 Iowa State | L 50–67 | 17–4[49] (5–3) |
Hilton Coliseum (10,278) Ames, IA | ||||||
| 02/08/09 2:00 p.m. |
No. 4 | Nebraska | W 86–43 | 18–4[50] (6–3) |
Reed Arena (4,468) College Station, TX | ||||||
| 02/11/09 7:00 p.m. |
No. 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. |
No. 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 |
No. 11 | No. 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 |
No. 11 | No. 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 |
No. 9 | at No. 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 |
No. 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. |
No. 8 | at No. 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 |
No. 9 | vs. No. 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 |
No. 9 | vs. No. 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 |
No. 9 | vs. No. 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 |
No. 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 |
No. 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 |
No. 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
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/rankings
- ↑ "2009 NCAA Women's Basketball Rankings (Nov. 10)". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Tabbed Favorite in Big 12 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll" (Press release). Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Women's Basketball No. 4 In Preseason Athlon's Top 25". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "UConn tops the '08-'09 preseason power rankings". CNN. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- ↑ "Women's Basketball Lands One Of The Nation's Top Recruiting Classes". Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Ashmore pledges to Blair, A&M women's basketball program". Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "PG Pratcher picks Texas A&M". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Bellock to Texas A&M". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Windham to Texas A&M". Archived from the original on 23 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "2009 recruiting class rankings". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Big 12 Announces Women's Basketball Preseason Individual Honors" (Press release). Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Starks Named Preseason First Team All-America By The Sporting News". Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "The 2009 State Farm Wade Watch". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "2008-09 John R. Wooden Award: Preseason Top 30 List - Women's Category". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Ricketts and Gant Garner Academic Momentum Award". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Allison and White Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Paris and Elonu Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week" (Press release). Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ↑ "Montgomery, Hand and Carter Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ↑ "McCray and Elonu Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 9 December 2008.
- ↑ "Riley, Anderson and Elonu Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- ↑ "Starks and Mallard Chosen Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- ↑ "Gant and Hand Earn Big 12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week Honors". Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ↑ "McCray and Carter Named Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week". Retrieved 3 March 2009.
- ↑ "No. 3 Texas A&M defeats No. 25 New Mexico 83-51". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ↑ "2009 AcaAdemiIc All-BigIG 12 wWomenN's baBAsketbaTBAll TeaAm" (PDF). Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- 1 2 "Defense leads Texas A&M past Evansville 80-45". Retrieved 22 March 2009.
- ↑ "Houston Jaguars vs Texas A&M (11/7/08 at Reed Arena - College Station, Texas)". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "No. 10 Aggies Too Much For Mercer In Season-Opening 73-45 Rout". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Pittsburgh vs Texas A&M 11/16/08". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Michigan 11/20/08". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Arizona (11/25/08 at McKale Center - Tucson, Ariz.)". Retrieved 26 November 2008.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Penn State - 11/28/08 1:05 PM at Firestone Fieldhouse - Malibu, Calif.". Retrieved 29 November 2008.
- ↑ "Waves Battle #8 Texas A&M in Loss". Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Stephen F. Austin (12-02-08 at Nacogdoches, Texas (Johnson Coliseum))". Retrieved 3 December 2008.
- ↑ "SMU vs Texas A&M (12/07/08 at Reed Arena - College Station, Texas)". Retrieved 7 December 2008.
- ↑ "Texas State vs Texas A&M (12/13/08 at Reed Arena - College Station, Texas)". Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ↑ "Starks scores 21 as Texas A&M beats TCU 64-50". Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ↑ "Starks and Gant Combine For 51 Points In Blowout Of No. 25 New Mexico". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Florida State". Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Missouri: 1/10/09 5 p.m. at Mizzou Arena - Columbia, Mo.". Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ↑ "No. 8 Texas A&M beats Texas Tech 67-56". Retrieved 14 January 2009.
- ↑ "Courtney Paris' double-double streak survives as OU downs A&M". Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Locked down". Retrieved 25 January 2009.
- ↑ "Texas A&M beats Texas behind Starks' 26 points". Retrieved 29 January 2009.
- ↑ "Texas A&M women overcome Kansas". Retrieved 1 February 2009.
- ↑ "Iowa State women's basketball: Ezell, Bolte spur No. 21 Cyclones past No. 10 Aggies". Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ↑ "A&M women dominant in 86-43 win over Nebraska". Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Texas Tech (2/11/09 at United Spirit Arena - Lubbock, Texas)". Retrieved 15 February 2009.
- ↑ "Texas A&M 79, Colorado 50". Retrieved 15 February 2009.
- ↑ "Turnovers sink Texas women against Aggies, 76-65". Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ↑ "OU Women's Basketball: Aggies edge Sooners on last-second shot". Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- ↑ "Kansas State 45 (21-6, 8-6 Big 12), Texas A&M 71 (22-5, 10-4 Big 12)". Retrieved 1 March 2009.
- ↑ "Aggies Beat Oklahoma State On Senior Night". Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
- ↑ "Texas A&M vs Baylor (2/7/09 at Ferrell Center - Waco, Texas)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ↑ "Gant hits winning shot as Texas A&M beats K-State". Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- ↑ "Big 12 Women: No. 10 Aggies down Courtney Paris, No. 3 Sooners 74-62". Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ↑ "Big 12 women: Baylor scores Big 12 title after defeating Texas A&M". Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ "Texas A&M crushes Gophers women 73-42". Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ↑ "January has 20 as Arizona State beats A&M 84-69". Retrieved 29 March 2009.