Aggies Rout Prairie View -- with VIDEOS

COLLEGE STATION, TX (Reed Arena) -- The #10 Texas A&M Aggies started slowly Monday night versus the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers; but, the Aggies amped up the defense and overwhelmed the Lady Panthers 89-48 in front of 4,059 fans gathered inside Reed Arena.

PV's head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke did not mince any words after the game, "I thought we got out played by the number 10 team in the country. Texas A&M proved why they are the number 10 team in the country because they play on both ends of the court. Everybody that stepped on the court contributed. We were just out played tonight. Out hustled and out played."

After Gaati Werema made a jumper to give PV a 12-10 lead, the Aggies finished the first half with a 33 to 17 run to lead the shorter Lady Panthers 43-29 at halftime.

Aggies' sophomore post Kelsey Assarian started the first game of her career; and, she worked over PV in the first half with a career-high 10 points in the opening 20 minutes. Assarian shot 5 for 6 from the field and grabbed four rebounds in just 14 minutes.

Assarian said, "I felt really good. I just came out there and tried to play the best I could. The starting position is a really big for me -- being the first one of my career. I just tried to play tough."

In the second half, the Aggies went to Danielle Adams in the post early and often; and, Adams responded with 10 points in the first 4:41 minutes. Adams scored 12 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

"I think it was our plan to get the ball inside because they were a lot shorter than us," said Adams after the game.

Aggies' senior Tanisha Smith produced her second career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Smith also dished out five assists. Smith shot 8 for 14 from the field.

Texas A&M (10-1) outscored Prairie View A&M (3-6) 52 to 32 in the paint. The Aggies shot 43.8% (32 for 73) from the field; but, the Aggies dominated the boards and out rebounded PV 54 to 38. The Aggies also forced 23 PV turnovers.

Gary Blair, Aggies head coach, was pleased he was able to get 15 players time on the court - especially his freshmen.

"I was able to get 15 kids some minutes; and, those kids needed it because I've been playing nine or 10 players. But, those freshmen needed those minutes."

Coach Blair said the time off for the holiday probably contributed to his team's slow start.

"When you haven't played in five or six days, usually your shooting percentage and your free throws go down and your turnovers go up. Generally, that's the way it happens; but, I'll live with 15 turnovers."

Next up for the Aggies is a Wednesday, December 30, road game versus New Mexico.

"Let's turn the page and get ready for New Mexico. If none of you have ever played in The Pit (New Mexico's home arena), that is the hardest arena I have ever played in in my life is playing a basketball game in front of 10,000. I'm 0 and 1 there; so, I'd like to even up my record there."