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CREDITS The 2008-09 Texas A&M women’s basketball recruiting guide was written, edited, designed and conceptualized by assistant media relations director Marlene Navor using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign CS2 with editorial assistance from associate media relations directors Brad Marquardt and Colin Killian and student assistants Kristen Merrifield, Kacie McMahon and Jeannie Kotch. Front cover and inside covers designed by senior graphic artist Jon Carpenter. The guide was finalized for printing by publications specialist Cyndi Mousner. Chief photography by Glen Johnson. Additional photography by Paul Zoeller, Allen Pearson, Jennifer Carpenter, Jon Carpenter, Scott Weaver, The Associated Press and NBAE/Getty Images. Special thanks to publications coordinator Celeste Phillips, Ron Nielsen of Universal Bindery and the Texas A&M women’s basketball coaching staff for their assistance including associate head coach Kelly Bond, director of operations Erich Birch, video coordinator Charlee Simmons, administrative assistant DeAnna Doles and athletic assistant Katy Pounds. Printed by Newman Printing, Bryan, Texas.
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“We had every intention to win this basketball game. Tonight, we left our best game on the floor. We gave people around the country a new team and new household name to root for. It’s time to spread it around.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
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Texas A&M was eight points shy of its first-ever NCAA Final Four with a close 53-45 loss to topseeded Tennessee in the Oklahoma City Regional Final on April 1, 2008. It was the deepest postseason run by an Aggie squad in 34 all-time seasons of women’s basketball at A&M. Senior A’Quonesia Franklin and junior Takia Starks were both named to the NCAA Oklahoma City All-Regional Team and in the following weeks, garnered Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention honors.
“I knew it was going to be a very tough game for us to win. We came in with tremendous respect for their basketball team.� - Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
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“Our game is all about effort, effort, effort. When we play with that type of mentality and drive, it doesn’t matter if it’s Candace Parker or whoever we’re trying to stop. We are going to play our very best no matter what.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
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“I’m so proud of this basketball team and what we accomplished this season. When you look at the eight schools that were left, this is the way it should be. There is parity and it’s coming. We need more Texas A&M’s out there.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
Texas A&M’s record-setting postseason run marked the second time in which Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair led a team to the regional finals next to his 1998 NCAA Final Four squad at Arkansas. The Aggies also made history by registering a school-record 12-game win streak having won an impressive 16 of their last 18 contests of the memorable season.
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“We are so happy inside, but we realize that we have a lot of business to take care of. We expected to be here.” - Junior Center La Toya Micheaux
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08 Texas A&M made its second all-time NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance next to the school’s 1994 postseason run under former head coach Lynn Hickey. The second-seeded Aggies went on to defeat the third-seeded Duke Blue Devils, 77-63, to reach their very first NCAA Elite Eight. With the victory, A&M also set a new school record for most victories in a single season (29).
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“This has been our biggest win. But, we didn’t come here just to win one ballgame. We came here because we’ve earned the right.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
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“We made it this far. Why stop now?” - Senior A’Quonesia Franklin
Event: NCAA Sweet 16 Press Conference, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/29/08
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Event: NCAA First and Second Rounds, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La., 3/21/08
Texas A&M’s postseason travels included NCAA First and Second Round matchups against UTSA and Hartford in Baton Rouge, La. Off the court, the Aggies enjoyed the food, the weather and the Southern hospitality displayed by the city and host LSU.
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Event: NCAA Selection Show Party, Above The Rim Club, Reed Arena, 3/17/08
On the heels of its highest-ever national ranking and first-ever Big 12 Conference Tournament title, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team earned a programbest No. 2 seed in the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship on Selection Monday. The Aggies celebrated the special occasion with a full house of fans at the Above the Rim Club at Reed Arena. It marked A&M’s fifth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and second-ever league automatic bid. A&M was one of eight top seeds in the 64-team field including top-seeded Connecticut, North Carolina, Maryland and Tennessee as well as second-seeded Rutgers, LSU and Stanford.
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On Location: Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/31/08
Texas A&M’s first-ever NCAA Elite Eight squad takes a moment to bask in the sun. It’s a perfect time for a photo opportunity as the NCAA Tournament bracket alongside the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City is updated and clearly shows that the Aggies have arrived.
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Event: NCAA Elite Eight Pre-Game Rally, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
Former and current students of Texas A&M University are some of the most loyal fans in the country of their Fightin’ Texas Aggies. The Texas A&M women’s basketball team continues to build a strong fanbase throughout the state of Texas and nationally. Wherever they go, the Aggies are always greeted and cheered on by Maroon and White-clad fans in the stands with the help of local A&M clubs who organize gatherings with the team at different road locales throughout the season.
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Everywhere they went, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team enjoyed numerous supporters at team send-offs, welcome back gatherings at Reed Arena, pre-game rallies, booster functions and at the actual game site during its record-setting run through the NCAA Tournament in 2008. The Aggies even captured the hearts of local Oklahoma City residents (either OU or OSU fans) who came out in record numbers to support a fellow Big 12 Conference school, their city and women’s college basketball.
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
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“This is the first time Texas A&M has been in the conference championship game, and it means a lot to us. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Look at our two programs coming up from the bottom to the top. This is what parity is all about. I am so happy to be a part of something of this magnitude.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Big 12 Championship Celebration, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/15/08
Fourth-seeded Texas A&M captured its first-ever Big 12 postseason title with a 64-59 victory over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game held on March 15, 2008. Takia Starks was named Big 12 Most Outstanding Player, while A’Quonesia Franklin to the all-tournament team.
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“We are a veteran team and have been together the last four years. We’ve learned to play with each other and our chemistry is great, especially on defense. When people doubted us earlier in the season, we knew all along that this is what we set out to do.” - Senior A’Quonesia Franklin
Event: Big 12 Championship Game, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/15/08
The Aggies earned their second all-time conference tournament championship crown next to the final 1996 Southwest Conference Tournament-winning A&M squad. A&M became the first No. 4 seed in league history to clinch the tournament title.
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After being tabbed as the preseason favorite to defend their 2007 conference regular-season title in the preseason Big 12 Coaches Poll, the Aggies turned a 1-4 league start into one of the greatest seasons ever in school history which resulted in back-to-back conference championships. Event: Big 12 Championship Celebration, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/15/08
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“This is the most rewarding season I’ve ever been a part of. These kids played their hearts out. They overcame adversity due to injuries during the year. When the injuries happened, we didn’t dwell on them, we pushed forward.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Big 12 Championship Celebration, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/15/08
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Team•Work (Noun): A cooperative effort by the members of a group or team to achieve a common goal.
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Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
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When one chooses to attend Texas A&M University, one of the first things taught and instilled in incoming students is the Aggie Code of Honor which states that, “Aggies do not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.� Recognized nationally for its traditions and high academic standards, Texas A&M’s Aggie Code of Honor is an effort to unify the aim of all A&M students toward a high code of ethics and personal dignity. The same philosophy can be said in athletics as the Aggies always compete with sportsmanship and integrity.
“Texas A&M fulfilled all of the promises that they made to my parents and I from the day I signed to the day I graduated. They provided me with all of the necessary resources and tools to be successful. I am so proud of our senior class and what we built over the course of our four years. We look forward to watching future Aggies continue the tradition.” - Former Player Patrice Reado ‘08
On Location: August Commencement 2008, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University
Patrice Reado ‘08
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“The atmosphere here at Texas A&M is contagious and motivating. It just makes you want to win, not only for yourself, but also for your school.� - Sophomore Sydney Colson
Event: Auburn Upset, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 12/15/07
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“I chose Texas A&M because of the program and how it has grown over the past few years. I want to grow with it.� - Freshman Skylar Collins
Event: Missouri Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/29/08
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“I’ll remember this Senior Class for the rest of my life. They believed in us. They were all recruited by established programs, but they wanted to build the foundation here and be a part of something special.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Senior Night, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 3/6/08
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The Texas A&M women’s basketball program will continue to flourish on the national scene due in part to the belief of five seniors who were the cornerstone of the Aggies’ turnaround from the depths of the Big 12 Conference to an annual contender in the league and in the nation. It was just four years ago, that Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair and his staff signed their first recruiting class which would share in their vision of rebuilding and revitalizing a championship program in College Station. No other senior class accomplished as many milestones in a four-year span as the Class of ’08 comprised of Morenike Atunrase, A’Quonesia Franklin, Patrice Reado, Katy Pounds and LaToya Gulley. They will go down in school history as one of the greatest squads ever to don the Maroon and White.
Event: Stephen F. Austin Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/3/08
“The Spirit of Aggieland is a feeling of pride on campus, an aura. Knowing you are a part of something special and unique. It is a spirit of togetherness, knowing the person next to you feels the same way. It is respecting the Aggie Honor Code and knowing everyone else does, too.” - Texas A&M Associate Head Coach Vic Schaefer ‘84
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“Our introduction is the best part of pregame. You feel an adrenaline rush whenever you are running through the tunnel onto the court with the lights down, the music blaring, the crowd on their feet and your teammates are pumped up as you are to get the game started.� - Senior Takia Starks
Event: Stephen F. Austin Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/3/08
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Event: State Farm Lone Star Showdown, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 2/9/08
There is nothing like Aggie Game Day at Reed Arena. From the Blair Kid’s Court, to the spirit of the Aggie Dance Team, Yell Leaders and Hullabaloo Band, to guest coaches and special presentations, to performances by entertaining halftime acts throughout the season, there is always something for fans of all ages at an A&M women’s basketball game. With Aggie Basketball on the rise, the game day experience has become so much more for not only the players, but also for the fans.
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“Our coaching staff knows what it takes to win and I wanted to be a part of that winning mentality and tradition at Texas A&M.� - Freshman Sydney Carter
On Location: Texas A&M Foundation, Jon L. Hagler Center, Texas A&M University
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The Aggies are led by one of the top college coaching staffs in the country in twotime Naismith Coach of the Year finalist and future Hall of Famer Gary Blair, who is in his sixth season as head coach at Texas A&M. He is assisted by associate head coaches Vic Schaefer and Kelly Bond and assistant coach Johnnie Harris.
Vic Schaefer
Johnnie Harris
Kelly Bond
“They are all different in their styles of coaching, but have an equal part in how far we go. I appreciate all that they do for us, on-and-off the court. You won’t find a coaching staff as dedicated to developing their student-athletes than ours at Texas A&M.” - Sophomore Sydney Colson
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
Gary Blair
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On Location: Nothing But Nets Fundraiser, A&M United Methodist Church, College Station, Texas, 9/9/07
Last fall, the Texas A&M men’s and women’s basketball teams did their part to help raise money and awareness for Nothing But Nets, a grass roots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa (www.nothingbutnets.net). The Aggies were on hand at the A&M United Methodist Church to sign basketballs, give tips on free throw shots, three-pointers and other basketball basics. Throughout the school year, A&M student-athletes embody the spirit and mind of true Aggies who are always willing to help others in need. The Aggie women participate in numerous philanthropy projects during the season via Aggie Athletes Involved and community service projects headed up by former player and current athletic assistant Katy Pounds.
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“We were able to help a lot of people through our efforts and I cannot think of a better cause. It is always a good feeling when you can reach out and do your part to make a difference.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
On Location: BTHO Breast Cancer Game and 5K Fun Run, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 2/17/08
The Texas A&M athletic department reached its goal of $35,000 raised from the festivities surrounding its second-annual “Beat The Hell Outta Breast Cancer“ campaign. A&M donated money raised from its breast cancer awareness event to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Additionally, Texas A&M women’s basketball head coach Gary Blair donated $3,245 to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund as he pledged $5 for every A&M student in attendance at the team’s game against Texas Tech on Feb. 17, 2008. The Aggies donned specially-made pink uniforms provided by adidas for its nationally-televised “Think Pink“ game on ESPN2. A&M partnered with corporate sponsors Chevron, The College Station Medical Center, adidas, HEB and Subway and sold the ever popular $5 pink T-shirts through the efforts of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.
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On Location: Network Television, March-April 2008
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On Location: News Stands Across The Country, March 2008
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On Location: NCAA Selection Show Press Conference, Above The Rim Club, Reed Arena, 3/17/08
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The Aggies have seen increased media coverage with the success of the program on the national scene. Texas A&M will appear on television a school-record nine times during the 2008-09 season including three contests televised on ESPN2/ESPNU and four games broadcast on Fox Sports Net. The Aggies will face Pittsburgh in their first-ever appearance in the State Farm Women’s Tip-Off Classic on ESPN2 and league rival Oklahoma in its first-ever Big Monday appearance on ESPN2.
“The Cox-McFerrin Center For Aggie Basketball is the extra piece of the puzzle here at A&M that transforms us from a good program into a nationally elite one.”
COX-McFERRIN CENTER BY THE NUMBERS
- Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
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The number in which the basketball facility will rank among Big 12 Conference member schools.
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The number of practice gyms to accommodate both the men’s and women’s programs.
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The number of floor levels of the new facility.
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The date in January for the dedication ceremony.
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The number of millions of dollars spent on the expansion project through pledges from 12th Man Foundation donors.
68,000
The number of square feet of the state-of-the-art basketball facility.
Outside View Of Construction
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The $26 million master plan for Aggie Basketball includes an above ground, 68,000 square foot state-of-the-art basketball facility attached to Reed Arena. It includes a lobby special event area, two practice gymnasiums, expansive locker room facilities, players’ lounges, coaches’ offices, a weight room, meeting rooms, a training and medical room and video rooms. The facility will open in late Fall of 2008 and will give A&M a national showplace for its student-athletes.
On Location: Cox-McFerrin Center For Aggie Basketball, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University
Main Lobby Rendering
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Women’s Basketball Lobby
Basketball Lobby Rendering
Coach Blair’s Office
Training Room
On Location: Cox-McFerrin Center For Aggie Basketball, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University
Locker Room
180째 Locker Room Rendering
Locker Room
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“When the game is on the line and you need that extra boost of confidence to hit that big shot to win the game, you can feel the 12th Man right behind you.” - Senior Takia Starks
Event: BTHO Breast Cancer Game, Reed Arena, 2/17/08
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Opponents fear traveling to College Station due in part to Texas A&M’s success at home over the last two years. With help from the 12th Man, the Aggies are 30-2 (.938) overall at Reed Arena and posted a school-record 26-straight wins on their home court.
“We love playing at Reed Arena and giving our crowd a good show. We are going to play our hardest in every game, but we take pride in defending our home court.” - Senior Danielle Gant
Event: BTHO Breast Cancer Game, Reed Arena, 2/17/08
12th Man Definition: 1. The entire student body at Texas A&M. 2. A spirit that has grown vigorously throughout the years to symbolize the student body’s readiness, desire and enthusiasm at Aggie sporting events. 3. Standing during the entire game to show their support for their Fightin’ Texas Aggies. 4. Always being prepared to be called upon from the stands (if needed) just as the original “12th Man” E. King Gill did back in 1922.
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On Location: Reed Arena, Texas A&M University
Several members of the 2008-09 Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Practice Squad nicknamed “The Guy’s” (from L-R): Senior Aaron Sloan (Mount Pleasant, TX), senior Tyler Whittington (Carrollton, TX), junior William Cloud (The Woodlands, TX), senior Nick Pennington (Canyon Lake, TX), junior Chris Hsiao (Allen, TX) and senior Nathan Schwarz (China Spring, TX).
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On Location: Practice Gym, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University
One of the many amenities in Reed Arena is the full-size practice gym located on the bottom floor of the east side of the facility which is exclusively home to Aggie Basketball. The practice facility allows the Aggies to always have a gym in which to workout, regardless of what event is being held in the main arena. It is also conveniently located next to the women’s basketball locker room and athletic training room. The new Cox-McFerrin Center For Aggie Basketball will offer a practice facility four times the size of the current practice gym with separate facilities for the men’s and women’s programs.
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On Location: Bright Complex, Texas A&M University
ACADEMIC CENTER FACTS BY THE NUMBERS
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The number of stations available in the computer center with all new Dell Pentium IV desktop computers.
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The number of Dell laptop computers to check out.
13
The number of personal tutor rooms for small group tutoring.
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The number of walk-in tutor labs: agriculture, business, science, math, liberal arts, social sciences and writing.
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The number of study lounges for students to find a quiet, comfortable place to study independently or in small groups.
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The number of large classrooms for supplemental instruction.
The mission of the Center for Student-Athlete Services is to help each student-athlete achieve his or her maximum potential through academic, personal, and career enhancement while upholding the standards of honor, integrity, and professionalism at Texas A&M University. Through the combination of one of the nation’s premier facilities and a highly-qualified staff, Texas A&M has strengthened its commitment to “Building Champions” off the field, as well as on. The Center for Student-Athlete Services is located on the second floor of the Nye Academic Center in the Bright Complex. The Center is a 24,550-square foot state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest teaching technology and capable of accommodating over 600 students at any given time. Texas A&M women’s basketball student-athletes are supported by associate athletic director for academics Ingrid Villar-Woods and administrative assistant for academic services Margaret McGraw.
Ensuring that student-athletes are on the correct path to success, each athlete is assigned an academic advisor in their academic college and an athletic advisor. The Center for Student-Athlete Services employs 10 full-time academic supervisors and three learning specialists. They are assisted by 40 part-time learning assistants, numerous subject tutors, and the front office staff. Together, the staff monitors the studentathletes’ academic performance to ensure the continued fulfillment of progress toward degree requirements.
On Location: Alice & Erle Nye Academic Center, Texas A&M University
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On Location: Alice & Erle Nye Academic Center, Texas A&M University
Athletic Career Services is introduced during the student-athletes’ freshman year with the acknowledgement that with their hectic athletic schedules, becoming involved with campus organizations is challenging. Therefore during their winter, spring and summer break, internships and part-time positions related to their major are available. This provides the student-athlete with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while also building their resume. Upon graduation, Texas A&M student-athletes are the most-prepared and-experienced candidates a prospective employer could hire.
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Texas A&M strives to recruit quality student-athletes who excel academically and athletically, and the university hopes to complete the cycle by enhancing the future employment opportunities of these athletes. When established, Texas A&M’s Athletic Career Services was one of the first programs of its kind in the nation and was recognized by the Division I-A Athletic Director’s Association in 2003 with the Program of Excellence Award. The program was created to assist student-athletes with all aspects of their professional development. Only two percent of college athletes will successfully compete at the professional level, while the other 98 percent will enter the workforce. With this in mind, the Athletic Career Services Center prepares them for their transition out of college sports and into the workforce.
On Location: August Commencement 2008, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University
“Micheaux took her degree to another level when she spent the summer as an intern for the College Station Chamber of Commerce and adidas. She did a lot of ground work and worked on several committees to see what the business side of sport is all about. She definitely has a life after college in the sporting world and has so many options available to her. Whether she becomes an agent or works for a high-profile company, she knows she can do all of that once she retires from basketball. Like so many of our student-athletes who have come through our program, Micheaux graduated early in three and half years and is now working on her master’s degree during her senior season. We could not be prouder of her accomplishments.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
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The Texas A&M Athletic Training Department is committed to enhancing the quality of health care for student-athletes through prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. They are committed to developing and maintaining unparalleled sports medicine facilities and to staff their facilities with highly-qualified and motivated personnel whose foundation is built on the utmost ethical standards.
“My emphasis in the athletic training room involves getting our players back to basketball activities as safely and quickly as possible. Our new athletic training area in the Cox-McFerrin Center For Aggie Basketball will allow us to offer a facility parallel to those of NBA and NFL sports franchises.” - Athletic Trainer Mike “Radar” Ricke
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“My goal is to help athletes reach their athletic potential through improvement in speed, strength, power and agility from the time they step foot on campus as freshmen until the day they graduate. To do so, we stay current on all new training techniques so that our athletes will always be one step ahead of the competition.” - Strength & Conditioning Coach Jennifer Jones
Texas A&M operates what many consider to be the nation’s top strength and conditioning facility, the Netum A. Steed Physiology Research & Conditioning Laboratory. The 23,736 square-foot facility houses one of the country’s largest weight rooms and provides ample space for training student-athletes for collegiate competition.
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“We execute on offense well and always keep our opponents on their toes, but our defense is pretty special. We have a bunch of warriors out there on any given night. Our defensive style bothers a lot of teams and it’s very hard to prepare for us.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
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Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
Texas A&M is known for its defensive swagger on the court which has been a signature of the program in the Gary Blair Era. The Aggies take pride in this aggressive style of basketball that usually stuns first-time opponents and frustrates familiar opponents. Over the last two seasons, A&M has led the Big 12 Conference in points allowed per game holding opponents to 54.8 points in 2008 and 53.6 points in 2007. The Aggies annually finish among the top 15 in scoring defense among NCAA Division I statistical leaders.
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BIG 12 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BY THE NUMBERS
8 Event: Big 12 Championship Game, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/15/08
The Big 12 Conference has established a consistent level of national success on the field and in the classroom as it enters its 13th season in 2008-09. Since it began play in 1996-97, the conference can boast 31 NCAA Champions and 385 individual NCAA Championships. The conference is made up of 12 institutions that have shared many traditional rivalries throughout their histories. Member schools include Baylor University, University of Colorado, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Texas, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. The institutions created a league that encompasses seven states, over 45 million people and television households in 18 of the top 100 markets within its geographic footprint. In its first 12 years, the conference has distributed more than $1 billion to its 12 member institutions.
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A league-record number of teams that received bids to the NCAA Tournament. The Big 12 became the first league in NCAA history to post an 8-0 record in first-round games.
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The number of NCAA Tournament appearances by Big 12 teams since 2000, tied for first with the Big East.
9
The number of NCAA attendance crowns won by the Big 12. The league crossed the million-fan threshold for the second consecutive year in 2008.
290
The number of appearances by Big 12 schools in the Top 10 of the Associated Press Poll over the last 12 years including A&M’s programbest No. 8 final ranking in 2007-08.
The number of combined NCAA Elite Eight appearances by Big 12 schools including A&M’s in 2008.
The number of times Big 12 players have been named Kodak All-America first-team selections.
Event: State Farm Lone Star Showdown, Reed Arena, College Station, Texas, 2/9/08
For the second time in the four-year history of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team swept rival Texas to earn a full point toward the final point count of the rivalry series. The Aggies won the overall 2007-08 campaign by a score of 10.5 to 8.5 with contributions from soccer, men’s and women’s track and field, football, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, women’s swimming and diving and women’s golf.
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Each varsity team at Texas A&M is outfitted in the latest adidas footwear, uniforms, training apparel, sideline gear and accessories. Texas A&M is among a select group of universities that have all-school agreements with adidas. The joint partnership between Texas A&M and adidas extends through the 2014 season.
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The Aggies travel in a first-class manner to all of their road games, using a charter luxury jet that allows them a flexible schedule and minimizes lost class time. Hotel accommodations for A&M generally include the finest hotel chains in the world that provide catered meals for the team’s pre-game meal and rooms big enough for study hall and film breakdown on site. This season, the Aggies will rack up frequent flyer miles with non-conference travel coast-to-coast to Arizona, Michigan, California, Florida and Louisiana. A&M also uses chartered buses to transport them to and from the airport, hotel and game site.
On Location: Easterwood Airport, Texas A&M University
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On Location: Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 11/22/07
The Texas A&M women’s basketball team continues to trek the globe with playing opportunities throughout the continental U.S. and abroad. Last year, the Aggies traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands over the Thanksgiving holiday break to participate in the 2007 Paradise Jam hosted by Basketball Travelers. During their stay in St. Thomas, A&M enjoyed open-air bus rides to and from practice and competition, a catamaran snorkeling excursion, Duty Free shopping, karaoke and good food and entertainment. In the Gary Blair Era, the Aggies have traveled to exotic and international locales including the Bahamas, Hawai’i, France, Switzerland, Monaco and Taiwan.
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On Location: 2007 Paradise Jam, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
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On Location: The White House East Room, Washington, D.C.
During their three-day trip to Washington, D.C. to play George Washington, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team along with a group of boosters and support staff were treated to a special tour of Our Nation’s Capital by former A&M First Lady Becky Gates, wife of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The highlight of the trip was a special audience with the 43rd President of the United States and native Texan George W. Bush. The Aggies also had the privilege of meeting with former students U.S. Congressman Chet Edwards (D-Texas) and former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley as well as U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas).
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On Location: Our Nation’s Capital Tour, Washington, D.C.
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2008-09 ATHLON SPORTS PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL 1. Connecticut 2. California 3. Stanford 4. Texas A&M 5. Duke 6. Maryland 7. Oklahoma 8. Arizona State 9. Tennessee 10. Louisville 11. Rutgers 12. North Carolina 13. Ohio State 14. Texas 15. Old Dominion 16. Vanderbilt 17. Oklahoma State 18. Virginia 19. Kansas State 20. Florida State 21. Xavier 22. Auburn 23. Michigan State 24. Utah 25. Pittsburgh
2007-08 ASSOCIATED PRESS FINAL TOP 25 POLL 1. Connecticut (36-2) 2. North Carolina (33-3) 3. Tennessee (36-2) 4. Stanford (35-4) 5. Maryland (33-4) 6. LSU (31-6) 7. Rutgers (27-7) 8. Texas A&M (29-8) 9. Duke (25-10) 10. California (27-7) 11. Old Dominion (31-5) 12. Baylor (25-7) 13. Oklahoma State (27-8) 14. Oklahoma (22-9) 15. Notre Dame (25-9) 16. Kansas State (22-10) 17. West Virginia (25-8) 18. Utah (27-5) 19. Louisville (26-10) 20. George Washington (27-7) 21. Vanderbilt (25-9) 22. Marist (32-3) 23. UTEP (28-4) 24. Virginia (24-10) 25. Ohio State (22-9)
2007-08 USA TODAY/ESPN COACHES FINAL TOP 25 POLL 1. Tennessee (36-2) 2. Stanford (35-4) 3. Connecticut (36-2) 4. LSU (31-6) 5. North Carolina (33-3) 6. Rutgers (27-7) 7. Maryland (33-4) 8. Texas A&M (29-8) 9. Duke (25-10) 10. Old Dominion (31-5) 11. Oklahoma State (27-8) 12. Louisville (26-10) 13. Notre Dame (25-9) 14. George Washington (27-7) 15. Vanderbilt (25-9) 16. Pittsburgh (24-11) 17. Baylor (25-7) 18. California (27-7) 19. Oklahoma (22-9) 20. West Virginia (25-8) 21. Kansas State (22-10) 22. Virginia (24-10) 23. Marist (32-3) 24. Georgia (23-10) 25. UTEP (28-4)
Once again, Texas A&M achieved its highest national ranking in school history coming in at No. 8 in the final Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 8 in the final USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll just a year ago. Leading into the 2008-09 season, the Aggies earned a program-best No. 4 preseason national ranking by Athlon Sports which bettered the previous schoolrecord preseason ranking of No. 4 by SLAM Magazine in 2007-08. A&M returns All-American and National Player of the Year candidates Takia Starks and Danielle Gant as well as McDonald’s High School All-American Tyra White.
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A dream came true for Texas A&M women’s basketball star Takia Starks as she was featured in a spread in the December 2007 issue of SLAM Magazine which was available on news stands across the country. The cousin of former NBA star John Starks who played for the New York Knicks from 1990-98, the younger Starks appeared on pages 13 and 44 in the publication. The Aggies gain national and local exposure throughout the basketball season and have appeared in USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times and ESPN.com.
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Morenike Atunrase - San Antonio Silver Stars
A’Quonesia Franklin - Sacramento Monarchs
For the first time in school history, two Texas A&M women’s basketball players were selected in the 2008 WNBA Draft. Morenike Atunrase was picked 24th overall by the league’s newest expansion team, the Atlanta Dream, in the second round, but was later traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars. A’Quonesia Franklin was later selected 38th overall by the 2005 WNBA champion Sacramento Monarchs in the third round. It marked the first time that an A&M player was drafted into the WNBA since 2004. Atunrase and Franklin become only the third-and fourth-ever Aggie draft picks next to former player Jaynetta Saunders (1999-01) who was selected 27th overall by the Cleveland Rockers in the second round of the 2001 WNBA Draft and former player Toccara Williams (2000-04) who was selected 34th overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the third round of the 2004 WNBA Draft.
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“Coach Blair was always challenging me past my perceived limits throughout my college career. Working hard, being at my best and leading, were the standards he set for me everyday. This has helped me in my professional career because everyday brings a new challenge, which because of the foundation Coach Blair and Texas A&M gave me, I am more readily equipped to handle. Most importantly, he has helped me create a work ethic for myself which is a must at the professional level.” - WNBA Rookie A’Quonesia Franklin
Kelly Krauskopf - Chief Operating Officer/ General Manager - Indiana Fever
Toccara Williams - San Antonio Silver Stars
Jaynetta Saunders - Phoenix Mercury
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On Location: Celebration Banquet, The Zone Club at Kyle Field, Texas A&M University, 4/17/08
D! E INVITE YOU AR 8 4. 1 7. 2 0 0 T BANQUE BRATION FIELD &M CELE A E L S Y A K X E T E CLUB THE ZON ARD TARKS MVP AW TAKIA S NKLIN & A R F A I S E A‘QUON RD GIE AWA MISS AG RASE KE ATUN MORENI WARD FENSE A MISS DE ANT G E L L E I DAN WARD FENSE A MISS OF TARKS S A I K A T ARD STLE AW MISS HU E GANT DANIELL AWARD HE YEAR ER OF T N O S L O NEWCOM C SYDNEY D N AWAR 6TH MA RASE KE ATUN MORENI AWARD PROVED MOST IM ADO E R E C I PATR D C AWAR CADEMI TEAM A BAHA M I L A N I KATR D R AWAR THE YEA FANS OF RIFFITH G A R D N SA JERRY &
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The Texas A&M women’s basketball team celebrated its record-setting 2007-08 campaign in style with its annual awards banquet held on April 17, 2008, at The Zone Club at Kyle Field. A’Quonesia Franklin and Takia Starks capped off the night by sharing the team’s MVP award. Both were named Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention and NCAA Oklahoma City Regional All-Tournament Team selections after leading the Aggies to their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance and postseason Big 12 Conference Championship title. Meanwhile, Danielle Gant earned a pair of honors including the team’s Miss Hustle Award and Miss Defense Award. Seniors Morenike Atunrase, Franklin, LaToya Gulley, Katy Pounds and Patrice Reado were also honored for their contributions to the women’s basketball program during their memorable four-year careers at A&M. The five-member senior class was instrumental in the program’s three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, two Big 12 Conference Championships and 93 victories over the last four years, the most of any senior class in program history.
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On Location: Family Night, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/19/08
Sydney Colson’s Family Takia Starks’ Family
Kiley Finstad’s Family
La Toya Mi cheaux’s
Maryann Baker’s Family
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Fa mily
Danielle Gant’s Family
On Location: Football Weekend Tailgate, Spence Park, Texas A&M University
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“Our living community gives us a feeling of comfort, especially as freshmen living away from home for the very first time. With all of the amenities you could ever need on-site and a friendly staff, Callaway Villas allows for a seamless transition for any first-year student at Texas A&M.� - Freshman Sydney Carter
On Location: Our Living Room, Callaway Villas, College Station, Texas
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Basketball Courts
Callaway Villas is a home away from home for Texas A&M students looking for luxury in off-campus student living. With townhome-style villas, the housing complex offers extensive resort-style amenities including a full on-site gym, a 16,000 square foot clubhouse, a cardio room with ellipticals, treadmills and bikes, basketball and sand volleyball courts, tanning rooms, a theater room, a game room with billiards, foosball and shuffleboard, and a computer and business center with high-speed Internet access which is just mere minutes from campus.
Foosball Tables
Hot Tub
TV Lounge
Theater Room
Lobby
Cardio Room
Recreation Room
Pool
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Event: Maroon Madness, Reed Arena, 10/12/07
The Texas A&M men’s and women’s basketball teams opened their first official day of practice with hip-hop recording artist Soulja Boy starring as the guest performer at Maroon Madness 2007. With admission free to all A&M fans, the event became the hardest ticket to come by in town creating a frenzy in the College Station-Bryan area. Maroon Madness and Reed Arena was definitely the place to be in mid-October. Soulja Boy performed his No. 1 smash single, “Crank That” along with other musical selections prior to both teams’ participation in drills, a two-ball competition and a dunk contest.
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“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have the opportunity to play against the best in the world. Especially, against women we idolized growing up who inspired us to play basketball.� - Senior Danielle Gant
Event: U.S. National Team Exhibition Game, Reed Arena, 11/11/07
Last fall, Texas A&M was among eight top collegiate programs selected to play the U.S. Senior National Team in its coast-to-coast college tour in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Aggie defense allowed only 33 first-half points and forced Team USA to commit 21 turnovers before a school-record exhibition crowd of 3,751 at Reed Arena. Prior to tipoff, the Aggie players were presented with their 2007 Big 12 Conference Championship rings by members of the U.S. squad including four-time Olympic Gold medalist Lisa Leslie and WNBA stars Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Swin Cash and Seimone Augustus.
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“Aggie Ring Day is a special day because it’s a chance for our players to take pride and ownership in their university and to know it’s quite an accomplishment for what they have achieved.” - Texas A&M Associate Head Coach Vic Schaefer ’84
On Location: President’s Residence, Texas A&M University
Texas A&M is renowned for its many traditions, none more visible than the distinguished Aggie Ring, recognized worldwide as the symbol of the Aggie Network. Each Aggie Ring symbolizes bold achievement and the owners’ commitment, dedication and loyalty to the university. Aggie Rings have the same design except that of the class year and are earned after completing 95 credit hours of coursework.
