A&M Wins Big 12 Tourney
The Texas A&M Aggies captured their first-ever Big 12 Tournament Championship with a thrilling 64 to 59 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowgirls Saturday night inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO.
The Aggies (26-7) became the first No. 4 seed in league history to capture the tournament title. The Aggies earned an automatic bid for the second time in school history since the 1995-96 season when they won the Southwest Conference Tournament.
A'Quonesia Franklin led the Aggies with 19 points including four free throws in the final 23 seconds of the game to seal the win.
The Aggies led the Cowgirls (25-7) by nine at halftime (33 to 24); but, Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley kept her team in the game throughout the second half.
Riley scored a game-high 28 points including a ridiculously tough three-point shot against very tough defense by A&M's Takia Starks with 25.4 seconds left in the game. The basket trimmed the Aggies lead to 60 to 59; however, Franklin was fouled and went to the foul line and made both free throws to put the Aggies ahead by three points.
Oklahoma State failed to score on their possession and Franklin was fouled once again; and, she made both free throws once again for the final score.
"You just saw a heck of a basketball game," said Aggies head coach Gary Blair. "I am so happy to be a part of something of this magnitude and the hospitality has been great here in Kansas City."
Starks was named Most Outstanding Player as she averaged a team-leading 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds over the course of three tournament games. Starks scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds versus Oklahoma State.
Junior forward Danielle Gant added 11 points while senior Morenike Atunrase scored 14 points off the Aggies' bench.
Franklin was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team along with Iowa State’s Heather Ezell and Oklahoma State’s Andrea Riley and Danielle Green.
"We are a veteran team and have been together the last four years," Franklin said after the game. "We’ve learned to play with each other. We’ve won nine straight and our chemistry is just great on defense."
A&M will learn its postseason destination and seed in the upcoming 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship on Selection Monday to be held on March 17. The selection show will be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 6 p.m. (CT).
The Aggies (26-7) became the first No. 4 seed in league history to capture the tournament title. The Aggies earned an automatic bid for the second time in school history since the 1995-96 season when they won the Southwest Conference Tournament.
A'Quonesia Franklin led the Aggies with 19 points including four free throws in the final 23 seconds of the game to seal the win.
The Aggies led the Cowgirls (25-7) by nine at halftime (33 to 24); but, Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley kept her team in the game throughout the second half.
Riley scored a game-high 28 points including a ridiculously tough three-point shot against very tough defense by A&M's Takia Starks with 25.4 seconds left in the game. The basket trimmed the Aggies lead to 60 to 59; however, Franklin was fouled and went to the foul line and made both free throws to put the Aggies ahead by three points.
Oklahoma State failed to score on their possession and Franklin was fouled once again; and, she made both free throws once again for the final score.
"You just saw a heck of a basketball game," said Aggies head coach Gary Blair. "I am so happy to be a part of something of this magnitude and the hospitality has been great here in Kansas City."
Starks was named Most Outstanding Player as she averaged a team-leading 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds over the course of three tournament games. Starks scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds versus Oklahoma State.
Junior forward Danielle Gant added 11 points while senior Morenike Atunrase scored 14 points off the Aggies' bench.
Franklin was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team along with Iowa State’s Heather Ezell and Oklahoma State’s Andrea Riley and Danielle Green.
"We are a veteran team and have been together the last four years," Franklin said after the game. "We’ve learned to play with each other. We’ve won nine straight and our chemistry is just great on defense."
A&M will learn its postseason destination and seed in the upcoming 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship on Selection Monday to be held on March 17. The selection show will be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 6 p.m. (CT).
posted by Kris G @ 11:45 PM
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