Aggie women set for Top 25 showdown with Red Raiders

  • By ROBERT CESSNA

  • Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 7:00 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A

Wednesday's going to be strange for Texas A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair. The Texas Tech graduate will be back in Lubbock, driving around town until the pregame meeting for the 7 p.m. tip against the Lady Raiders at the United Spirit Center. He'll visit the same places he's stopped at the previous eight times he's brought the Aggies to town.

This time, though, will be different.

It could be the last time Blair brings the Aggies to the South Plains with A&M's impending move from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference just a few months away. A&M also has instate farewell stops at Baylor (Feb. 11) and Texas (March 4) ahead, but Wednesday's is much different for Blair, who isn't ruling out returning to Lubbock.

"Maybe we'll play my alma mater in the NCAA tournament," Blair said. "I think everything will eventually settle down with all the conferences, and common sense will prevail. If you're looking for RPI points, why not play A&M instead of going and playing at UCLA or Washington?"

Wednesday's matchup supports that theory with the 18th-ranked Aggies (14-5, 5-3), the defending national champions, and the 25th-ranked Lady Raiders (15-5, 3-5) jockeying for Big 12 -- and RPI -- position behind top-ranked Baylor (21-0, 8-0).

"We've got to put a streak together. It's that time of the year," Blair said. "We have to ask ourselves: Are we going to be a factor in the NCAA tournament and Big 12 tournament? Or are we just going to be happy to show up?"

Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry watched her team help its RPI ranking in a big way Saturday with a 76-71 victory over Texas.

Tech, which started 14-0 and rose as high as 10th in the national rankings, appeared to be playing itself out of the NCAA tournament with a couple of ugly losses at Iowa State (66-49) and at Kansas (62-43) before beating Texas.

"Well, we improved. We had five [losses] in a row instead of six," Curry told her players after beating Texas. "This is what we needed."

Tech won without senior forward Kierra Mallard, who missed her second straight game due to an undisclosed injury. Mallard is leading Tech in scoring (13.1 points per game) and rebounding (8.8 per game). Senior forward Jordan Barncastle picked up the slack with 19 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double since her first start as a freshman.

"I think it will prepare us for Wednesday," Barncastle said.

The expected return of Mallard along with Barncastle's confidence pose a problem for A&M's inside attack, which remains a work in progress. Blair alternated sophomores Kelsey Bone (10 points, five rebounds) and Karla Gilbert (nine points, seven rebounds) at post in a 66-64 victory over Iowa State.

"Bone was 5-of-7 shooting, but there were many other things that she didn't do so that I couldn't keep her in the game," Blair said. "Karla was giving me offensive boards and a little more energy and effort on a consistent basis."

Blair is concerned with A&M's transition defense, a constant problem for the Aggies this season. ISU had an 11-0 edge in fast-break points.

"Texas and Texas Tech probably run transition offense better than anyone in our conference," Blair said.

UT had a 20-9 edge in transition points in a 76-71 victory over the Aggies on Jan. 11 that snapped A&M's 11-game winning streak.

Blair has challenged his offense to get more points via defense. Over their last two games, Aggies have scored only 33 points off 46 turnovers. The lack of production proved costly in a 57-53 loss at Oklahoma State last week that snapped a three-game winning streak in which the defense had been the key.

"We're getting no fast-break points and no secondary points," Blair said. "We've gotta find a way to get some easy baskets. Right now, we're struggling with that."

A&M WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 18 A&M (14-5, 5-3 in the Big 12) at No. 25 Texas Tech (15-5, 3-5)

7 p.m. Wednesday, United Spirit Arena, Lubbock

TV: none. Radio: 1150 AM, KZNE. Internet: ESPN3.com

TEXAS A&M (14-5, 5-3)

Pos.NameHeightClassPPGRPG

G Alexia Standish 5-8 Fr. 3.6*2.1

G Sydney Carter 5-6 Sr. 11.63.2

G Tyra White 6-0 Sr. 14.45.6

F Adaora Elonu 6-1 Sr. 12.3 7.0

C Kelsey Bone 6-4 Jr. 11.86.9

TEXAS TECH (15-5, 3-5)

Pos.NameHeightClassPPGRPG

G Monique Smalls5-8Jr.8.6*4.6

G Casey Morris5-9Jr.9.23.7

GChristine Hyde5-10 Jr.9.04.2

F Kelsi Baker6-0So.7.24.4

F Kierra Mallard6-3Sr.13.18.8

*assists per game

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