By ROBERT CESSNABerkeley, Calif., and Las Vegas never will be mistaken for Norman, Okla., or Waco, but what the Texas A&M women's basketball team accomplishes during its nonconference tournaments will go a long way to determining what kind of start the Aggies will have in Big 12 play.
A&M will open the Colliers International Classic in Berkeley, Calif., against the Southern Illinois Salukis at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Haas Pavilion.
The Salukis from the Missouri Valley Conference are 0-4 and will be heavy underdogs to the 10th-ranked Aggies (4-0). Colorado State (5-2) plays host and 20th-ranked California (3-2) in the other first-round matchup. Cal reached the Elite Eight last season.
"Hopefully, we'll face California in the championship game," A&M head coach Gary Blair said. "That's why we play [tournaments], to play Top 25 teams."
The Aggies will open the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic in two weeks with 15th-ranked Arizona State, which beat the Aggies in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 last season.
A&M also has road games at TCU on Dec. 12 and New Mexico on Dec. 30. TCU has split with Top 25 teams, beating Kansas and losing by four at Oklahoma. New Mexico reached the WNIT quarterfinals last season.
"The road is the equalizer," Blair said. "We'll be able to teach [this weekend]. We won't be able to play 16 kids, but hopefully we'll be getting better on the road, just facing different teams in different situations."
A&M might have one of the toughest starting road schedules in Big 12 history next month. The Aggies play at No. 17 Texas, No. 18 Oklahoma and No. 8 Baylor in a span of 18 days that includes two home games.
"[The] conference office didn't do us a lot of favors there," Blair said.
A&M's home games during that 18-day stretch are against Iowa State and Texas Tech, which are a combined 10-2.
*
NOTES -- Southern Illinois was picked to finish last (10th) in the MVC preseason poll of coaches, sports information directors and media. ... SI lost to Top 25 team Vanderbilt (90-64). ... Cal's losses were to Top 10 teams Baylor (69-49) and Ohio State (83-71). ... Blair said his team needs to rebound better this weekend. A&M grabbed a 106-56 victory over SFA on Wednesday, but gave up 19 offensive rebounds. Cal is a much more physical team and is averaging 18.8 offensive rebounds per game with four players each averaging at least three per game. "They are much more physical than [us]," Blair said.
A&M WOMEN's BASKETBALL
* Saturday's game: No. 10 Texas A&M (4-0) vs. Southern Illinois (0-4), 4:30 p.m., Berkeley, Calif.
* TV/radio: None/ KZNE, 1150 AM
TEXAS A&M-SOUTERN ILLINOIS LINEUPS
TEXAS A&M (4-0)
NAMEPOS.HT.CL.PPGRPG
Sydney ColsonG5-8Jr. 8.0*6.3
Tanisha SmithF6-0Sr.19.34.3
Tyra WhiteG6-0So.9.03.3
Adaora ElonuF6-1So.9.84.5
Damitria Buchanan F6-2Sr.2.54.5
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (0-4)
NAMEPOS.HT.CL.PPGRPG
Christine PresswoodG5-7Sr.13.53.0
Eboni CraytonG5-8 Jr.10.84.0
Katie WagnerG 5-8Sr.2.82.0
Katrina SwinglerFJr.6-07.84.0
Teri OliverF5-9Fr.14.03.3
*assists per game
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