Information courtesy of Albany Athletic Media Relations
College
Station, Texas - Despite 14 points and nine rebounds from junior Ebone
Henry, UAlbany fell to Texas A&M, 69-47, in the first round of the
2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on Saturday evening at Reed
Arena.The Great Danes finished the 2011-12 season with a 23-10 mark, the program's best record since rising to Division I.
In their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, the Great Danes
outrebounded the defending National Champions, 48-33.
UAlbany got on the board first with a basket by Julie Forster. Texas
A&M responded, getting a conventional three-point play from Tyra
White, but a layup by Henry kept the Great Danes on top. Adaora Elonu
then recorded a steal on the Great Danes and hit a jumper in the paint
to give the Aggies a 5-4 lead at the first media timeout. The teams
exchanged baskets to alternate the lead again, before Texas A&M got
two free throws from Adrienne Pratcher to extend the lead to 9-6.
The
two defensive-minded teams continued to battle through the first half,
and a steal by Adrienne Jones and basket by Sarah Royals pulled UAlbany
to within 15-13 with just over seven minutes left to play. A basket by
Forster in the paint tied the game at 17-17 with just over five minutes
on the clock. However, a basket by White and two free throws by Skylar
Collins put the Aggies back on top by four. UAlbany's Tabatha Makopondo
grabbed a rebound and hit a jumper, and Forster went 1-of-2 from the
free throw line, cutting the lead to 20-21, but A&M got a 3-pointer
by Kristi Bellock just before the shot clock expired to put the Aggies
up by four at the four-minute media timeout.
With
just under two minutes left to play in the first, Henry hit
back-to-back baskets, taking an assist from Cassandra Callaway to drain a
long three from the right side of the arc, tying the game at 25-25 with
1:41 on the clock. However, White, who finished with 12 points in the
half, hit a jumper and a 3-pointer, while Makopondo was only able to hit
1-of-2 free throws, as the team hit the locker rooms with Texas A&M
on top, 30-26.
A
quick basket by the Aggies gave A&M a six-point lead to start the
second half, but UAlbany got six straight points to tie the game back up
at 32-all. Texas A&M fired back and forced the Great Danes into two
turnovers, getting a layup by Elonu and a 3-pointer from the right
corner from Carter to take a 37-32 lead and prompt UAlbany to take a
time out. The Aggies continued on a 12-2 run, getting up by ten, 44-34,
with just over 14 minutes left to play.
Texas A&M continued to roll, as Alexia Standish nailed a 3-pointer
to put the Aggies up by 13, 49-36. Henry and Forster both hit jump shots
to try to spark a UAlbany rally, but Karla Gilbert sank a bucket to
keep A&M on top. Standish nailed another long-range shot to put the
Aggies up, 57-41, at the eight-minute media timeout. UAlbany refused to
fold, and continued its relentless defense against the bigger, more
experienced Aggies. A&M built up a 19-point lead, 64-45, on a
fourth 3-pointer by Standish as the clock wound down under three
minutes. The Aggies, who shot 46.6 percent (27-58) from the floor in
the game, continued their hot shooting, and extended their lead out to
22 points before the final buzzer.
White led the Aggies with 18 points, while Elonu and Standish totaled 13
and 12 points, respectively. Texas A&M (23-10), forced UAlbany into
24 turnovers and shot 58.3 percent (7-12) from 3-point range.
Freshman Megan Craig totaled nine points and seven rebounds, while also
recording all three of UAlbany's blocks in the game. Forster finished
with eight points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. The Great Danes
shot 31.7 percent (19-60) from the floor and recorded eight steals, led
by Henry with three. Henry played all 40 minutes for UAlbany.