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On Location: Coach Shelby Metcalf Plaza, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University
“I was blessed with the opportunity to play for Texas A&M while transforming the program from nothing into something. My experiences both on-and-off the court have taught me a lot about life in general and how to grow up in the toughest of situations. Signing a scholarship to play basketball here in Aggieland was a life-changing decision as well as an honor.” - Former Player Katy Pounds ’08
An Aggie degree carries a lot of weight with future employers. With over 280,000 former students, Texas A&M University has one of the largest and most active alumni groups in America. Many Aggies have attained local, national and international prominence in their respective fields as the university offers degrees in over 150 courses of study through 10 colleges and 18 research institutes. In the Gary Blair Era, Texas A&M women’s basketball student-athletes have gone on to graduate in an impressive three and a half years with the opportunity to attend graduate school prior to completing their athletic eligibility.
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“On my recruiting visit, I was very impressed with the outstanding resources available for both academics and athletics at Texas A&M. Not many universities in the country can offer both.” - Freshman Adaora Elonu
Academic Building
Jack E. Brown Engineering Building
From world-class research, residential and recreational facilities to a broad range of academic and extracurricular programs, Texas A&M University offers myriad opportunities for intellectual and personal development in an environment that fosters achievement at the highest level. Texas A&M is ranked first in the nation by The Washington Monthly and third by U.S. World News & World Report in best values among public universities. Since its 1876 dedication as the state’s first public institute of higher learning, A&M has grown into a leader in teaching, research and service, with an international reputation for excellence in academics and athletics.
Sul Ross Statue, Academic Plaza
Fish Pond
Jack K. Williams Administration Building Memorial Student Center (MSC) Flagroom
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Albritton Bell Tower
“You can point to Dr. Murano in the stands and tell your young ladies not to shorten their dreams. She’s a wonderful role model.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Dr. Elsa A. Murano is the 23rd President of Texas A&M University. An avid sports fan, she and her husband, Peter, can be seen cheering in the stands at numerous Aggie women’s basketball games throughout the season. Taking office on Jan. 3, 2008, she is the first woman and first Hispanic-American to lead the oldest public institution of higher learning in Texas—now one of the largest teaching and research universities in the nation. Dr. Murano is also the only female and only minority president in the Big 12 Conference.
On Location: Office of the President, Rudder Tower, Texas A&M University
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“Give me an army of West Point graduates, I’ll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I’ll win a war.” - General George S. Patton, Jr.
The 2008-09 Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Leadership Council is comprised of sophomore Maryann Baker, senior Takia Starks, senior La Toya Micheaux, junior Damitria Buchanan, senior Danielle Gant and sophomore Sydney Colson. Voted on by their fellow teammates prior to the season, the Leadership Council consists of players who serve in an advisory role. On Location: Gruy Fountain, Jon L. Hagler Center, Texas A&M University
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BILL BYRNE LEADERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS
12
Texas A&M’s finish in the 2007-08 U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup, the highest finish in school history.
8
A school-record number of Big 12 Conference titles won by A&M in the 2007-08 season. The Aggies lead the league in championships now in back-to-back years.
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The number of Big 12 Conference Championships won by A&M in 2006-07, the previous record.
10.5
The Aggies’ final point total in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown trophy race with archrival Texas in 2007-08. It marked A&M’s first-ever overall victory in the four-year history of the rivalry series.
“The 2007-08 season was a tremendous year for Texas A&M Athletics. I’m extremely proud of the way our teams competed in the Big 12 and nationally. We enjoyed our success but we are far from satisfied. We will continue to work diligently to climb higher in the standings and to achieve our ultimate goal of winning national championships.” - Texas A&M Director of Athletics Bill Byrne
Success is at an all-time high at Texas A&M University as the women’s basketball team was one of seven varsity athletic teams to bring home a Big 12 Conference Championship title during the historic 2007-08 season. In fact, 19 of the 20 sports teams on campus reached postseason competition including the Aggies’ Elite Eight run in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship and the softball team’s appearance in the Women’s College World Series Championship Game.
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Nothing defines a city better than its people. College Station, home to over 67,000 residents, is the largest city in the metropolitan area (pop. 152,000), and is home to Texas A&M University, the third-largest public university in the nation. A Big 12 Conference school and a major research institution, Texas A&M brings diversity of race, culture and nationality to College Station, and reflects much of the vibrancy, tradition and spirit that make it a special place. College Station is in the “heart� of central Texas. Only 100 miles from Houston and Austin and 160 miles from Dallas and San Antonio, College Station is within four hours driving time of more than 14 million people.
On Location: University Drive Restaurant Row, College Station, Texas
Northgate
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Shopping
School Spirit
Research Park
Wolf Pen Creek
“The outpour of support from the College Station and Bryan communities really boosted our team morale leading into the NCAA Tournament.” - Former Player A’Quonesia Franklin
The Texas A&M women’s basketball team was recognized by the Twin Cities of College Station and Bryan for advancing to the Elite Eight in 2008. College Station Mayor Ben White first presented the team with ceremonious boxing gloves to wish them well prior to the NCAA Tournament as did Bryan Mayor D. Mark Conlee. The Aggies and head coach Gary Blair were later presented with a “Key to the City” at a Starlight Music Series concert in recognition of their outstanding season.
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The $36.4 million Student Recreation Center at Texas A&M is a premier facility among university recreation and fitness complexes. With more than 400,000 square feet of recreation space, there is something for everyone at “The Rec.� The facility houses exercise equipment, athletic courts, an indoor running track, a rock-climbing tower, massage therapy and one of the top competitive pools and diving wells in America. The Rec Center also organizes intramural sports throughout the year and offers personal training and aerobic classes.
Indoor Convenience
Cardio Training
Specialty Classes Outdoor Basketball Courts
Push The Limits
Cain Outdoor Pool
Beach Volleyball Courts
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For more information, please contact the Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Office at: (979) 458-0644 or wbbcamp@athletics.tamu.edu Coach Blair and his staff are proud to offer the Aggie Basketball experience to young players through the Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Camps. Blair invites you to spend part of the summer at camp. Texas A&M will offer residential sessions on the College Station campus in the summer of 2009. Sessions will be held in June and will cover all aspects of the game. Specialty camps include an individual camp, position camp, an elite camp and a team camp. Campers will be instructed by some of the nation’s top high school coaches in fundamentals, shooting and individual position work.
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ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
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NUMERICAL ROSTER
No. Name
Pos. Ht.
Year-Exp.
Hometown (Previous School)
No. Name
Pos. Ht.
Year-Exp.
Hometown (Previous School)
40
Kelsey Assarian
F
6-1
Fr.-HS
Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier HS)
1
Kiley Finstad
G
5-9
Sr.-1L
Cranfills Gap, Texas (Meridian HS)
15
Maryann Baker
G
5-10
So.-1L
Dallas, Texas (Bishop Lynch HS)
2
Damitria Buchanan
F
6-2
Jr.-2L
Houston, Texas (Jones HS)
2
Damitria Buchanan
F
6-2
Jr.-2L
Houston, Texas (Jones HS)
3
Takia Starks
G
5-8
Sr.-3L
Houston, Texas (Westfield HS)
4
Sydney Carter
G
5-6
Fr.-HS
DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto HS)
4
Sydney Carter
G
5-6
Fr.-HS
DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto HS)
25
Skylar Collins
G
5-9
Fr.-HS
Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill HS)
12
La Toya Micheaux
C
6-3
Sr.-3L
Missouri City, Texas (Hightower HS)
51
Sydney Colson
G
5-8
So.-1L
Houston, Texas (Westside HS)
15
Maryann Baker
G
5-10
So.-1L
Dallas, Texas (Bishop Lynch HS)
21
Adaora Elonu
F
6-1
Fr.-HS
Houston, Texas (Alief Elsik HS)
20
Tyra White
G
6-0
Fr.-RS
Kansas City, Mo. (Hickman Mills HS)
1
Kiley Finstad
G
5-9
Sr.-1L
Cranfills Gap, Texas (Meridian HS)
21
Adaora Elonu
F
6-1
Fr.-HS
Houston, Texas (Alief Elsik HS)
55
Danielle Gant
G/F
5-11
Sr.-3L
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City West HS)
22
Tanisha Smith
G/F
6-0
Jr.-TR
Kansas City, Mo. (Lincoln Prep/UA-Fort Smith)
23
Taniqua Hollis
G
5-6
Fr.-HS
Anton, Texas (Anton HS)
23
Taniqua Hollis
G
5-6
Fr.-HS
Anton, Texas (Anton HS)
44
Katrina Limbaha
F
6-3
Jr.-2L
Riga, Latvia (Fort Worth Lake Country Christian HS)
25
Skylar Collins
G
5-9
Fr.-HS
Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill HS)
12
La Toya Micheaux
C
6-3
Sr.-3L
Missouri City, Texas (Hightower HS)
40
Kelsey Assarian
F
6-1
Fr.-HS
Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier HS)
22
Tanisha Smith
G/F
6-0
Jr.-TR
Kansas City, Mo. (Lincoln Prep/UA-Fort Smith)
44
Katrina Limbaha
F
6-3
Jr.-2L
Riga, Latvia (Fort Worth Lake Country Christian HS)
3
Takia Starks
G
5-8
Sr.-3L
Houston, Texas (Westfield HS)
51
Sydney Colson
G
5-8
So.-1L
Houston, Texas (Westside HS)
20
Tyra White
G
6-0
Fr.-RS
Kansas City, Mo. (Hickman Mills HS)
55
Danielle Gant
G/F
5-11
Sr.-3L
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City West HS)
COACHING STAFF
SUPPORT STAFF
Head Coach: Gary Blair (Texas Tech ‘72 and ‘74) - Sixth Season
Director of Basketball Operations: Erich Birch (Texas A&M ’02) - Seventh Season
Associate Head Coach: Vic Schaefer (Texas A&M ’84) - Sixth Season
Video Coordinator: Charlee Simmons (SMU ’05) - Fourth Season
Associate Head Coach: Kelly Bond (Illinois ’98) - Sixth Season
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Jennifer Jones (Michigan State ’95) - Fifth Season
Assistant Coach: Johnnie Harris (Arkansas Baptist ’96) - Second Season
Athletic Trainer: Mike “Radar” Ricke (Texas A&M ’82) - 26th Season
Texas A&M’s Senior Class of ’09 (from L-R): Danielle Gant (Oklahoma City, OK), former walk-on Kiley Finstad (Cranfills Gap, TX), Takia Starks (Houston, TX) and La Toya Micheaux (Missouri City, Texas) has been instrumental in the program’s rapid turnaround including three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament and back-to-back Big 12 Conference titles in 2007 and 2008.
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impossible is nothing.
Senior, 5-11, Guard/Forward, Oklahoma City, Okla.
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The Gant File Jersey Number: No. 55 Nickname: D.G. Birthday: March 6 Major: Leadership Previous School: Putnam City West HS
“Danielle Gant has the perfect body and skills to play in the WNBA someday. It is awfully hard to score against somebody as physical as she is. Is there a better 5-10 player in the Big 12 Conference than Gant? I don’t think so. No one plays the game as hard as she does on both ends of the court. She made the All-Big 12 Defensive Team twice, because she always guards the other team’s best three or four players. She is the most unselfish star that I’ve ever coached. She passes up shots to setup her teammates, because she will only take good shots. That’s why her shot selection and her shooting percentages are always so high. She also takes the ball to the hole and is by far the best finisher we have on our team.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DANIELLE GANT
What is your favorite form of communication? What was your favorite moment of the 2007-08 season?
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
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Text Messages Winning the Big 12 Tourney After A Bad Start and Giving Tennessee A Run For Their Money In The Elite 8
Where and what do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
Having A Good Career and Working With Kids
What is your goal for the upcoming season?
I Want To Win It All This Year!
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Kanye West, Chris Brown, Ciara
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
The last thing I do before I go to bed at night is …
I Brush My Teeth and Call My Mom
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Kobe Bryant
What is something that makes you cringe?
Snakes
How do you like your eggs cooked?
Over Medium
Is there anything you cannot say “no” to?
Shopping For Shoes
What is your favorite place to eat in College Station?
Texas Roadhouse For The Fried Fish
On Location: Rudder Fountain Plaza, Texas A&M University
Senior Danielle Gant owns several communication gadgets to keep in touch with her family back home in Oklahoma, her friends, her teammates and her coaches. You can always find her talking or texting on her cell phone during a break between classes, at lunch or after practice on campus. She mainly likes texting, because it is the easiest and fastest way to get and keep in touch with people.
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92
impossible is nothing.
Senior, 6-3, Center, Missouri City, Texas
The Micheaux File Jersey Number: No. 12 Nicknames: Micheaux, Miss “Mean� Birthday: August 31 Major: Sport Management Graduate Major: Education & Human Resource Development Previous School: Hightower HS
“Scoring is only one part of the ball game and Micheaux does the job that a lot of kids do not like to do. She is very physical and doesn’t back down to great post players she has faced. She accepts her role at the five position as a challenge. She was a member of the Big 12 All-Defensive Team as a sophomore and can be a great defender. She is also a very good offensive player. A lot of our offense goes through her, because of the screens she sets on the pick and rolls. This will be a huge senior year for her. When her offense comes together, she will have the opportunity to become a professional basketball player like her father and her teammates.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT LA TOYA MICHEAUX
On Location: Maroon & White Garden, The Holistic Garden, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
The World’s Greatest by R. Kelly
What makes you unique?
My Eyes
What celebrity do people say you resemble?
Tyra Banks
Name one place on Earth you’ve never been, but vow to visit?
Africa, To Run With The Lions
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
R. Kelly, Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
MTV’s The Real World
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Track & Field
If tomorrow’s headline was about you, what would it say?
She’s Back!
What do you like to collect?
Chanel Products
What did you dream you’d be when you were growing up?
A Doctor
What is your favorite place to eat in College Station?
Crazy Cajun For All Of Their Food!
On Location: Glen Johnson Studio, Bryan, Texas
Senior La Toya Micheaux describes herself as a glamour girl and would like to follow in the footsteps of WNBA star Lisa Leslie by balancing a professional basketball and professional modeling career in the near future. She likes being cute and staying on top of all of the latest trends. Her favorite shopping haunts include Coach, the Buckle, Nordstrom and Bebe.
95
impossible is nothing.
Senior, 5-8, Guard, Houston, Texas
The Starks File Jersey Number: No. 3 Nickname: T-Kay Birthday: January 16 Major: Leadership Previous School: Westfield HS
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“There are not too many shooting guards in the country who can do what T-Kay can. She creates her own shot and creates shots for her teammates with her penetration. She is a shooter who never worries about her last miss, but thinks about her next make. That’s what separates her from everyone else – she is not afraid to take the shot at the end of the game. She wants the ball in her hands. She wants that decision and, to me, that is what separates the Kobe Bryant’s and the Diana Taurasi’s of the world. When T-Kay gets on fire, nobody can stop her. This is an important year for her, not just for individual awards, but to cement herself as a top WNBA draft choice. She is definitely a next level player.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TAKIA STARKS
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
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What do you have the most compassion for?
I Love Animals!
What celebrity do people say you resemble?
WNBA Player Betty Lennox
What did you do over the summer months?
Worked Out, Bought A New Car, Visited Family and Trained My Dogs
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Plies, T.I., Lil’ Wayne
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Swimming (Whenever I Learn How To)
If tomorrow’s headline was about you, what would it say?
Future All-American for 2008-09!
What would the message of your ideal fortune cookie say?
Don’t Try To Be Anyone But Yourself
What is your goal for the season?
The Final Four!
When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Going To The Doctor and Getting A Shot
What is your favorite place to eat in College Station?
Rudy’s Bar-B-Q For The Chip Beef Sandwich
How do you like your eggs cooked?
Scrambled With Ketchup
Inspired by MTV’s Pimp My Ride, senior Takia Starks enjoys the beauty and luxury of tricked out cars such as a 20-inch chrome-rimmed black Cadillac Escalade and her father Vernon’s hooked up black Chrysler 300 topped with a Bentleystyle grill. Starks can been seen driving around town in her new silver Dodge Charger which she calls her pride and joy. On Location: Reed Arena Lot 100E, Texas A&M University
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impossible is nothing.
Senior, 5-9, Guard, Cranfills Gap, Texas
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The Finstad File Jersey Number: No. 1 Nickname: Ki Birthday: October 26 Major: Exercise Science Previous School: Meridian HS
“Kiley is a former member of our men’s practice team. She was the only woman on that team and I could see that she was a chemistry player and someone who understood their role. She is a player who all of our kids pull for and bond with very well. Kiley understands what a teammate is all about and that’s what you want out of a walk-on. She might not be able to get as many minutes on the court as her teammates, but she can sure get those minutes during practice, which is something that our fans never get to see. She is a good role player for us and one of the better walk-ons in our league.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA First Round, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La., 3/22/08
101
12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT KILEY FINSTAD
On Location: Barham Heritage Garden, The Holistic Garden, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
It Would Be A Sad Day If I Was On American Idol Because I Cannot Carry A Tune To Save My Life. My Friends Tell Me I’m Tone Deaf!
What makes you unique?
I Have A Tattoo On My Tooth
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Zack Morris From Saved By the Bell
What movie do you pretty much know every line to?
Juno - “This Is One Doodle That Can’t Get Undid, Homeskillet”
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Coldplay, Elton John, Beyoncé
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
I Like Both
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
The Bachelorette
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
The Heptathlon
When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Watching Michael Phelps Swim His Last Race Of The Olympics
What do you like to collect?
Foreign Money
What is one new thing you would like to learn or do this year?
Learn To Play Golf
What video game character is most like you?
My Mii On Wii Is Most Like Me
On Location: Research Park Bridge, Texas A&M University
Senior Kiley Finstad enjoys traveling to new places and cooking up new and unique recipes. This past summer, her travels included trips to Alaska and Las Vegas. She hopes to someday visit the Greek Islands. A big fan of the outdoors, she also loves to bike, wakeboard and ride her quarter horses on her family ranch in her spare time.
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Four years ago, head coach Gary Blair and his staff signed a key recruiting class that shared in their vision of rebuilding Aggie Basketball into a national power. That highly-touted group included Takia Starks, 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year from the state of Texas, the No. 68 overall prospect in the country in La Toya Micheaux and Danielle Gant, 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year from the state of Oklahoma. This year’s senior class is on course to continue to rewrite the record books and leave their mark as one of the greatest classes in school history.
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Texas A&M’s Junior Class consists of two of the tallest players on the team (from L-R): 6-foot-3 Katrina Limbaha (Riga, Latvia) and 6-foot-2 Damitria Buchanan (Houston, TX) who are among seven Aggies over six-feet tall this season.
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impossible is nothing.
Junior, 6-2, Forward, Houston, Texas
The Buchanan File Jersey Number: No. 2 Nickname: D Birthday: July 9 Major: Psychology Previous School: Jones HS
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“Damitria played very well for us in the Elite Eight game against Tennessee. Hopefully, she can use that breakout in the NCAA Tournament as a building block this season. She is a high-energy player and knows our offense. With her quickness, she can become a better offensive rebounder. She is ready to take on a leadership role, because she makes good decisions and people listen to her when she speaks. I want her to be in the same front seat as Micheaux and realize that she’s a good basketball player. There is nothing wrong with having a pair of post players who are as talented as the two that we have in Damitria and Micheaux.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA First Round, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La., 3/22/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DAMITRIA BUCHANAN
On Location: Barham Heritage Garden, The Holistic Garden, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Say My Name By Destiny’s Child or No One By Alicia Keys
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
BET’s Baldwin Hills
Which of the five senses is most important to you?
Taste Because I Love To Eat!
If tomorrow’s headline was about you, what would it say?
Damitria Buchanan, New and Improved
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Lil’ Wayne, Ciara, Kanye West
What is your ringtone?
I Need You Bad By Jazmine Sullivan
Who was your teen crush growing up?
NBA Player Steve Francis
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Synchronized Swimming (When I Learn How To Swim)
What inspires you?
God and His Power
Is there anything you cannot say “no” to?
Ice Cream and Money
What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
Being A High-Profile Psychologist
What are some of your goals for the upcoming season?
To Become More Versatile and Become A Better Shooter and Scorer
On Location: Historic Downtown, Bryan, Texas
Junior Damitria Buchanan can never turn down a shopping spree and always enjoys trips to the Galleria Mall in her hometown of Houston which is less than an hour and a half away. One of her all-time favorite stores is the Buckle. Damitria says she really doesn’t have a defined style. She likes anything that is cute and she’s always looking for the right accessories to go with that perfect outfit.
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impossible is nothing.
Junior, 6-3, Forward, Riga, Latvia
The Limbaha File Jersey Number: No. 44 Nicknames: Kat, KT Birthday: January 19 Major: International Business Previous School: Fort Worth Lake Country Christian HS
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“Katrina spent the whole summer working out and improving her game back home in Latvia. She likes everything about being an Aggie and has the highest grade-point average on our basketball team. She is doing a lot of things for us, but I’m interested in her being the best four or five player on our team. She has everything that you would want in a basketball player physically. If she can combine the mental aspect with the physical aspect, Katrina can be a real contributor for us this season.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Big 12 Quarterfinals, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/12/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT KATRINA LIMBAHA
On Location: Academic Building, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
The Blower’s Daughter By Damien Rice
What makes you unique?
I’m European and Can Speak Three Different Languages
What is something that makes you cringe?
Spiders and Snakes
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Damien Rice, Madonna, Justin Timberlake
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Leonardo DiCaprio
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Volleyball
Is there anything you cannot say “no” to?
Chocolate Cake
What do you like to collect?
Postcards From All Over The World That Friends and Family Send To Me
What is one thing you never leave your apartment without?
My Cell Phone and Credit Card
What is one new thing you would like to learn or do this year?
Learn To Speak Spanish
On Location: Poolside, Callaway Villas, College Station, Texas
Junior Katrina Limbaha enjoys hanging out poolside during her spare time just for the simple pleasure of being outside, getting a tan, hanging out with friends and taking a nice swim. Since it is so hot in Texas during the summer months, it is one of the greatest places to be. You can just jump in the pool to cool off and feel good!
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Texas A&M is known for its guard play as former point guard and two-time Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention A’Quonesia Franklin passes on the torch to sophomore point guard Sydney Colson. Franklin ended her remarkable four-year career ranked 12th all-time in career scoring (1,115), third all-time in career assists (627) and second all-time in career three-pointers made (157). She is also one of three all-time A&M players to record fourstraight 100+ assist seasons. The 5-foot-3 Franklin led the Big 12 Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio all four years.
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Texas A&M’s returning corps boasts three of the top prospects in the Class of 2007 (from L-R): Sophomore Maryann Baker (Dallas, TX), redshirt freshman and former McDonald’s High School All-American Tyra White (Kansas City, MO) and sophomore Sydney Colson (Houston, TX).
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impossible is nothing.
Sophomore, 5-10, Guard, Dallas, Texas
The Baker File Jersey Number: No. 15 Nicknames: Mary, Big Hands Birthday: December 26 Major: Sport Management Previous School: Bishop Lynch HS
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“We recruited Maryann because she is like a glue stopper. She can fix whatever is broken on a basketball team. She has the perfect attitude and can do whatever you need. She accepts her role well and is now healthy enough to be a starter or a sixth man for us. Maryann is physical, can take the ball to the hole, make plays, take charges and do a lot of the things for our team. This year, I want her to be able to see what she can do. We need someone who is able to make plays and prevent plays from being made against our team. That is the role we see Maryann doing for us this season if she can remain healthy.� - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Stephen F. Austin Game, Reed Arena, College Station, Texas, 1/3/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MARYANN BAKER
On Location: Jack E. Brown Chemical Engineering Building, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
I Believe I Can Fly From Space Jam
Name one place on Earth you’ve never been, but vow to visit?
Galápagos Island
When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Right Before The Blair Mile
Where and what do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
Hopefully, Living In California or Dallas With A Well-Paying Job
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Coldplay, Jason Mraz, Mika
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
The Amazing Race
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Decathlon
What inspires you?
Getting Better Everyday
What do you like to collect?
I’m A Clothes Horse
What is your favorite place to eat in College Station?
Jamba Juice For The Strawberry Nirvana Smoothie
How do you like your eggs cooked?
Sunny Side Up
On Location: My Bedroom, 8:30 a.m., Callaway Villas, College Station, Texas
Sophomore Maryann Baker’s perfect day would consist of lots of sleep on a rainy day. This bed head loves to take naps whenever she gets a chance. It doesn’t matter where she’s at, she could sleep anywhere as long as she has a pillow and blanket nearby. It helps her stay refreshed.
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impossible is nothing. Sophomore, 5-8, Guard, Houston Texas
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The Colson File Jersey Number: No. 51 Nickname: Syd Birthday: August 6 Major: General Studies Previous School: Westside HS
“Sydney had the unfortunate injury to her ACL this summer while playing pick-up basketball. If there was one player we couldn’t afford to lose, it was Sydney Colson. She was the heir apparent all last year to A’Quonesia Franklin. She has tremendous vision and can create space. She has a chance to be one of the best point guards to ever play at Texas A&M. When she comes back healthy, Sydney will make our team run more than it has ever run before. That is the style we brought her in for. She just accelerates our team and enjoys the pass as much as the shot. She exudes confidence and brings so much to our team with her passion and enthusiasm.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA First Round, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La., 3/22/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SYDNEY COLSON
On Location: Academic Building, Texas A&M University
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What is one thing you never leave your apartment without?
My Cell Phone and My Underwear
What makes you unique?
I’m Just A Bubbly Person With A Kind Heart and Soul. It Takes A Lot To Bring Me Down.
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
Captain Planet, Because He Is My Hero and He Is Going To Take Pollution To Zero!
What was your favorite moment of the 2007-08 season?
Winning The Big 12 Tournament and Beating Duke and Going To The Elite Eight!!
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Destiny’s Child, Nas, Jaheim
What is your ringtone?
Look Back At Me By Trina
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Penny Hardaway
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Table Tennis or Power/Speed Walking
What would your perfect day consist of?
Sleeping and Watching A Law and Order Marathon (Or Will & Grace Marathon)!
What do you like to collect?
Love
What video game character is most like you?
Suzie From The Rugrats Video Game!
What inspires you?
My Family. They Are My Life.
On Location: My Bedroom, Callaway Villas, College Station, Texas
Sophomore Sydney Colson loves music and listens to just about everything under the sun. Her eclectic arrangement of songs in her iPod range from musical stylings across all genres including Rap, R&B, Soft Rock, Pop and even some Country.
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“Tyra is a tremendous talent who has been through a lot over the last 12 months. She spent the whole year learning from the sidelines and rehabbing from her ACL injury. If there was anyone who needed a redshirt year, it was Tyra. She was able to use that time to mature and adjust to college life away from home. The best thing for us is that she’s a freshman all over again. How many people can say they have a McDonald’s High School AllAmerican behind Starks and Gant? That’s a pretty good lineup and we have her for four more years. She is getting better everyday in practice and the sky’s the limit for her.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Redshirt Freshman, 6-0, Guard, Kansas City, Mo.
impossible is nothing.
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The White File Jersey Number: No. 20 Nickname: T.T. Birthday: March 23 Major: Leadership Previous School: Hickman Mills HS
12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TYRA WHITE
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
What movie do you know pretty much every line to?
Above The Rim
What celebrity do people say you resemble?
Tyra Banks (For The Eyes)
When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Before My First College Basketball Game Last Season
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Keisha Cole, Rihanna, Plies
What is your ringtone?
Got ‘em Hating On Me By Plies
What are some of your goals for the upcoming season?
Big 12 Freshman Of The Year (again) and A National Championship
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Hurdles
Where and what do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
Playing In The WNBA and Having My Own Business
What is something that makes you cringe?
Spiders
What is one new thing you would like to learn or do this year?
Defense
What is your favorite place to eat in College Station?
Jack-In-The-Box For The Egg Rolls
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On Location: My Closet, Callaway Villas, College Station, Texas
Redshirt freshman Tyra White enjoys ordering her massive sneaker collection from www.sneakerhead.com. All of her shoes range in an assortment of colors. Her favorite Air Force Ones are in black and yellow, because they match her favorite LRG shirt, which is her favorite clothing line inspired by her brother growing up in Kansas City. She enjoys collecting all different colors of shoes, because if she sees a pair she likes, she knows she can always find a shirt that will go along with them no matter what.
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Texas A&M put together a very talented 2008-09 signing class which ranked 12th nationally by the All-Star Girls Basketball Report (clockwise from L-R): freshman Sydney Carter (DeSoto, TX), freshman Skylar Collins (Cedar Hill, TX), Kelsey Assarian (Naples, FL), Adaora Elonu (Houston, TX), Taniqua Hollis (Anton, TX) and junior college All-American Tanisha Smith (Kansas City, MO).
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“Kelsey is the hardest-working high school post player that I’ve seen in a long time. She goes through walls, plays the game extremely hard and takes no prisoners. This is a kid who always wanted to be an Aggie. She was the player of the year in Florida and won two of the last four state championships, so she knows how to win. Kelsey is going to be a very good player in our system and a great rebounder for us.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Freshman, 6-1, Forward, Naples, Fla.
The Assarian File Jersey Number: No. 40 Nicknames: Special K, Kels Birthday: October 2 Major: Biomedical Sciences Previous School: Barron Collier HS
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT KELSEY ASSARIAN
On Location: Vice President’s Residence, Texas A&M University
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What do you want to know about the future?
What Can I Invest In That Will Be Successful?
What makes you unique?
I’m Left Handed
What celebrity do people say you resemble?
WNBA Star Diana Taurasi
What would the message on your ideal fortune cookie say?
“You Will Be Extremely Successful In Life, Starting Now.”
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Lil’ Wayne, Justin Timberlake, Coldplay
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
What video game character is most like you?
Yoshi From Mario Cart
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Gymnastics
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
America’s Best Dance Crew
Is there anything you cannot say “no” to?
Cookie Cake
When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Florida High School State Finals
What inspires you?
Making An Inpact On Someone’s Life
On Location: Research Park, Texas A&M University
Freshman Kelsey Assarian enjoys going fishing just about anywhere there is water and fish in nearby lakes, ponds and the ocean. She doesn’t really have a specific kind of fish that she likes to catch, but when her family lived in Florida, they caught snook, tarpon and even small sharks. In fresh water, she and her father, Allen, like to fish for bass and redfish. She says her dad may have preferences on what fish to catch, but she really doesn’t care as long as the fish are biting and she’s spending quality time with her family.
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Freshman, 5-6, Guard, DeSoto, Texas
“Sydney played for a great high school team in DeSoto which finished second in state this past year. She played mostly at the two-guard, because her team had a small guard similar to Aqua at the one. We had the opportunity to watch her play the point guard position in summer and fall ball and we knew that’s what we recruited her for. Right now, we need her at the point guard position and she is going to be a good leader on our basketball team. Sydney is a top-notch student and I like kids who come from good high school programs. She knows what work is all about and was coached by a former A&M student in AAU ball. It is always good to hear people talk about kids that they believe in, especially Aggies.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
impossible is nothing.
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The Carter File Jersey Number: No. 4 Nicknames: Squeak, Mini Me Birthday: November 18 Major: General Studies Previous School: DeSoto HS
12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SYDNEY CARTER
On Location: Century Tree, Texas A&M University
If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Me, Myself and I By Beyoncé
What makes you unique?
My Bubbly Personality
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
America’s Next Top Model
What would the message on your ideal fortune cookie say?
“If You’ve Made It This Far, Don’t Let Your Struggles Allow You To Give Up. You Have Potential.”
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Beyoncé, Lil’ Wayne, Mariah Carey
What video game character is most like you?
Princess Peach From Super Mario Bros.
If tomorrow’s headline was about you, what would it say?
Freshman Shows Lots Of Confidence
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Beach Volleyball
What do you want to know about the future?
Will there be flying cars?
What would your perfect day consist of?
A Shopping Spree
What is your favorite Aggie Tradition?
Saying Howdy!
What is one new thing you would like to learn or do this year?
To Learn Leadership Skills
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On Location: My Bedroom, Callaway Villas, College Station, Texas
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Freshman Sydney Carter enjoys playing with her pet turtles Sunny and Honey in her spare time. She once owned a pet snapping turtle when she was a child and ever since then, she’s had a fascination with the friendly reptiles.
impossible is nothing.
“Skylar plays the game extremely hard and she is perfect for our system. She brings a lot of versatility to our team and is a player that opponents won’t want to be guarded by. She will have her hands on you and is always going to be pushing, shoving and taking charges. She can also make life miserable for her opponents on the offensive end. That’s a huge strength. If you can play defense, rebound and keep from turning the ball over, I can always find playing time for you as a freshman. That’s what she’ll do for our team at the two and three position.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Freshman, 5-9, Guard, Cedar Hill, Texas
The Collins File Jersey Number: No. 25 Nickname: Sky Birthday: May 7 Major: General Studies Previous School: Cedar Hill HS
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SKYLAR COLLINS
On Location: Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Hurt By Christina Aguilera
When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
My Last High School Playoff Game
What do you have the most compassion for?
The Homeless
Name one place on Earth you’ve never been, but vow to visit?
Europe
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Aaliyah
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
What is something that makes you cringe?
Small Places, Crowded Places, Nails On A Chalkboard
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
High Jump
What is your goal for the upcoming season?
To Contribute As Much As Possible
What would the message of your ideal fortune cookie say?
“Your Dreams Are Never Out Of Reach.”
If tomorrow’s headline was about you, what would it say?
Just Sky
Is there anything you cannot say “no” to?
Shopping
Freshman Skylar Collins enjoys watching television in her spare time. You can find her watching the Disney Channel just about everyday and she can’t miss an episode of Law and Order SVU. She also enjoys shopping listing PacSun and the Buckle as two of her favorite stores at the mall. On Location: Players Lounge, GPMTC, Texas A&M University
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impossible is nothing.
