Cold shooting dooms Trojans at No. 19 Texas A&M
Little Rock Athletics
Tyler Morrison, Associate Director of Communications
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Cold second-half shooting doomed Little Rock women’s basketball as it fell 66-49 to No. 19 Texas A&M on Wednesday night at Reed Arena.
Ronjanae DeGray led the Trojans (1-2) with a season-high 17 points and was 8 for 16 for the night. Monique Townson tallied nine points and led the game with three assists and four steals. Raeyana DeGray had a career-high eight points while tying her career high for rebounds with five. Anna Hurlburt put up a game-high three blocks with four rebounds. Keanna Keys ended the game with seven points and a career-high two blocks.
The Aggies (3-1) had four players in double figures as they were led by Danni Williams’ 18 points. Anriel Howard earned a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Chennedy Carter had 17 points. Khaalia Hillsman was the final Aggie in double figures as she tallied 10 points and came up a rebound shy of a double-double.
Little Rock got off to a hot start as it led Texas A&M 22-14 at the end of the first quarter. Ronjanae DeGray and Townson each tallied six points for the Trojans while Hurlburt put up three rebounds. Little Rock shot 52.9 percent in the quarter while Texas A&M shot 30. The Trojans committed just one turnover compared to the Aggies’ three.
A&M played Little Rock tougher in the second quarter as it outscored the Trojans 16-8. The Trojans shot just 27.3 percent in the quarter while the Aggies’ shot warmed up to 40 percent. DeGray ended the half with 10 points while sister Raeyana DeGray earned eight points and five rebounds — four of which were on offense. Hurlburt led the half with two blocks.
Little Rock’s offense was ice cold in the third quarter as it shot just 21.4 percent (3 for 14) while Texas A&M shot 63.6 (7 for 11). A&M began the quarter on a 10-0 run before Keys got a layup to fall. The Aggies ended the quarter with a 52-38 lead after outscoring the Trojans by a 22-8 margin.
The Trojans shot slightly better in the fourth quarter at 31.3 percent (5 for 16), but the Aggies still had the hot hand as they shot 54.5 (6 for 11).
Little Rock ended the night shooting 34.5 percent and was 20 for 58 from the floor. Texas A&M shot 43.9 and was 25 for 57. The Trojans had the upper hand in free-throw percentage (100-86.7), assists (12-8), blocks (5-2) and steals (8-5) while also committing fewer turnovers (19-15). The Aggies had the advantage in rebounds at 44-26.
Little Rock will now travel to Houston to face Rice in a Black Friday matchup at 2 p.m.