Balanced Scoring Helps Aggies Beat Duke
COLLEGE STATION, TX -- Friday night, the #6 ranked Duke Blue Devils defeated Houston Baptist University by 69 points (104 to 35). Sunday afternoon, the Blue Devils faced a much, much better opponent than the HBU Huskies -- the #16 ranked Texas A&M Aggies on the Aggies' home court inside Reed Arena.
The Aggies (1-0) overwhelmed the Blue Devils (1-1) 95 to 77 in front of a record (for a non-conference Aggies home game) 6,866 fans.
Danielle Adams (6'1", 2008-2009 junior college Player of the Year) scored a team-high 24 points in just 22 minutes. Adams does not look like the stereotypical basketball player; however, as Aggies head coach Gary Blair told the media, Adams "knows how to play the game".
Adams became a crowd favorite Sunday afternoon. She hit one three-point shot in the first half which started some buzz in the crowd; however, Adams drained two more threes in the second half (as if to say 'I can make this shot all day.') and scored on the low block and in the paint.
"(The three - point shot) is something I've been working on a very long time. I decided to show it off today," Adams said rather matter-of-factly.
Adams added five rebounds and one blocked shot.
"I'm real happy," said Adams after the game. "We got a win against the number six ranked team in the country; so, I'm really happy about that."
Aggies' junior point guard Sydney Colson scored 17 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists.
Damitria Buchanan blocked a game-high seven shots.
The Aggies led the Blue Devils 45 to 35 at halftime.
Sydney Colson keyed a 9 to 2 run in the first 3:47 of the second half with seven consecutive points and 1 assist to put the Aggies up 54 to 41 with 17:13 left in the game. However, Duke went on an 11 to 1 run to trim the Ags' lead to just three points (55 to 52) with 14:19 remaining.
Then, Adams went to work. Adams scored 10 points during a decisive 15 to 2 run to give A&M a 70 to 54 lead with 10:06 left in the ball game. During the run, Adams scored a lay-up; converted a three point play with a turnaround bucket and the hoop and the foul shot; a jumper; and a three-point shot from the top of the key.
Duke could only manage to pull within 12 points the rest of the ball game.
The Aggies shot 56.9% (33 for 58) from the field and limited Duke to just 26 for 78 (33.3%) shooting. The Aggies dished out a remarkable 25 assists on those 33 made baskets.
Five Aggies scored in double figures.
"The past few years we've always had go to players -- 'We go to Danielle Gant. We go to T.K. Starks' -- but, this year I think we're so much more balanced," said Sydney Colson. "It's much harder to guard us at this point. We have a 5 player that can step out and shoot the ball like you've seen. Our twos and threes -- Tanisha (Smith) and Tyra (White) -- did an amazing job. I think we're going to be a big threat this year because the point guards can score. We can drive and dish. I think we have more options this year."
Sunday afternoon, those various options proved too much for Duke to handle.
The Aggies (1-0) overwhelmed the Blue Devils (1-1) 95 to 77 in front of a record (for a non-conference Aggies home game) 6,866 fans.
Danielle Adams (6'1", 2008-2009 junior college Player of the Year) scored a team-high 24 points in just 22 minutes. Adams does not look like the stereotypical basketball player; however, as Aggies head coach Gary Blair told the media, Adams "knows how to play the game".
Adams became a crowd favorite Sunday afternoon. She hit one three-point shot in the first half which started some buzz in the crowd; however, Adams drained two more threes in the second half (as if to say 'I can make this shot all day.') and scored on the low block and in the paint.
"(The three - point shot) is something I've been working on a very long time. I decided to show it off today," Adams said rather matter-of-factly.
Adams added five rebounds and one blocked shot.
"I'm real happy," said Adams after the game. "We got a win against the number six ranked team in the country; so, I'm really happy about that."
Aggies' junior point guard Sydney Colson scored 17 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists.
Damitria Buchanan blocked a game-high seven shots.
The Aggies led the Blue Devils 45 to 35 at halftime.
Sydney Colson keyed a 9 to 2 run in the first 3:47 of the second half with seven consecutive points and 1 assist to put the Aggies up 54 to 41 with 17:13 left in the game. However, Duke went on an 11 to 1 run to trim the Ags' lead to just three points (55 to 52) with 14:19 remaining.
Then, Adams went to work. Adams scored 10 points during a decisive 15 to 2 run to give A&M a 70 to 54 lead with 10:06 left in the ball game. During the run, Adams scored a lay-up; converted a three point play with a turnaround bucket and the hoop and the foul shot; a jumper; and a three-point shot from the top of the key.
Duke could only manage to pull within 12 points the rest of the ball game.
The Aggies shot 56.9% (33 for 58) from the field and limited Duke to just 26 for 78 (33.3%) shooting. The Aggies dished out a remarkable 25 assists on those 33 made baskets.
Five Aggies scored in double figures.
"The past few years we've always had go to players -- 'We go to Danielle Gant. We go to T.K. Starks' -- but, this year I think we're so much more balanced," said Sydney Colson. "It's much harder to guard us at this point. We have a 5 player that can step out and shoot the ball like you've seen. Our twos and threes -- Tanisha (Smith) and Tyra (White) -- did an amazing job. I think we're going to be a big threat this year because the point guards can score. We can drive and dish. I think we have more options this year."
Sunday afternoon, those various options proved too much for Duke to handle.
posted by Kris G @ 11:51 PM
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