COLLEGE STATION– Texas A&M’s Shambria Washington sunk a go-ahead 3-pointer with 22.9 seconds left, sending the No. 14 and fourth-seeded Aggies to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year with a 78-76 victory over No. 18 and fifth-seeded Marquette Sunday at Reed Arena in an NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Second Round Game.
Chennedy Carter, who led the Aggies (26-7) with 30 points, clinched the game with a steal and a free throw after Washington’s heroics. Carter added nine rebounds, five assists and a block to her stat line.
All five Texas A&M starters played at least 39 minutes and scored at least 11 points in a game that was reminiscent of A&M’s win last season in the NCAA Second Round, an 80-79 win over another Big East Regular Season Champion, DePaul. The Aggies erased a nine-point third quarter deficit in Sunday’s game that had 11 ties and nine lead changes.
Two Texas A&M players had double-doubles in the game, N’dea Jones with 13 points and 13 rebounds to go along with Ciera Johnson’s 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Washington finished with 13 points and a team-high six assists. Kayla Wells scored 11.
Marquette (27-8) was led by Natisha Hiedeman who had 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds in her final collegiate game.
This is Texas A&M’s eighth Sweet 16 appearance, seven of which have come since 2008.
The Aggies take on the winner of No. 1-seed Notre Dame and 9-seed Michigan State on Saturday, March 30 at Wintrust Arena in the Chicago Regional.
Texas A&M ticket information for the Chicago Regional will be posted on the website when available. Fans who want more ticket information or wish to purchase tickets can contact the 12th Man Foundation Ticket Office by email at tickets@12thmanfoundation.com or by phone during regular office hours at 979-845-2311 or 888-99-AGGIE.
NOTES
Texas A&M
· Texas A&M clinches its second straight Sweet 16 berth, making back-to-back trips to the second weekend for the first time since 2011-12.
· This is the Aggies’ eighth trip to the Sweet 16, and the seventh since 2008
· Texas A&M improves its record to 26-7, while Marquette concludes its season at 27-8
· Texas A&M is 8-5 all-time in the NCAA Second Round, and 27-14 overall in the NCAA Tournament
· Texas A&M is 9-2 in NCAA Tournament home games
· Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is 383-158 in 16 seasons in Aggieland. He is 791-321 in his Hall of Fame career, which ranks seventh among active coaches in career wins
· Blair is 12-11 in NCAA Second Round games, and 39-23 all-time in the NCAA Tournament
Chennedy Carter
· Scored 30+ points for the second time this season and the ninth time in her career
· She has scored 30+ in three of five career NCAA Tournament games
· Scored 20+ points for the seventh straight game that she has played, and the 22nd time this season. She extends her school record with her 46th career game of 20+ points
· Scored 26+ points in all five of her career NCAA Tournament games
· Extended her Texas A&M record with her 38th consecutive game of scoring at least 10+ points
· She has scored 10+ points in 63 of her 64 career games. She scored eight in the other game
Shambria Washington
· Hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 22.9 seconds to play, her first career go-ahead make in the final minute of a game
· Had 10+ points for the sixth time this season and the first time since Feb. 21
Kayla Wells
· Her 17 points are a career-high for an NCAA Tournament game
· Had her 27th game of 10+ points this season, including all four SEC and NCAA Tournament games
· Matched her career-high with five 3-pointers
Ciera Johnson
· Had her 11th double-double of the season, and her first in an NCAA Tournament game
· Scored in double figures for the 26th time this season, including all four games of the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, and the 28th time in her collegiate career
· Had her 11th game of 10+ rebounds this season
N’dea Jones
· Her 13 points are a career-high for an NCAA Tournament game
· Had her 10th double double of the season, and her first career double double in an NCAA Tournament game
· Scored 10+ points for the 11th time this season, including all four SEC and NCAA Tournament games
· Had 10+ rebounds for the 22nd time this season, and the first time in the NCAA Tournament
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics