COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Texas A&M women’s basketball team was unable to overcome an early deficit in Wednesday’s 90-49 loss against the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks inside Colonial Life Arena.
Texas A&M (8-7, 1-2 SEC) found themselves facing a 25-10 disadvantage after the first quarter and 37-17 at halftime.
Solé Williams led Texas A&M with 10 points, adding three rebounds one block and one steal. Kyndall Hunter added nine points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds. Aicha Coulibaly chipped in with eight points and four rebounds. Lauren Ware and Sahara Joes grabbed seven rebounds apiece to lead the squad.
Coulibaly kept Texas A&M in the contest early making her first three shots as the Aggies held leads of 4-2 and 6-4. South Carolina grasped control of the game with a 10-0 run, staking claim to a 14-6 cushion at the 3:29 mark of the first quarter.
Layups by Jones and Ware on back-to-back trips down the court cut the Aggies’ deficit to 28-17 midway through the second quarter. South Carolina (15-1, 3-0 SEC) responded with a 9-0 run to close out the half.
After shooting just 23.6% (13-of-55) from the field in the first three quarters, the Aggies warmed in the final period. The Maroon & White converted on 42.1% (8-of-19) in the fourth quarter, putting up 22 points, including seven by Hunter.
The Maroon & White returns to the hardwood at No. 10 Oklahoma Sunday at 4 p.m. in Norman, Oklahoma. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
POSTGAME NOTES RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
The Aggies are 4-13 against the Gamecocks all-time and 1-7 in Columbia.
Joni Taylor’s career record moves to 176-115 all-time and to 36-40 in her three seasons with the Aggies.
TEAM NOTES
Texas A&M began with a starting lineup of Lauren Ware, Solè Williams, Janae Kent, Sahara Jones and Aicha Coulibaly (7-4).