The Texas A&M women’s basketball team will close out what has been a forgettable season this Thursday in Columbia, Mo. The Aggies (10-16, 3-12 Big 12) will complete their regular season slate against a Missouri Tigers team that is looking to finish above .500 in conference play.
The Tigers (14-12, 8-7 Big 12) are riding high following a 73-52 blowout of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Missouri dominated Kansas on both ends of the court, forcing 25 turnovers while shooting an astounding 62 percent from the field in the second half.
Four Missouri players scored in the double-digits. Senior guard Kerensa Barr and juniors Stretch James and Tracy Lozier dropped in 15 points a piece, while junior guard Myesha Perkins scored 13 off the bench. Missouri began the game on a 10-0 run, holding its opponent scoreless for just less than five minutes. Kansas closed to within seven points early in the game before Lozier hit back-to-back three-pointers just before the half.
“I’m really proud of our team,” said Tigers Head Coach Cindy Stein. “We were really working for a complete game, and I was really impressed with the way we moved the ball.”
Ball movement will be a necessity for Missouri to continue its winning ways against an A&Mteam that leads the conference in steals. The Aggies have been led this year by junior guard Toccara Williams, who ranks first nationally in takeaways.
However, Williams and company had little room to work in A&M’s most recent Big 12 encounter, a crushing 97-54 loss to Baylor University on Sunday afternoon. Baylor’s Lady Bears led by as many as 27 points during the game, thanks in part to the Aggies’ worst shooting performance of the season (24 percent).
Still, A&MHead Coach Peggie Gillom and her team are doing their best to find the silver lining in a trying, injury-plagued season. While the Aggies have lost four straight games, the recent play of junior post Lynn Classen has provided some reason for optimism heading into Wednesday’s game.
“One of the bright spots for us (has been) Classen,” Gillom said. “I am really proud of her. She has been hampered by her knee all season.”
Classen’s injured knee is just one of many ailments the Aggies have had to endure this year. Multiple A&M players including Classen and Williams will seek medical treatment following the Big 12 Tournament in mid-March.
The Tigers will honor Barr prior to tip-off in their final home game for her accomplished career at Missouri. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Hearnes Center.