By ROBERT CESSNA
AUSTIN -- Texas A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair said he was sure of only one thing heading into Saturday's showdown against the 15th-ranked Texas Longhorns.
"It's going to be a close game," he said.
Blair was right -- for about two minutes. After that, the 10th-ranked Aggies rolled to a 91-70 victory to open Big 12 play before 5,940 spectators at the Erwin Center. A&M played its most dominating first half in recent memory, considering the opposition.
A&M took control with a dominating 19-2 run. The Aggies hit 8 of 9 shots, three of them 3-pointers. The last rainbow was by junior point guard Sydney Colson for a 22-7 lead only 7 minutes into the game. Ten of A&M's points came off turnovers as the Aggies played at a fast pace at both ends.
"We wanted to push it tonight," Blair said. "Even though our press is not what it used to be, our half-court defense is just as good. We went at a fast past because it gives us confidence, particularly Colson. When Colson feels good about herself, the rest of us feel good. The pace had everything to do with it."
Texas (11-4) kept switching defenses, but A&M (13-1) maintained its pace, racing to a 44-19 halftime lead.
"They got us back on our heels and they took advantage of it," Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors said. "I think they beat us in every phase of the game."
Sophomore Adaora Elonu, who hit her only four shots in a 90-57 victory over Lamar in the Aggies' nonconference finale, hit her first four field goals to help A&M to its fast start in beating Texas for the sixth straight time.
The Aggies then turned to senior guard Tanisha Smith, who hit all of her seven shots in the first half. Smith's quickness allowed her to pull up for short-range jumpers or drive past defenders for layups.
"It started with our defense," Smith said. "It helped [set] the fast pace and that's the game we like to play."
Texas made only 5 of 24 field goals in the first half for 20.8 percent, which was A&M's best defensive effort of the season. The Longhorns were only 1 of 9 on 3-pointers.
A&M's athleticism stifled Texas' perimeter game as Erika Arriaran, Kathleen Nash and Brittainey Raven combined to hit only 2 of 15 shots in the first half with six turnovers.
Texas had more turnovers than points throughout much of the first half as A&M scored 18 points off UT mistakes.
"The last time we played A&M here a year ago, we had the exact same start," Goestenkors said. "I was really disappointed that we were doing the same thing we did a year ago."
Former A&M guard Takia Starks had 26 points in that 68-54 victory and Smith quietly added 12.
Nothing Smith did in her final trip to the Erwin Center was quiet. She ended up with 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting and added nine rebounds and seven assists.
"I remember [Connecticut head coach] Geno [Auriemma] once said, 'You've got everybody else but I've got Diana Taurasi and Mary Moore. Well, I have Tanisha. She is the best unknown player in the country right now. She hasn't been given the credit. She isn't playing the 36 minutes like a lot of the great ones have played."
This was only the fifth game Smith had played more than 30 minutes.
Smith had plenty of help, especially from fellow Kansas City native Danielle Adams who had 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The junior college transfer hit 6 of 12 shots in her first Big 12 game.
Elonu finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting as the Aggies shot a blistering 54.1 percent from the field -- 33 for 61, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers. Colson and backup point guard Sydney Carter combined for 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
A&M's lead ballooned to 63-31 in the second half before Texas went on a 15-1 run to make it somewhat respectable.
Texas had four players score in double figures, led by Arriaran's 14.
Texas, which lost for the eighth time in the last nine games against A&M, hit 30 of 43 free throws.
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NOTES -- A&M sophomore guard Tyra White, also from Kansas City, had her string of double-digit games end at seven. She had four points, giving the KC trio 50 points and 22 rebounds.
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