Freshman, 6-1, Forward, Houston, Texas
“Of our newcomers, Adaora has a chance to make the biggest impact as a freshman because of her scoring ability and her ability to run the floor. She is a very mature freshman and did everything for her high school team at Elsik taking them deep into the playoffs. I am expecting a lot out of her and she expects the same out of herself. She has proved it all summer by what she has done in allstar games and being named MVP in the Texas High School All-Star Game. She will be a strong candidate to start for us during her freshman year and could possibly push for freshman of the year honors in our league.� - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
The Elonu File Jersey Number: No. 21 Nickname: Ada Birthday: April 28 Major: General Studies Previous School: Alief Elsik HS
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ADAORA ELONU
On Location: Jack E. Brown Chemical Engineering Building, Texas A&M University
If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Unfaithful By Rihanna
What inspires you?
Fear Of Failing
What celebrity do people say you resemble?
R&B Singer Kelly Rowland (I Don’t Know Why)
What would the message on your ideal fortune cookie say?
“A Negative Doesn’t Have To Remain A Negative, It’s Your Job To Turn It Into A Positive.”
The last thing I do before I go to bed at night is …
Think About How Long It’s Going To Take Me To Fall Asleep.
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero
Name one place on Earth you’ve never been, but vow to visit?
Nigeria
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Handball
What is your favorite Aggie Tradition?
The Aggie War Hymn
How do you like your eggs cooked?
Scrambled and Well Done
What did you dream you’d be when you were growing up?
A Pediatrician
What makes you unique?
My Culture
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On Location: My Kitchen, Callaway Villas, College Station, Texas
Freshman Adaora Elonu enjoys cooking Nigerian food whenever she gets a chance to treat herself and her roommates with a home-cooked meal. She also likes to solve crossword puzzles and read fiction novels in her spare time listing To Kill a Mockingbird as one of her favorite books of all time.
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impossible is nothing.
Freshman, 5-6, Guard, Anton, Texas
“Taniqua is the wild card of the bunch. We sort of found her through Katy Pounds’ dad and Coach Schaefer kept going back to the Lubbock area to watch her play. When I finally saw her play in the regional tournament, I just fell in love with her game. She reminds me of an Andrea Riley with the same body frame. She can shoot it deep – the whole nine yards. I just like her attitude. She has so much pride and she has really fallen in love with Texas A&M. Taniqua is just a kid that is going to go out there and play. We were lucky to be able to sign her late, especially for a player of her caliber.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
The Hollis File Jersey Number: No. 23 Nickname: T Birthday: April 24 Major: General Studies Previous School: Anton HS
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TANIQUA HOLLIS
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
I Believe by American Idol Season 3 Winner Fantasia
Who is your favorite superhero?
Superman, Because He Can Save The World!
What movie do you know pretty much every line to?
Blade 2 “You want me to hunt them for you?”
What would the message on your ideal fortune cookie say?
“Happiness is near.”
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Ne-Yo, Beyoncé, Lil’ Wayne
What is your ringtone?
Take A Bow By Rihanna
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Bow Wow
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Triple Jump
What is your favorite Aggie Tradition?
Any Aggie Yell
What do you like to collect?
Lucky Pennies
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
To Work Hard and Win A National Championship!
What makes you unique?
My Willingness To Forgive and Forget
On Location: Memorial Student Center Flag Room, Texas A&M University
Freshman Taniqua Hollis enjoys playing the piano in her spare time and will try to play anything she can get her hands on. She really likes tickling the ivories with songs written by Alicia Keys because her music is difficult to learn, but she is always up for the challenge of learning a new piece.
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impossible is nothing.
“Tanisha is going to be an impact player for us. When you lose Morenike Atunrase, how can you replace her? I believe Tanisha can replace the scoring that Morenike gave us. She is long, has a beautiful jump shot, finishes well and can shoot it deep. Coach Harris did a good job of recruiting her. She is another McDonald’s High School All-American who played at the University of Arkansas her first year, needed a change of scenery and went on to star at UA-Fort Smith. She was one of the top junior college players in the country last year and took her team all the way to the NJCAA Final Four. Texas A&M was where she wanted to go, because our style of basketball fit her style of play.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
The Smith File Junior, 6-0, Guard/Forward, Kansas City, Mo.
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Jersey Number: No. 22 Nickname: Tee Birthday: May 11 Major: Leadership Previous School: Lincoln Prep HS/Arkansas-Fort Smith
12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TANISHA SMITH
On Location: Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, Texas A&M University
If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Old McDonald Had A Farm
Who is your favorite superhero?
Batman and His Batmobile
What is your favorite season?
Winter. I Would Rather Be Cold Than Hot
What movie do you know pretty much every line to?
Love & Basketball “Yo, Dad Played For The Worst Team In The NBA, Last Time They Won, Dr. J Was A Nurse!”
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Rihanna, Chris Brown, Ciara
How do you like your eggs cooked?
Boiled
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
BET’s College Hill
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Ping Pong
Which of the five senses is most important to you?
Sight Because There’s A Lot Of Beauty In This World
What is something that makes you cringe?
Ugly Toes
What is your favorite place to eat in College Station?
Buffalo Wild Wings For 20 Hot Wings, Fries and a Lemonade
What inspires you?
My Mother and Her Speeches
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On Location: Absolute Images, Bryan, Texas
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Junior transfer Tanisha Smith enjoys getting her hair done any chance she gets. Her mother, Andrea, or her friend, Marie, usually French braids her hair back home in Kansas City. Sitting and being pampered in the salon chair really helps her to relax and unwind. Plus, the finished product always looks cute and worth the wait.
Longevity has country. Since associate head Johnnie Harris
been the key for the Texas A&M women’s basketball coaching staff in building one of the elite programs in the their days together at Arkansas, Texas A&M associate head coach Vic Schaefer is in his 12th overall year and coach Kelly Bond is in her ninth overall year aiding head coach Gary Blair on the sidelines. Assistant coach is the newcomer of the staff in her second year in Aggieland, while Blair, Schaefer and Bond are in their sixth.
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Head Coach - Sixth Season
The Blair File Alma Mater: Texas Tech ’72, ’74 Hometown: Dallas, Texas Spouse: Dr. Nan Smith-Blair Family: Daughter Paige (26), Son Matt (22) and Grandson Logan Carter (5)
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“Coach Blair expects more than the best and nothing less. I chose Texas A&M because I needed to be pushed past my limits. Coach Blair will push until he gets the best out of everyone around him and I know that he and his staff are committed to shaping each of us into better players. I wouldn’t have played for anyone else in the country.” - Freshman Taniqua Hollis
Event: BTHO Breast Cancer Game, Reed Arena, College Station, Texas, 2/17/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COACH BLAIR
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
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What celebrity do people say you resemble?
Jimmy Stewart and George Clooney
If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Lip-Sync Some Eagles, Jimmy Buffett or Eric Clapton Songs (I Can’t Sing!)
What is one new thing you would like to learn or do this year?
How To Turn On My Computer
What makes you unique?
It’s Not Easy Being Me!
What would the message on your ideal fortune cookie say?
“Today, I Gave Everything I Had, What I’ve Kept, I’ve Lost Forever”
What did you dream you’d be when you were growing up?
A Major League Baseball Player and An Architect
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Annette Funicello From The Mickey Mouse Club
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
Dancing With The Stars
How do you like your eggs cooked?
Mexican Style Migas
What inspires you?
Young People That Will Work To Be The Best That They Can Be
The last thing I do before I go to bed at night is ...
Fall Asleep With ESPN SportsCenter Or A Good Movie On
What do you like to collect?
(1) Golf Balls From Great Courses That I’ve Played and (2) Wins!
On Location: Traditions Club, Hole No. 9, College Station, Texas Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair enjoys spending the off-season on the golf course or on the practice green perfecting his putt. This summer, he achieved his greatest moment on the links by sinking his first-ever hole-in-one at the famous Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. Blair recorded the extremely rare feat on the par-3 sixth hole of the Tom Fazio designed No. 4 course which played host to the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship. He later traveled to Seattle to take on more championship courses, teeing off at the Sahalee Country Club which hosted the 1998 PGA Championship.
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GARY BLAIR’S SUCCESS BY THE NUMBERS
1 2 6 14 17 19 22 102 510 152
The number of appearances in the NCAA Final Four (1998)
The number of appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight (1998 & 2008)
The number of appearances in the NCAA Sweet 16
The number of appearances in the NCAA Tournament
The number of 20-win seasons
The number of postseason appearances
The number of winning seasons in 23 years of Division I coaching
The number of his A&M victories
The number of his career victories
On Location: Everywhere USA, November 2007 - September 2008
Coach Blair Ra dio Show
Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs
Ceremonial First Pitch
Not one day is the same in the life of Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. From speaking engagements, to his coaches radio show to attending all Aggie sporting events to watching a new movie at the local theater, Coach Blair is a man who does it all. He had an eventful summer as he threw out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game and received a one-day contract as a designated hitter for the local Brazos Valley Bombers of the Texas Collegiate League. He also took a group of Traveling Aggies for seven days of golf in Pinehurst, N.C. and had his Aggie team place first in the WBCA 4Kay Golf Classic in Dallas. Coach Blair also had a chance to spend time with his family back home in Fayetteville, Ark., and do some gardening.
WBCA 4Kay Golf Classic
The Blair Fa mi ly - U.S. Virgin Islands
t, N.C. es - Pinehu rs Traveling Aggi
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“Congratulations on your 500th victory. You don’t look a day over 400 wins. Your energy and your drive are fabulous for the sport of women’s basketball and we look forward to your presence in our game for many years to come.” - Oklahoma Head Coach Sherri Coale
“You have been so good for women’s basketball. You’ve done a great job and I am so proud of you. Your passion for our game is unbelievable. Good luck the rest of the way.” - LSU Head Coach Van Chancellor
Event: Coach Blair 500th Career Victory, Reed Arena, College Station, Texas, 2/20/08
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Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair became the 36th all-time Division I coach in women’s basketball history to reach 500 career victories in a 60-46 victory over Iowa State on Feb. 20, 2008. Director of Athletics Bill Byrne honored Blair with a commemorative framed No. 500 jersey, while his team presented him with a commemorative basketball. A special video tribute at the end of the game included congratulatory messages from several notable women’s basketball coaches across the country.
“Texas A&M is very luck to have you. No one at that university will outwork you, Coach Blair, so keep doing what you’re doing. I’m proud to be a friend and a coaching counterpart. Thanks for what you mean to me, Coach.” - Baylor Head Coach and Former Player Kim Mulkey
Sue Donohoe NCAA Vice President For Division I Women’s Basketball
Kelly Bond Texas A&M Associate Head Coach
Tom Collen Arkansas Head Coach
Nell Fortner Auburn Head Coach
Candi Harvey Mansfield Timberview HS Head Coach
Lee Ann Riley Stephen F. Austin Head Coach
Trenia Tillis-Jones Tyler Junior College Head Coach
Vic Schaefer Texas A&M Associate Head Coach
Tennille Adams Northwestern Assistant Coach
Taqueta Braxton Stephen F. Austin Assistant Coach
Johnnie Harris Texas A&M Assistant Coach
Sytia Messer Georgia Tech Associate Head Coach
Mike Neighbors Xavier Assistant Coach
Amy Tennison Mansfield Legacy HS Head Coach
Amy Wright Cleveland State Assistant Coach
Amber Shirey Arkansas Director of Basketball Operations
Many have learned the game under Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair who has an extended coaching tree consisting of former players and former assistants who have gone on to be top administrators and coaches on the professional, college and high school levels.
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Associate Head Coach - Sixth Season
The Schaefer File Alma Mater: Texas A&M ’84 Hometown: Austin, Texas Spouse: Holly Schaefer Children: Twins Logan (12) and Blair Nicole (12)
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“Coach Schaefer takes a lot of responsibility off of me, so that I can tend to the other things that a head coach has to do. I cannot think of too many coaches in the Big 12 who are having the opportunity to coach at their alma mater, relive those experiences and then teach the young kids today why being an Aggie is so special. Vic is the ultimate family man who brings family to our basketball team. We play defense like a family and he has undoubtedly turned A&M into one of the best defensive ball clubs in the country.� - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COACH SCHAEFER
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
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If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
When A Man Loves A Woman Like Michael Bolton Sings It!
What makes you unique?
Attention To Detail and Fear Of Failure
What celebrity do people say you resemble?
Tom Selleck You Gotta Love My Mother (She Said It)
What would the message on your ideal fortune cookie say?
Live Your Beliefs and You Can Turn The World Around “Stay Faithful, Be Grateful”
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Cheap Trick, The Beach Boys, Elvis
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Rock Band
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Marsha Brady On The Brady Bunch
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Marathon
What is your favorite season?
Spring Because Turkey Season Opens, Fishing Is Great! Celebrating Another Championship!
What do you like to collect?
Antiques and Pennies
What is one new thing you would like to learn or do this year?
“Flip” On A Wakeboard
What inspires you?
My Players and Our Staff
On Location: Williams Creek, College Station, Texas
Texas A&M associate head coach Vic Schaefer is the ultimate family guy and enjoys spending a full day of wakeboarding off the family’s Tahoe sport boat at nearby Gibbons Creek or Lake Somerville. There are endless opportunities in the College Station area for outdoor activities including hunting, fishing and golfing that Coach Schaefer enjoys in the off-season.
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Associate Head Coach - Sixth Season
The Bond File Alma Mater: Illinois ’98 Hometown: Chicago, Ill. Status: Single Family: Yorkies MJ and Pip
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“Coach Bond has done an outstanding job of putting Texas A&M back on the map and on the national scene. She has been very loyal, has helped us sustain continuity within our staff and has been extremely productive. Kelly is one of the best young coaches in the country with her knowledge of the game, her preparation for an opponent, her ability to recognize and make adjustments in a game and her ability to communicate the game to our young ladies.� - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COACH BOND
If you were on American Idol, what would you sing?
Trade In My Life By R. Kelly But I Would Have A Live Choir To Enhance My Angelic Voice
Is there anything you cannot say “no” to?
Unfortunately Work
What do you want to know about the future?
Nothing. Let Go and Let God.
What movie do you know pretty much every line to?
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
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Love Jones “You Always Want What You Want and When You Want It, Why Is Everything So Urgent To You.”
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Maxwell, Michael Jackson, Prince
What reality TV show would you love to be on?
The Apprentice! After Eight Years With Coach Blair I Would Win In A Landslide!
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Michael Bivins Of New Edition
The last thing I do before I go to bed at night is ...
Put MJ and Pip To Bed, Turn On My Woosaa Fountain and Give Thanks For Another Day
If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?
Chicago (Come On It’s Practically A State!)
What do you like to collect?
Lalique Crystal. My Favorites Are My Sparrow Collection and I’m Still Waiting On My Bowl G.B.
If tomorrow’s headline was about you, what would it say?
OK, We’ve Reloaded
What is your ringtone?
Never Would Have Made It By Marvin Sapp and Oh, What A Job This Is By Devin The Dude
On Location: The LaSalle Hotel, Bryan, Texas
Texas A&M associate head coach Kelly Bond is a fashion diva who enjoys letting her hair blow, while dropping the top on her BMW convertible. In her spare time, Coach Bond can be found being pampered at some of the nation’s most historic hotels. Her favorites include the Houstonian in Houston, the Drake in Chicago and the Hubbard Mansion in New Orleans.
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Assistant Coach - Second Season
The Harris File Alma Mater: Arkansas Baptist ’96 Hometown: Pine Bluff, Ark. Status: Single Family: Son Marcus (22), Daughter Kiera (17) and Granddaughter Samarah (2)
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“Johnnie continues to be essential to our recruiting efforts with her numerous high school and AAU coaching contacts across the country. She knows our system well and has been a great fit in our program. This season, Johnnie will serve as our special teams coach working on inbounds, sideline and free throw plays. She is one of the first people our players go to when they need someone to talk to and is always there to provide advice and support.� - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Big 12 Semifinals, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/13/08
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12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COACH HARRIS
On Location: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Texas A&M University
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Is there anything you cannot say “no” to?
Mountain Dew or Dasani Water
What is your ringtone?
Irreplaceable By Beyoncé
What is your favorite place to eat in College Station?
Fish Daddy’s For The Catfish
What is your favorite Aggie Tradition?
Singing The Aggie War Hymn After Games
If you could see a concert, what three performers would be in it?
Mary J. Blige, Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys
Guitar Hero or Rock Band?
Guitar Hero With My Daughter
Who was your teen crush growing up?
Smokey Robinson and Billy Dee Williams
What Olympic event would you compete in other than hoops?
Track
What is one thing you have the most compassion for?
At Risk Youth
What do you like to collect?
Keychains
Name one place on Earth you’ve never been, but vow to visit?
South America
What did you dream you’d be when you were growing up?
A Counselor
Texas A&M assistant coach Johnnie Harris enjoys riding scooters and motorcycles in her spare time and even on the occasional check in at study hall and practice. This do-it-all mother of two children and a granddaughter is vibrant and spunky and always ready for something new. On Location: Bright Complex, Texas A&M University
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“Erich is an Aggie who knows how to get things done. His attention to detail and organization is invaluable to us because he does so many of the little things that are vital to our program.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Director of Basketball Operations - Seventh Season
The Birch File Alma Mater: Texas A&M ’02 Hometown: Houston, Texas Spouse: Robbie Birch Children: Kai Janae (Born Dec. 20, 2007)
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“Charlee is a workaholic who doesn’t worry about the clock. The video coordinator position is so crucial to a program and she is very instrumental in our film breakdown work which demands a lot of hours and understanding of the game.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Video Coordinator - Fourth Season
The Simmons File Alma Mater: SMU ’05 Hometown: Edmond, Okla. Parents: Merl and Rona Simmons Family: Brother Roe (32), Sister-in-Law Tara (31), Niece Genevieve (12), Niece Grace (8), Nephew Garett (7), Brother Djuan (28), Sister-in-Law Sarah (29) and Nephew Mason (3).
