Women’s Basketball Posts NCAA Tournament Record Comeback, Defeats Penn In NCAA First Round

(Source: Texas A&M Athletics)
(Source: Texas A&M Athletics)
(Source: Texas A&M Athletics)

LOS ANGELES- Texas A&M used a 25-1 run to make an NCAA Tournament record 21-point comeback to defeat Penn 63-61 in the First Round of the 2017 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament inside Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

Down 58-37 with 8:57 to play, the five-seed Aggies (22-11) rattled off their 25-1 run, holding the Quakers (22-8) without a field goal in that span. Khaalia Hillsman, who had a career-high 27 points, put the Aggies ahead 60-59, Texas A&M’s first lead since the first quarter, with 19.1 seconds to play.

On the ensuing Penn possession, Jasmine Lumpkin stole the ball, leading to two Danni Williams free throws, giving the Aggies a three-point margin and securing the comeback.

The 12-seed Quakers made five of their seven 3-pointers during the first half, shooting a blistering 54.5 percent beyond the arc in the first half, jumping out to a 36-24 halftime lead.

The Aggies’ 21-point comeback matches the largest in school history, a 21-point comeback against Seton Hall on Nov. 29, 2003, Gary Blair‘s fourth game as Texas A&M head coach.

Curtyce Knox, with eight assists, became the first Texas A&M and first Southeastern Conference player to record 300 assists in a season, and has 303 assists on the season.

The Aggies return to action in the NCAA Second Round on Monday, March 20, taking on host and 4-seed UCLA at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.


QUICKIE NOTES

  • Texas A&M had the largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history, erasing a 21-point fourth quarter deficit due a late 25-1 run
  • It matches the largest comeback in Texas A&M history, set against Seton Hall in 2003-04
  • The Aggies are now 22-11 on the season
  • Texas A&M is now 23-12 in the NCAA Tournament all-time, including a 11-3 mark in the First Round
  • Gary Blair is now 739-303 in his Hall of Fame career, tying Debbie Ryan for 12th all-time in career wins. He is 35-21 in the NCAA Tournament. He is 330-140 in 14 seasons at Texas A&M
  • Khaalia Hillsman had a career-high 27 points, including the go-ahead basket with 19.1 to play
    • She scored 20+ points for the 10th time this season
    • She scored in double digits for the 31st time this season and 44th time in her career
  • Curtyce Knox became the first Texas A&M and first SEC player to record 300+ assists in a season, with 303 on the season
  • Anriel Howard had 10+ rebounds for the 23rd time this season. She has 13+ rebounds in all three of her career NCAA Tournament games
  • Danni Williams scored in double figures for the 30th game this season

Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics

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