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“Jen makes our kids proud of their physiques and is constantly encouraging them to become the elite athlete they can be. She prepares vigorous training and workouts geared toward optimum performance on the court. Jen is a great motivator and makes conditioning a fun experience for our athletes.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach - Fifth Season
The Jones File Alma Mater: Michigan State ’95 Hometown: Toronto, Canada Spouse: Mike “Zeb” Jones Children: Michael (15) and Ellis (9)
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“Radar is really passionate about what he does. Being a father of two daughters, Radar brings that extra care and compassion to our program. He treats our players like his very own and truly cares about their health and well-being at all times.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
The Ricke File Assistant Athletic Trainer - 26th Season
Alma Mater: Texas A&M ’82 Hometown: La Marque, Texas Status: Single Children: Allison Nicole (17) and Amanda Kay (14)
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“Dee keeps me organized and our office running on schedule. She will do anything it takes to help out our program and I always have a place on my staff for someone with so much drive and dedication.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Administrative Assistant - Third Season
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The Doles File Alma Mater: Texas A&M ’05 Hometown: Skidmore, Texas Spouse: Matt Doles - Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer Children: Angelica Rae (Born June 11, 2007)
“Katy has been a great ambassador for our program over the last four years. She was too valuable to let go of with all of the strengths and skills that she brings to the table. Katy loves Texas A&M and this opportunity will give her the chance to explore every avenue of running a successful women’s basketball program.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Athletic Assistant - First Season
The Pounds File Alma Mater: Texas A&M ’07, ’08 Hometown: Shallowater, Texas Parents: Dwayne and Misty Pounds Family: Sister Bailey (14) and Chocolate Lab Harley (8 months)
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“Ingrid has been a vital part of our players’ improved performance and success in the classroom over the last two semesters. Our team achieved its highest-ever overall GPA last spring which is a reflection of the hard work Ingrid and her staff have put into our kids and our program.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Associate Athletic Director for Academics - Second Season
The Villar-Woods File Alma Mater: Western Kentucky ’95, ’99 Hometown: Long Island, N.Y. Spouse: C.J. Woods, Jr. - Director of Multicultural Services Children: Peyton Miguel (3)
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On Location: E. King Gill Statue, Kyle Field, Texas A&M University
The 2008-09 Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Support Staff (from L-R): 12th Man Productions assistant Justin Baetge, administrative assistant for academic services Margaret McGraw, assistant media relations director Marlene Navor, Life Skills/career coordinator Shalena Brown, marketing assistant Heather Graves, student athletic trainer Sarah Mengers, office assistant Torie Brown, associate athletic director for academics Ingrid Villar-Woods, director of events Steve Miller and marketing coordinator Josh Craggs.
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On Location: Victory Eagle Fountain, Cain Park, Texas A&M University The 2008-09 Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Student Managers (from L-R): Senior Taylor Cooley (Harker Heights, TX), sophomore Cat Cain (Houston, TX), senior J.D. Wood (Onalaska, TX), senior Ryan Lindsey (Lubbock, TX), sophomore Lenlee Ordner (Houston, TX) and junior Christian Bray (Cleveland, OH).
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The 2008 Senior Class was the cornerstone of head coach Gary Blair’s vision of building Aggie Basketball into a national power. A&M reached new heights with back-to-backto-back NCAA Tournament appearances, a program-best No. 8 national ranking, three consecutive 20-win seasons, threestraight 10-win seasons in Big 12 Conference play and a 93-39 (.705) overall record during their four-year careers.
Event: Big 12 Championship Game, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/15/08
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“We turned the ball over way too much and we could not rebound. When we ran our fast break, we had good looks. Give A&M credit. They came out aggressive on the boards and caused us to have a hard time rebounding. A&M did a good job, but I hate to lose.” - Prairie View A&M Head Coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke
Texas A&M 62, SMU 57
Event: Prairie View A&M Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 11/15/07
73 54
Texas A&M made 21 steals versus Prairie View A&M which was seven short of the Reed Arena record. The Aggies extended their home court win streak to 19-straight games in their home opener with the Lady Panthers. A&M officially opened the season at SMU claiming the program’s 500th all-time victory on Nov. 9, 2007. Junior La Toya Micheaux drained a career-best 9-of-10 (.900) free throws and turned in her third career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds against PVAMU. The A&M defense forced the Panthers to turnover the ball 34 times in the contest.
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Texas A&M 60, Indiana 48 Wake Forest 53, Texas A&M 46
Making their first-ever appearance in the Paradise Jam, the Aggies went 2-1 in tournament play with wins over Wichita State and Indiana to place second in the St. John Division. Juniors Takia Starks and Danielle Gant were both named to the all-tournament team. In their first tournament game, the Aggie defense held Wichita State to an opponent season-low 14 first-half points. The Shockers’ 36 total points tied as the sixth-fewest points ever scored by an A&M opponent. Nine of the 11 A&M players who entered the ballgame contributed to the final score including freshman Maryann Baker who made her collegiate debut. Two days later, freshman Sydney Colson made her first career start against Indiana.
Event: Wichita State Game, Paradise Jam, U.S. Virgin Islands, 11/22/07
70 36 179
“We made a pretty good team look bad, because of our pressure. Our press wears people down. Michigan probably had about 10-or-15 wide open looks and a lot of times, that defensive pressure wears on your legs. Our defense needs to be commended for how hard we play.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Texas A&M 68, TCU 58
Event: Michigan Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 11/29/07
69 41
Junior Takia Starks poured in a season-high 23 points to lead Texas A&M to a 69-41 rout of Michigan at Reed Arena. Starks went 9-of-15 from the floor draining three of the team’s six three-pointers of the game. The A&M defense held the entire Wolverines lineup to under double-figure scoring and to a season-low 41 total points. On the road in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, A&M handed old Southwest Conference rival TCU its third loss in 26 home games at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Aggies avenged a 69-65 first-round loss to the Lady Frogs in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
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“This is the best team and the most uptempo game we’ve played all year. We were hitting on all cylinders on offense and were frustrating them early. In our last three ballgames against Michigan, TCU and Florida State, we have really played at a high level deserving of our top 20 national ranking.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Texas A&M 73, New Orleans 44
Event: Florida State Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 12/06/07
81 67
Junior Takia Starks, senior A’Quonesia Franklin and junior Danielle Gant combined for 65 of the team’s 81 points in a first-time meeting with Florida State. It marked the second-straight game in which A&M had three players account for a combined 60-or-more points of the team’s overall scoring next to Starks, Franklin and senior Patrice Reado combining for 60 of the team’s 68 total points at TCU. In the team’s next outing against New Orleans, the A&M defense held the Lady Privateers to an opponent season-low 27.7 (13-of-47) shooting percentage from the floor. Gant reset her career-high with 28 points versus UNO.
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“We took care of the ball and we played great defense. They made big shots when it counted and we got the stop. We were really pumped up to play Auburn. We played like a top 10 team tonight. We stepped it up and really showed our true colors.” - Junior Takia Starks George Washington 66, Texas A&M 65 (OT)
Event: Auburn Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 12/15/07
62 60
Junior Takia Starks recorded her 1,000th career point with 17 in Texas A&M’s 62-60 victory over No. 14 Auburn on Dec. 15, 2007. The Aggies handed the Tigers, one of nine remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, their first loss of the season. Senior A’Quonesia Franklin also captured a career milestone of her own with her 500th career assist versus the Tigers. Franklin became the third player in school history to dish out 500-or-more career assists next to All-American Lisa Branch and Toccara Williams. A&M picked up its first home win over a non-conference top 25 opponent since an 83-73 victory over No. 16 Duke on Nov. 17, 1995 at G. Rollie White Coliseum. It marked the program’s first home win against a non-conference top 25 opponent at Reed Arena. The win preceded a heartbreaking 66-65 overtime loss to George Washington in Washington, D.C., prior to the Christmas break.
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“Our kids battled tonight. Texas A&M is a good team. They are athletic and caused us to turn the ball over, which cost us the game. Starks is a good player. As much as you yell at your players to guard her, occasionally they have a brain slip and she hits the shot. But, that’s the Big 12 player that she is.” - UT Arlington Head Coach Samantha Morrow
Texas A&M 74, North Carolina A&T 65
Event: UT Arlington Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 12/28/07
69 55
Texas A&M tied a season-high with nine blocked shots in a 69-55 win over UT Arlington on Dec. 28, 2007. The Mavericks committed an opponent season-high 35 turnovers in the contest. Two days later, the Aggies closed out the year with North Carolina A&T and shot a school-record 96.0 percent (24-of-25) from the free throw line. Contributing to the milestone was junior Danielle Gant (10-of-10), who became only the third player in school history to go perfect on 10-or-more attempts from the free throw line, next to former players Lisa Branch and Janet Duckham.
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“We played a pretty well-executed basketball game. This team is very unselfish in what we need to do to win. I liked my basketball team tonight. They rarely made the same mistake twice.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Stephen F. Austin Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/3/08
84 53
As part of Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair’s reunion tour against his former schools and coaching colleagues during the 2007-08 season, the Aggies took care of business with a 31-point rout of Stephen F. Austin to extend the program’s home court win streak to a school-best and nation-leading 26 consecutive games at Reed Arena. Senior Morenike Atunrase registered a game-high 22 points just five games after returning to the lineup from surgery to correct a non-healing stress fracture in her right tibia. Eight of the 12 A&M players who entered the ballgame scored in the first half and all but two contributed to the scoring column by the final buzzer.
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“We knew Texas A&M was a great defensive team and would be at our shorts. Our players did a nice job of exploiting the one opportunity we were going to get. We just continued to go about our business and our players played true to the scout.� - Kansas State Head Coach Deb Patterson
Baylor 59, Texas A&M 56
Texas A&M 72, Colorado 68
Event: Kansas State Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/9/08
67 54 185
“Give A&M credit. They have everyone back from last year and play a lot of pressure. They do things to you that other teams in the conference can’t do.” - Oklahoma State Head Coach Kurt Budke
Nebraska 73, Texas A&M 60
Event: Oklahoma State Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/19/08
61 58
In its first five games of the Big 12 Conference season, Texas A&M opened up league play with three top 25 opponents in No. 8 Baylor, No. 25 Colorado and No. 18 Oklahoma State as well as three tough road contests in Waco, Boulder and Lincoln, which resulted in a 1-4 start.
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“This was a game where you try to fight back, but just not enough. Texas A&M is a good team that’s had a few setbacks, but it’s a veteran squad and they just picked us apart. They have too good of a coach to not be a threat.” - Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein
Texas A&M 58, Kansas 51
Event: Missouri Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 1/29/08
62 43
Texas A&M used a strong first-half defensive effort to cruise to its second-straight Big 12 Conference victory with a 62-43 rout of Missouri on Jan. 29, 2008. The Aggie defense forced an impressive 19 turnovers in the game’s first 20 minutes, leading to 22 of their 36 points in the first half. The Aggies outscored Missouri, 22-4, in points off turnovers in the frame to key the win in the 1,000th game in program history. Three days prior, A&M held off Kansas to regain ground in the league race. The Aggies went on to claim their fourth all-time win at historic Allen Fieldhouse.
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Texas A&M 63, Texas Tech 46
“This is going to be a great rivalry. I know it has been in the past and I know it will be in the future. I’ve known Gary for many, many years. He’s an outstanding coach and competitor. It’s like a chess match when you play him. He’s always thinking the game. I anticipate many great games in the year’s to come.” - Texas Head Coach Gail Goestenkors
Event: State Farm Lone Star Showdown, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 2/9/08
66 57
Texas A&M fended off a late second-half rally by rival Texas to secure its fourth-straight win in Big 12 Conference play and a half-point in the first edition of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown between the two schools. Prior to their bye week from league competition, the Aggies had four players score in double figures to capture its third-ever road victory at Texas Tech on Feb. 2, 2008. It was Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair’s third-ever win against his alma mater in his 23-year coaching career. Senior point guard A’Quonesia Franklin distributed seven assists with zero turnovers versus the Lady Raiders.
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“First off, I want to congratulate Coach Blair on career win No. 499 and wish him all the best for win No. 500. You have to give credit to Texas A&M. They have a great senior class and they do what a great senior class should do. The biggest key today was not taking care of the basketball. Our (24) turnovers were the biggest factor in the ballgame.” - Texas Tech Head Coach Kristy Curry
Oklahoma 68, Texas A&M 56
Event: Texas Tech Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 2/17/08
70 56
Behind the strength of a career-high 29 points by junior Takia Starks, Texas A&M rolled to a 70-56 victory over Texas Tech before a nationally-televised audience on ESPN2. The win was A&M’s fifth-straight against the Lady Raiders, which marked the longest streak in the all-time series between the two schools. It was also the Aggies’ secondever sweep of Tech since the league’s inception. Senior A’Quonesia Franklin recorded her 1,000th career point versus Tech and became the third player in school history to register 1,000 career points and 500 career assists. It marked a turnaround for A&M after a 68-56 loss at Oklahoma in front of a school-record Pink Out crowd of 12,168.
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“We did a great job of playing pressure defense tonight against Iowa State’s zone. We knew how important it was for Coach Blair to get this win and we just wanted to come out and get that win for him. It was pretty special.”
Texas A&M 65, Texas 50
- Junior Danielle Gant
Event: Iowa State Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 2/20/08
60 46
Junior Danielle Gant scored 22 points to propel Texas A&M to a 60-46 victory over Iowa State giving head coach Gary Blair his 500th career victory on Feb. 20, 2008. Blair became the 36th all-time Division I coach in women’s basketball history to reach the 500 benchmark. The Aggies also made a season-low four turnovers in the ballgame, the fewest by an A&M squad in the last nine years. Meanwhile, A&M traveled over to the state capitol and gained another half-point toward the State Farm Lone Star Showdown versus rival Texas. Gant registered 12 points against the Longhorns to become the 21st player in school history to record 1,000 career points. She joined teammates Takia Starks, Morenike Atunrase and A’Quonesia Franklin in the elite group. Texas A&M became one of 14 known teams in NCAA women’s basketball history to have four 1,000 point scorers on its roster during the same season.
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“They (Texas A&M) were really physical and they were bumping. With any Big 12 game, they are going to bump. You just have to keep your composure and fight through it.” - Baylor Center Danielle Wilson
“It was just a great atmosphere and a good basketball game. Our key was getting into transition and getting some easy baskets, because they are so strong inside. You try to play against Rachel Allison, Danielle Wilson or Jessika Bradley. Those are three of the most physical kids that we respect more than anyone in this league, but it is very hard to beat us here at home.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Event: Baylor Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 3/1/08
72 53
Texas A&M 63, Oklahoma State 57
The Aggies claimed their sixth all-time win over a top 10-ranked opponent and evened the all-time series with Baylor. Senior Morenike Atunrase scored 18 of her season-high 24 points in the first half of play. The A&M defense held the Lady Bears to 53 total points which was their second-fewest of the season. A&M’s 19-point margin of victory was its biggest over Baylor since the league’s inception. A season-high 5,686 fans attended the game which marked the eighth-largest crowd in school history at Reed Arena.
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“They (Texas A&M) do a great job of pressuring the basketball and a great job of denying the passing lanes. It was a very physical game and it was hard to get loose. They are just playing with experience and swagger, all the things that a senior-laden team does at this time of year.” - Oklahoma Head Coach Sherri Coale
Event: Oklahoma Game, Reed Arena, Texas A&M University, 3/6/08
73 59
Junior Danielle Gant celebrated her 21st birthday by scoring 21 points and leading Texas A&M to its sixth-straight win in Big 12 Conference play with a 73-59 victory over Oklahoma on March 6, 2008. It marked their third-straight win over a top 25 team. A&M finished out the regular season with wins in 10 of its last 11 games after starting conference play 1-4. The Aggies earned a No. 4 seed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship and a first-round bye.
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“It was a good team effort. We shared the basketball very well and we only turned it over 10 times. Mizzou played us a lot tougher defensively than when we last played them back home in College Station. Everything was coming off of transition. When we play great defense, it carries over to our offense.� - Freshman Guard Sydney Colson
Texas A&M 65, Iowa State 53
Event: Big 12 Quarterfinals, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/12/08
Texas A&M 64, Oklahoma State 59
65 39
Texas A&M turned in its fourth-highest field-goal percentage of the season shooting 47.3 percent (26-of-55) versus the Tigers. The Aggies also held Mizzou to just 39 total points which was its second-fewest points of the season. They advanced to the Big 12 Semifinals for the second-straight year which eventually led to a first-ever appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State.
193
“We play both ends of the floor well. We have a tremendous bench that gives us the luxury to stay in the press. We want to represent the Big 12 and also represent that you can get to the Sweet 16 without having several Parade All-Americans. You can get there with pure basketball players that can play the game like the kids we bring into our system. We want to get to that next-level and are in it to win now.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair Texas A&M 91, UTSA 52
Event: NCAA Second Round, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La., 3/24/08
63 39
Junior Danielle Gant scored a game-high 21 points as Texas A&M delivered a 24-point blowout of 10th-seeded Hartford, 63-39, in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. Gant’s point total stands as the second-most points scored by an A&M player in an NCAA Tournament game. A&M’s stingy defense held Hartford to 19 first-half points which was its third-lowest half of the season. The Aggies reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for only the second time in school history next to the 1994 squad. A&M’s historic trek to the Oklahoma City Regional also included a 91-52 rout of UTSA in the first round, which set a new school record for most points scored in an NCAA Tournament game. The win gave Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair his 100th career victory at the school as the Aggies moved past the first round for the second consecutive year.
194
“Our program is built with Texas kids first. We might not be the national power to recruit like Stanford and Duke, but we have kids who play hard and are relentless. One of the best things that we do as a staff is develop our players. It is so great to see what our kids have accomplished.” - Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
Tennessee 53, Texas A&M 45
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3/30/08
77 63
For the first time in school history, Texas A&M was Elite Eight bound after defeating third-seeded Duke, 77-63, in the regional semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship on March 30, 2008. A&M extended its winning streak to a school-best 12 games and was one game shy of the Final Four. The Aggies forced the Blue Devils to commit 19 turnovers in the ballgame. Senior Patrice Reado led all scorers with 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds. The Aggies, whose previous best NCAA Tournament run was a Sweet 16 appearance in 1994, later faced top-seeded and defending national champion Tennessee in the regional finals on April 1, 2008. They went on to finish the season at 29-8 overall, setting a new school record for most victories in a season by winning 16 of their last 18 games.
195
The always defensive-minded Aggies finished ranked among the top 30 NCAA statistical leaders in scoring defense (14th, 54.8), scoring margin (28th, 10.9), won-lost percentage (20th, 78.4) and turnovers per game (30th, 15.1).
RECORD ALL GAMES CONFERENCE NON-CONFERENCE
OVERALL 29-8 11-5 18-3
HOME 14-2 6-2 8-0
AWAY 7-4 5-3 2-1
NEUTRAL 8-2 0-0 8-2
MIN- FG- FG 3FG- 3FG FT- FT REB- No. Name GP-GS AVG FGA PCT 3FGA PCT FTA PCT O-D-T 03 Starks, Takia 36-35 1,244-34.6 231-548 .422 65-181 .359 60-89 .674 40-116-156 Conference-Only 16-15 558-34.9 108-250 .432 29-81 .358 25-38 .658 20-53-73 55 Gant, Danielle 36-36 1,185-32.9 212-401 .529 1-3 .333 104-130 .800 139-118-257 Conference-Only 16-16 555-34.7 103-192 .536 0-0 .000 48-66 .727 70-64-134 24 Reado, Patrice 36-24 827-23.0 129-258 .500 0-0 .000 40-67 .597 86-86-172 Conference-Only 16-14 378-23.6 60-127 .472 0-0 .000 9-15 .600 32-32-64 10 Franklin, A’Quonesia 37-37 1,192-32.2 85-266 .320 51-138 .370 73-96 .760 21-87-108 Conference-Only 16-16 528-33.0 32-104 .308 14-46 .304 35-47 .745 6-44-50 21 Atunrase, Morenike 28-4 687-24.5 100-255 .392 30-86 .349 57-77 .740 36-83-119 Conference-Only 16-3 376-23.5 50-138 .362 13-41 .317 35-48 .729 21-46-67 12 Micheaux, La Toya 36-31 830-23.1 45-136 .331 0-1 .000 42-82 .512 77-115-192 Conference-Only 16-16 422-26.4 12-40 .300 0-1 .000 14-35 .400 23-60-83 51 Colson, Sydney 37-2 381-10.3 39-115 .339 12-55 .218 27-44 .614 10-26-36 Conference-Only 16-0 134-8.4 12-31 .387 4-15 .267 8-14 .571 1-6-7 02 Buchanan, Damitria 37-6 444-12.0 36-94 .383 0-0 .000 12-32 .375 50-39-89 Conference-Only 16-0 137-8.6 3-22 .136 0-0 .000 0-2 .000 11-9-20 33 Horton, Ashlaa 31-9 292-9.4 14-54 .259 1-8 .125 8-17 .471 26-32-58 Conference-Only 12-0 48-4.0 1-10 .100 0-0 .000 1-3 .333 6-6-12 15 Baker, Maryann 25-0 76-3.0 10-22 .455 1-5 .200 7-9 .778 4-12-16 Conference-Only 11-0 26-2.4 3-6 .500 0-2 .000 0-0 .000 0-4-4 44 Limbaha, Katrina 23-1 120-5.2 7-35 .200 0-1 .000 4-6 .667 7-15-22 Conference-Only 8-0 20-2.5 1-7 .143 0-0 .000 1-2 .500 1-3-4 11 Gulley, LaToya 17-0 134-7.9 11-32 .344 0-5 .000 1-2 .500 10-10-20 Conference-Only 4-0 16-4.0 1-3 .333 0-1 .000 0-0 .000 0-2-2 20 White, Tyra 1-0 4-4.0 0-1 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-0-0 Conference-Only 0-0 0-0.0 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-0-0 04 Finstad, Kiley 8-0 9-1.1 0-4 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-0-0 Conference-Only 2-0 2-1.0 0-1 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-0-0 TEAM 69-64-133 Conference-Only 33-26-59 Totals 37 7,425 919-2,221 .414 161-483 .333 435-651 .668 575-803-1,378 Conference-Only 16 3,200 386-931 .415 60-187 .321 176-270 .652 224-355-579 Opponents 37 7,425 706-1,803 .392 112-423 .265 505-735 .687 437-842-1,279 Conference-Only 16 3,200 319-796 .401 57-209 .273 219-320 .684 186-377-563 SCORE BY PERIODS 1ST 2ND OT TOTALS DEADBALL REBOUNDS Texas A&M 1211 1218 5 2434 Texas A&M Opponents 995 1028 6 2029 Opponents
196
REB- AVG 4.3 4.6 7.1 8.4 4.8 4.0 2.9 3.1 4.3 4.2 5.3 5.2 1.0 0.4 2.4 1.3 1.9 1.0 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.5 1.2 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.6 3.7 37.2 36.2 34.6 35.2 OFF 89 82
PF- FO A TO BLK ST 84-1 54 94 14 47 36-0 14 41 2 19 88-3 74 89 35 81 41-2 30 55 21 38 105-5 30 45 11 49 57-3 8 20 1 21 82-3 173 86 1 55 40-1 78 33 1 33 39-0 49 52 31 38 19-0 24 26 20 18 103-4 47 70 19 24 50-2 29 33 5 8 45-1 48 54 4 40 16-0 11 17 1 9 79-2 10 28 32 23 24-1 3 5 7 6 39-0 4 10 2 4 6-0 1 1 0 0 6-0 2 5 1 5 2-0 0 2 0 2 9-0 2 9 6 4 2-0 0 0 1 0 13-0 6 8 1 4 1-0 0 2 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 2 692-19 499 557 157 374 294-9 198 237 59 154 656-19 343 787 141 254 268-7 155 308 71 105 DEF 5 12
TOTALS 94 94
TPAVG 587-16.3 270-16.9 529-14.7 254-15.9 298-8.3 129-8.1 294-7.9 113-7.1 287-10.3 148-9.3 132-3.7 38-2.4 117-3.2 36-2.3 84-2.3 6-0.4 37-1.2 3-0.3 28-1.1 6-0.5 18-0.8 3-0.4 23-1.4 2-0.5 0-0.0 0-0.0 0-0.0 0-0.0
2,434-65.8 1,008-63.0 2,029-54.8 914-57.1
Event: Aggie Upset, G. Rollie White Coliseum, Texas A&M University, 2/8/95
Former Texas A&M All-American honorable mention and school alltime leading scorer Lisa Branch is hoisted up from the court by members of the Texas A&M men’s basketball team after a 78-73 upset of fourth-ranked Texas Tech at G. Rollie White Coliseum which is still considered one of the top five home victories in school history. The Aggies went on to win the Postseason NWIT Championship title at the end of the 1994-95 season.
197
Event: Big 12 Champions, Reed Arena, College Station, 2/28/07 Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair had no trouble putting the biggest game of the year in the hands of his smallest player. 5-foot-3 point guard A’Quonesia Franklin made four free throws in the final minute and scored a career-high 27 points to lead No. 14-ranked Texas A&M to a 67-60 victory over archrival Texas to claim its first-ever Big 12 Conference title, the program’s first-ever conference regular-season title. A&M also went undefeated at home with a school-record 16-0 mark at Reed Arena and headed into the league postseason tournament for the first time as the No. 1 seed. The Aggies’ run to the Big 12 Championship was a memorable one which included big wins in conference play along the way. Most notably, A&M ended sixth-ranked Oklahoma’s 26-game Big 12 winning streak with a downto-the-wire 54-52 road upset before 11,486 at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. The Aggies had arrived on the national scene and would go on to post a programbest 13-3 record in league play and 9-1 mark against Big 12 South foes with sweeps of Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State and OU.
198
Event: Big 12 Championship Game, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo., 3/15/08 Eleventh-ranked and fourth-seeded Texas A&M captured its first-ever Big 12 Conference Postseason Championship title with a 64-59 victory over 17th-ranked and thirdseeded Oklahoma State at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Aggies earned their second all-time conference tournament championship crown next to the final 1996 Southwest Conference Tournament-winning A&M squad. They also became the first No. 4 seed in league history to clinch the tournament title. Takia Starks was named Most Outstanding Player and A’Quonesia Franklin to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team. The Aggies headed into the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid in hand and a nine-game winning streak. The win over the Cowgirls proved to be crucial for A&M earning a program-best No. 2 seed from the NCAA Selection Committee.
Event: NCAA Elite Eight, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla., 4/1/08
One of the hottest teams in the country leading into the NCAA Tournament, eighth-ranked and No. 2 seed Texas A&M reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history after defeating ninth-ranked and No. 3 seed Duke, 77-63, in the Oklahoma City Regional semifinals before a crowd of 10,032 at the Ford Center. The defensive-minded Aggies led the entire game with the exception of two short stretches in the first half in which the Blue Devils never managed to build more than a three-point lead. Patrice Reado was one of four Aggies to reach double figures with a game-high 17 points. A&M, whose previous best NCAA run was a Sweet 16 appearance in 1994, moved on to face topseeded and eventual national champion Tennessee in the regional finals where they fell eight points shy of the Final Four.
Event: SWC Championship Game, Reunion Arena, Dallas, 3/9/96 The history making continued during the 1995-96 season. Unranked Texas A&M met several top 25-ranked opponents and tallied wins over No. 16 Duke and No. 20 Ole Miss. But, it was at the last-ever Southwest Conference Tournament that the Aggies, led by head coach Candi Harvey, really made their mark. A&M reached the finals of the conference tournament for the first time with victories over Rice in the first round and No. 24-ranked Texas in the semifinals. The Aggies later upset seventh-ranked and top-seeded Texas Tech in the championship game to earn the league’s automatic bid en route to their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Not more than a handful of people would have given the Aggies a chance to beat the Red Raiders, but as a national television audience looked in, A&M would outlast Tech, 72-68. The win set off a celebration at Reunion Arena in Dallas that few will ever forget. The Aggies had claimed their first-ever conference tournament title and would be forever known as the SWC Champions.
Event: NCAA First Round, G. Rollie White Coliseum, College Station, 3/16/94 History was ready to be made during the 1993-94 season. Texas A&M had never qualified for postseason play and that was about to change. The Aggies rallied behind Lisa Branch to put together an eight-game winning streak and an eventual NCAA Tournament berth. Luck followed the surging 13th-seeded Aggies into the postseason as they were able to host an NCAA First Round game against fourth-seeded and 20thranked Florida, because the Gators had a Rod Stewart concert previously booked in their gym. The Aggies took full advantage of the situation as they upset Florida, 78-76, in a memorable game played at G. Rollie White Coliseum. Martha McClelland led all scorers with 22 points.
Event: NCAA Sweet 16, Maples Pavilion, Palo Alto, Calif., 3/24/94 The Florida win would spark another upset in the second round as A&M defeated fifth-seeded San Diego State on their home court, 75-72, to advance to their first-ever Sweet 16 under head coach Lynn Hickey. The 1993-94 Aggie squad became the first No. 13 seed in NCAA Tournament history to advance past the first and second rounds. They along with the 2005 Liberty squad remain the only two Cinderella teams in tournament history to reach the regional semifinals as a No. 13 seed.
199
INDIVIDUAL GAME
INDIVIDUAL SEASON
INDIVIDUAL CAREER
TEAM GAME
TEAM SEASON
POINTS Lori Foreman vs. Texas Woman’s, 1979-80............... 39
POINTS Jaynetta Saunders, 2000-01...............611
POINTS Lisa Branch, 1993-96.......................1,939
POINTS vs. Lamar, 1995-96.............................111
POINTS 1978-79..........................................2,991
SCORING AVERAGE Lisa Langston, 1984-85......................19.3
SCORING AVERAGE Jaynetta Saunders, 1999-01..............18.6
FIELD GOALS MADE vs. Texas-Pan American, 1987-88........ 49
SCORING AVERAGE 1994-95............................................79.7
REBOUNDS Peggy Pope, 1978-79.........................360
REBOUNDS Prissy Sharpe, 1996-00.......................920
FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED vs. UCLA, 1980-81............................... 92
FIELD GOALS MADE 1978-79..........................................1,259
REBOUNDING AVERAGE Michell Tatum, 1983-84....................10.4
REBOUNDING AVERAGE Prissy Sharpe, 1996-00....................... 8.5
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE vs. Texas, 1984-85..............................667
FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED 1978-79..........................................2,871
FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED Jaynetta Saunders vs. Oklahoma State, 2000-01.............. 31
FIELD GOALS MADE Jaynetta Saunders, 2000-01...............240
FIELD GOALS MADE Lisa Langston, 1982-86.......................627
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE vs. Brown, 1995-96............................. 12
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE 1985-86.............................................474
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Von Bunn vs. Sam Houston, 1977-78.....923
FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED Jaynetta Saunders, 2000-01...............592
FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED Lisa Langston, 1982-86....................1,439
3-POINT FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED vs. Iowa State, 2004-05....................... 31 vs. Oklahoma, 1983-84....................... 31
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE 1994-95.............................................159
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE LaToya Rose vs. Iowa State, 2001-02..... 8 Lisa Branch vs. Rice, 1994-95................ 8
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Nette Garrett, 1988-89.......................676
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Martha McClelland, 1985-89.............588
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE Amy Yates, 1997-98............................ 67
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE Lisa Branch, 1993-96..........................165
3-POINT FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED Takia Starks, 2007-08.........................181 Amy Yates, 1997-98...........................181
3-POINT FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED Lisa Branch, 1993-96..........................478
REBOUNDS Michell Tatum vs. Baylor, 1984-85...... 21 FIELD GOALS MADE Lori Foreman vs. Texas Woman’s, 1979-80............... 16
3-POINT FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED LaToya Rose vs. Iowa State, 2001-02.....15 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Prissy Sharpe vs. Manhattan, 1998-99........5-5
FREE THROWS MADE vs. Oregon, 1991-92............................ 39 vs. Eastern Kentucky, 2000-01............. 39 FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED vs. Eastern Kentucky, 2000-01............. 49 vs. Oklahoma, 1994-95....................... 49 vs. Texas-Arlington, 1980-81............... 49
FREE THROWS MADE Lisa Langston vs. Houston, 1984-85.... 15
3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Lana Tucker, 1993-94.........................444
3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Morenike Atunrase, 2005-08.............358 Donna Roper, 1985-89.......................358
FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED Yvonne Hill vs. Saint Peter’s, 1989-90. 19
FREE THROWS MADE Lisa Branch, 1995-96..........................176
FREE THROWS MADE Lisa Branch, 1993-96..........................614
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE vs. North Carolina A&T, 2007-08........960
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE (Min. 10) Lisa Branch vs. Notre Dame, 1995-96....12-12
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE Prissy Sharpe, 1999-00.......................887
FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED Lisa Branch, 1993-96..........................753
REBOUNDS vs. Chicago State, 1991-92.................. 73
STEALS Pat Werner vs. Trinity Lutheran, 1977-78....10
ASSISTS Lisa Branch, 1995-96..........................231
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE Lisa Branch, 1993-96..........................815
ASSISTS vs. Texas-Pan American, 1987-88........ 37
BLOCKED SHOTS Morenike Atunrase vs. Oklahoma State, 2004-05................ 7 Jaynetta Saunders vs. Texas, 1999-00.... 7
STEALS Toccara Williams, 2002-03.................117 Toccara Williams, 2001-02.................117
ASSISTS Lisa Branch, 1993-96..........................795
STEALS vs. McLennan JC, 1978-79................... 34
STEALS Toccara Williams, 2001-04.................452
BLOCKED SHOTS vs. Saint Peter’s, 2005-06.................... 18
BLOCKED SHOTS Morenike Atunrase, 2005-06.............. 58 GAMES PLAYED Peggy Pope, 1978-79.......................... 44 Susan Kimbro, 1978-79....................... 44
200
3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE vs. Texas, 1991-92...........................1.000
BLOCKED SHOTS Morenike Atunrase, 2005-08.............176 GAMES PLAYED Trigg Crawford, 1977-81.....................138
3-POINT FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED 1994-95.............................................491 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE 1989-90.............................................369 FREE THROWS MADE 1995-96.............................................575 FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED 1995-96.............................................787 FREE THROW PERCENTAGE 1995-96.............................................731 REBOUNDS 1978-79..........................................1,657 REBOUNDING AVERAGE 1988-89............................................47.1 ASSISTS 1978-79.............................................785 STEALS 1978-79.............................................585 BLOCKED SHOTS 2005-06.............................................168
2006 NCAA First Round
1994 NCAA Sweet 16
2007 NCAA Second Round 1995 NWIT Champions
1996 NCAA First Round 2008 NCAA Elite Eight
201
YEAR
OVERALL W-L
CONFERENCE W-L
FINISH
POSTSEASON
HEAD COACH
1974-75................................. 24-9........................................................................................................................................................................................................ Kay Don 1975-76................................. 18-11...................................................................................................................................................................................................... Kay Don 1976-77................................. 14-17...................................................................................................................................................................................................... Kay Don 1977-78................................. 19-18............................................................................................................................................................................................ Wanda Bender 1978-79................................. 26-18............................................................................................................................................................................................ Wanda Bender 1979-80................................. 19-12.................................................................................................................................................................................................Cherri Rapp 1980-81................................. 7-22...................................................................................................................................................................................................Cherri Rapp 1981-82................................. 9-20...................................................................................................................................................................................................Cherri Rapp 1982-83................................. 11-16.................................2-6.................................. 7th....................................................................................................................Cherri Rapp 1983-84................................. 13-15.................................6-10................................. 6th....................................................................................................................Cherri Rapp 1984-85................................. 14-14.................................7-9.................................. T-5th.................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1985-86................................. 16-13.................................9-7.................................. T-4th.................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1986-87................................. 9-17...................................5-11................................. T-6th.................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1987-88................................. 15-13.................................8-8.................................. T-4th.................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1988-89................................. 17-12.................................8-8.................................. 5th....................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1989-90................................. 16-12.................................8-8.................................. T-5th.................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1990-91................................. 14-14.................................8-8.................................. 5th....................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1991-92................................. 15-13.................................7-7.................................. T-4th.................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1992-93................................. 15-12.................................7-7.................................. 4th....................................................................................................................Lynn Hickey 1993-94................................. 23-8...................................11-3................................. 2nd................................NCAA Regional Semifinals...........................................Lynn Hickey 1994-95................................. 21-9...................................9-5.................................. T-2nd.............................NWIT Champions..................................................... Candi Harvey 1995-96................................. 20-12.................................8-6.................................. 4th.................................NCAA First Round..................................................... Candi Harvey 1996-97................................. 9-18...................................3-13................................. T-10th............................................................................................................ Candi Harvey 1997-98................................. 9-19...................................4-12................................. T-9th.............................................................................................................. Candi Harvey 1998-99................................. 7-20...................................2-14................................. 12th...............................................................................................................Peggie Gillom 1999-00................................. 11-16.................................3-13................................. 11th...............................................................................................................Peggie Gillom 2000-01................................. 12-16.................................2-14................................. 12th...............................................................................................................Peggie Gillom 2001-02................................. 13-16.................................5-11................................. 9th.................................................................................................................Peggie Gillom 2002-03................................. 10-18.................................3-13................................. T-9th..............................................................................................................Peggie Gillom 2003-04................................. 9-19...................................2-14................................. T-11th..................................................................................................................Gary Blair 2004-05................................. 16-15.................................4-12................................. T-9th..............................WNIT Quarterfinals.......................................................Gary Blair 2005-06................................. 23-9...................................11-5................................. T-3rd..............................NCAA First Round...........................................................Gary Blair 2006-07................................. 25-7...................................13-3................................. T-1st..............................NCAA Second Round......................................................Gary Blair 2007-08................................. 29-8...................................11-5................................. T-3rd..............................NCAA Elite Eight.............................................................Gary Blair TOTALS 528-488 (.520) 34 SEASONS
202
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
YEARS
W-L
W-L
HEAD COACH
SEASONS
PCT%
PCT%
1974-77.................Kay Don.....................3...........................56-37................ .602................................................. 1977-79.................Wanda Bender..........2...........................45-36................ .556................................................. 1979-84.................Cherri Rapp...............5...........................59-85................ .410...................8-16...................333 1984-94.................Lynn Hickey...............10.........................154-128............ .546...................78-76.................506 1994-97.................Candi Harvey.............4...........................59-58................ .504...................24-36.................400 1998-03.................Peggie Gillom............5...........................53-86................ .381...................15-65.................198 2004-Present.........Gary Blair..................5...........................102-58.............. .638...................41-39.................513 TOTALS
34
528-488
.520
Kay Don
Wanda Bender
Cherri Rapp
Lynn Hickey
Candi Harvey
Peggie Gillom
166-232
.417
Gary Blair
203
Roland S. Martin ’91 Nationally Syndicated Columnist Jon Heidtke ’81 VP/General Manager Fox Sports Net
Martellus Bennett Dallas Cowboys
Antoine Wright Dallas Mavericks
Michael E. Fossum ’80 NASA Astronaut Stacy Sykora Three-Time U.S. Olympian
Donyale Canada ’94 Director of Sports Services Conference USA
Robert Earl Keen ’78 Musician Lyle Lovett ’79 Musician
Acie Law IV ’07 Atlanta Hawks
204
Orelon Sidney ’92 Former CNN Weather Anchor
A
Alexander, Kera (’97, ’98, ’99, ’00) Atunrase, Morenike (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08) Auclair, Cissy (’76)
B
Baker, Lola Mae (’79, ’80) Baker, Maryann (‘08) Banahan, Meg (’00, ’01, ’02) Bartlett, Teri (’91, ’92, ’93, ’94) Beard, Brenda (’96, ’97, ’98, ’99) Bennett, Rochelle ( ’85) Benson, Nicole (’99) Bettis, Denise (’77, ’78) Biermann, Debbie ( ’93, ’94, ’95) Birkenfeld, Shana (’91) Blankenstein, Amanda (’04) Bosha, Yatisha (’90, ’91, ’92) Bottley, Joyce (’81) Branch, Lisa (’93, ’94, ‘95, ’96) Brown, Gretchen (’85) Brown, Rosalind (’86, ’87) Brown, Yolanda (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93) Buchanan, Damitria (’07, ‘08) Buffo, Elizabeth (’85, ’86) Bunn, Von (’77, ’78, ’79) Burket, Beth (’91, ’92, ’93, ’94) Burrows, Jennifer (’97, ’98, ’99, ’00) Byrne, Margaret (’76, ’77, ’78, ’79)
C
Callaway, Dana (’76) Canada, Donyale (’93, ’94) Cartwright, Samantha (’99) Castile, Charlette (’04, ’05) Cerny, Kelly (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96) Christian, Jennifer (’92, ’94) Christian, Sheree (’78) Clark, Sheryl (’81, ’82) Classen, Lara (’00, ’01, ‘02, ’03) Classen, Lynn (’00, ’01, ‘03, ’04) Colson, Sydney (‘08) Cooper, Rhonda (‘02) Crafton, Tammy (’80, ’81) Crawford, Julia “Trigg” (’78, ’79, ’80, ’81) Crutcher, Paula (’86, ’87)
D
DeCree, Diane (’89, ’90) Decuir, Karol (’92, ’93) Derrick, Janae (’01, ‘02, ’03, ’04) Dillard, Lori (’89, ’90) Dillard, Sheri (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92) Duckham, Janet (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85)
E
Eaton, Margaret (’98, ’99, ’00) Edgar, Jenni (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85) Edwards, Vanessa (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92)
F
Fasnacht, Jennifer (’91, ’92) Ferguson, Bambi (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96) Fewell, Tracey (’88) Finstad, Kiley (’08) Ford, Shanae (’94) Foreman, Cathy (’82) Foreman, Lori (’80) Franklin, A’Quonesia (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08) Fuller, Cathy (’79, ’80, ’81)
G
Gandy, Romy (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85) Gant, Danielle (’06, ’07, ’08) Ganter, Jamila (’04, ’05, ’06) Garner, Lacy (’98) Garrett, Nette (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89) Garrison, Mindy (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05) Gentz, Karen (’79) Gill, duRae (’82) Gough, Cindy (’76, ’77, ’78, ’79) Gulley, LaToya (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08)
H
Harned, Kelli (’83) Harrison, Twylana (’92, ’93) Helvey, Sutton (’95) Herner, Lisa (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90) Hill, Yvonne (’90, ’91) Hodges, Holly (’85, ’86) Hooker, Joanna (’84) Horton, Ashlaa (’07, ’08) Horton, Cindy (’76, ’77) Hughes, Lisa (’79, ’80)
I
Irving, LaTanya (’89, ’90)
J
Jackson, Tamara (’86, ’87) Janak, Karey (’90, ’91, ’92) Jennings, Wendy (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91) Johnson, Alaina (’01, ‘02) Joiner, Lynette (’82, ’83) Jones, Brandy (’98, ’99, ’00, ’00) Jones, Jackie (’83) Jones, Tina (’00) Jordon, Lisa (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89)
K
Kimbro, Susan (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80) Krauskopf, Kelly (’81, ’82, ’83)
L
Lake, Christy (’95, ’96, ’97) Langston, Lisa (’83, ’84, ’85, ’86) Leahy, Mary (’86) Lewis, Felice (’83) Limbaha, Katrina (’07, ’08) Littles, Nikki (’93, ’94) Linder, Kim (’95, ’96, ’97, ’98) Long, Julie (‘02) Lorenzen, Debbie (’86, ’88)
M
Madison, Louise (’88, ’89, ’90) Mamaliga, Beth (’76, ’77) Mason, Tressie (’00, ’01, ‘02, ’03) McAllister, Carol (’76) McClelland, Martha (’93, ’94, ‘95, ’96) McGowen, Adrian (’07) Medlock, Shawn (’91, ’92) Micheaux, La Toya (’06, ’07, ’08) Mitchell, Sabrina (‘02, ’03) Moore, Christie (’87) Moore, Kim (‘02) Morisse, Sally (’76, ’77) Muskiet, Karen (’77, ’78) Myers, Monte (’81)
N
Neal, Mindy (’88, ’89, ’90)
O
Oaks, Stephanie (’03) Ooten, Rhonda (’00) Owens, Carey (’96)
P
Patterson, Kerrie (’96, ’97, ’98, ’99) Picone, Melissa (’03) Pistorius, Ashlee (’05) Pope, Peggy (’79, ’80) Pounds, Katy (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08) Price, Carol (’04) Pye, Lori (’80)
Q
Quitta, Diane (’76)
R
Reado, Patrice (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08) Reed, Rhianna (’03) Roitsch, Eileen (’76) Rollerson, Melissa (’96, ’97) Roper, Donna (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89) Rose, LaToya (’99, ’00, ’01, ‘02) Roundtree, Veronda (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89) Roy, Erica (’04, ’05) Russo, Dena (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92)
S
Sanders, Evelyn (’86, ’87, ’88) Saunders, Jaynetta (’00, ’01) Scales, Tamea (’03, ’04, ’05, ’06) Schatzle, Rani (’87) Sevin, Marianne (’94, ’95, ’96) Sharpe, Prissy (’97, ’98, ’99, ’00) Sims, Tammika (‘02) Spinks, Angel (’95, ’96) Starks, Takia (’06, ’07, ’08) Stewart, Kaara (’99, ’00) Sullivan, Kelley (’79, ’80, ’81, ’82) Summerville, Natasha (’03) Swearngin, Mary Ann (’84, ’85) Sykora, Stacy (’97)
T
Tarkington, Kim (’98, ’99) Tatum, Michell (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85) Thomas, Faye (’96) Thomas, Traci (’87, ’88, ’89)
Toran, Brittany (’06) Trinka, Ann (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85) Troell, Evelyn Jo (’78) Tucker, Lana (’94, ’95, ’96, ’97) Tucker, Natalie (’97)
V
Vaughn, Donna (’88) Vaughan, Kristin (’03)
W
Walker, Laura (’84) Washington, Celeria (’99, ’00, ’01, ‘02) Werner, Pat Bond (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80) Wilks, Jennifer (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07) Williams, Andrea (’93, ’94) Williams, Cami (’94) Williams, Lisa (’87) Williams, Toccara (’01, ‘02, ’03, ’04) Wise, Robin (’98) Woodard, Chereny (’01)
Y
Yates, Amy (’97, ’98, ’99) Young, Beth (’84, ’85, ’86, ’87)
Z
Zimova, Lenka (’06, ’07)
SQUAD
Bailey, LaToshia (’01) Beall, Francey (’81) Bolden, Ashley (’05) Brown, Leeanne (’81) Brown, Phyllis (’83) Chinweze, Ogadi (’04, ’05) Copeland, Angelique (’78) Ewald, Jame (’83) Garrison, Amy (’88) Geeslin, Julie (’78) Hancock, Rhonda (’78) Key, Lisa (’80) Moore, Dawn (’92) Romero, D’Nika (’04) Shilhanek, Emily (’87) Sullivan, Colleen (’84) Takacs, Debra (’78) Winn, Sherry (’80)
205
JANUARY
NOVEMBER 7................................................................. HOUSTON JAGUARS [exh.] 14........................................................................................... MERCER
STATE FARM WOMEN’S TIP-OFF CLASSIC Baton Rouge, La.
16............................................................ LSU vs. Notre Dame [ESPN2] 16................................................... Texas A&M vs. Pittsburgh [ESPN2] 20......................................................... at Michigan [Big Ten Network] 25........................................................................................ at Arizona TIMEOUT 4 HIV/AIDS TOURNAMENT Malibu, Calif. 28................................................................ Texas A&M vs. Penn State 29................................................................ Texas A&M at Pepperdine
DECEMBER 2........................................................................... at Stephen F. Austin 7.................................................................................................. SMU 13.................................................................................... TEXAS STATE 21.................................................................................... TCU [ESPNU] 30...................................................................................NEW MEXICO
Takia Starks - National Player of the Year/All-America Candidate • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
206
2009 Wade Trophy Award Candidate 2008 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention 2008 State Farm/WBCA All-America Finalist 2008 NCAA Oklahoma City Regional All-Tournament Team 2008 John R. Wooden Award Candidate 2008 Naismith Trophy Award Candidate 2008 Big 12 Most Outstanding Player 2008 Big 12 All-Tournament Team Two-Time All-Big 12 First Team (2007 & 2008) Ranks fifth all-time in career scoring (1,423) Ranks fourth all-time in career field goals made (572) Ranks fourth all-time in career 3-pointers made (143) 2008 National All-Freshman Team by Women’s Basketball News Service 2006 Big-12 All-Rookie Team Two-Time Big 12 Rookie of the Week
3.............................................................. GEORGE WASHINGTON (DH) 5.................................................................................. at Florida State 10.....................................................................................at Missouri* 13................................................................................... TEXAS TECH* 18......................................................................... at Oklahoma* [FSN] 21.......................................................................................... BAYLOR* 24......................................................................... at Oklahoma State* 28..........................................................................................at Texas* 31..................................................................................KANSAS* (DH)
FEBRUARY 4....................................................................................at Iowa State* 8....................................................................................... NEBRASKA* 11.................................................................................. at Texas Tech* 14.................................................................................... COLORADO* 21................................................................................... TEXAS* [FSN] 23...................................................OKLAHOMA* [ESPN2 Big Monday]
MARCH 1....................................................................... at Kansas State* [FSN] 5.................................................................. OKLAHOMA STATE* [FSN] 7.......................................................................................... at Baylor* PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Oklahoma City, Okla. March 12-15 21-24............................................... at NCAA First and Second Rounds 28-31...................................................................... at NCAA Regionals
APRIL NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR St. Louis, Mo. April 5 & 7
Danielle Gant - All-America Candidate • • • • • • • • • • •
2008 All-Big 12 First Team 2008 State Farm All-America Regional Finalist Two-Time Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2007 and 2008) Two-Time Big 12 Player of the Week selection Ranks 11th all-time in career scoring (1,148) Ranks eighth all-time in career steals (191) Ranks sixth all-time in career blocks (81) Ranks fifth all-time in career rebounds (681) 2007 All-Big 12 Second Team 2007 Big 12 Sixth Man Award recipient Named WBCA National Player of the Month Honorable Mention selection (December 2007)