SPOKANE, Wash. – No. 4 seed Texas A&M fell 90-84 to No. 1 seed Notre Dame in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Sweet 16 at Spokane Arena, ending the Aggies’ 2017-18 season.
The Aggies (26-9) jumped out to a 37-24 lead, but Notre Dame fought back to close the deficit to 47-45 at the break. Notre Dame (32-3) would outscore the Aggies 23-16 in the third quarter, and lead by as many as 9 with 5:09 remaining. National Freshman of the Year Chennedy Carter hit a free throw to close the deficit to 85-82 with 1:40 to play, but the Aggies would never get any closer.
Carter led all players with 31 points, giving her back-to-back 30+ point games for the first time in her career. It marked the second-most points for an Aggie in an NCAA Tournament game, trailing her own 37-point effort in this season’s Second Round.
Junior Anriel Howard had career highs with 26 points and 12 field goals made and finished with 14 rebounds to record her 20th double-double of the season and third of the tournament, despite playing much of the fourth quarter with four fouls. Khaalia Hillsman added 13 points in the game.
It was the schools’ first NCAA Tournament matchup since the 2011 National Championship game, which the Aggies won 76-70.
It was the final game for seniors Hillsman, Lulu McKinney and Jasmine Lumpkin. The Aggies finish the season with 26 wins, the program’s 13th straight 20+ win season, and the most wins by Texas A&M since 2013-14.
Texas A&M
- The Aggies conclude the season at 26-10, picking up their most wins in a season since 2013-14. Notre Dame improves to 32-3 on the season and advances to the Elite Eight.
- The Aggies are 25-14 all-time in 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Aggies are 3-4 in Sweet 16 games.
- Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is 357-151 through 15 seasons in Aggieland, and 765-314 in his Hall of Fame career.
- Blair is 37-23 in his career in NCAA Tournament games, and 4-7 in 11 Sweet 16 appearances
- Had back-to-back 30+ point games for the first time in her career. She has seven career 30+ point games, two of which have come in the NCAA Tournament
- Her 31 points are the second-most in Texas A&M NCAA Tournament history, behind only her 37 in this year’s Second Round
- Scored 20+ points for the fifth straight game, including all three of the 2018 NCAA Tournament games, and the 24thtime this season
- She is the first Aggie since Danielle Adams in 2010-11 to score 20+ points in five straight games
- Scored 10+ points in 35 of 36 games this season
- Posted a double-double in all three of her games in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and 20 times this season. She extends her Texas A&M career record with her 33rd career double-double
- Scored in double figures for the 22nd time this season and for the third time in three games in the 2018 NCAA Tournament
- Finishes her season with the Texas A&M single-season record with 439. It is the ninth-most rebounds for an SEC player in conference history
- Scored 10+ points for the 26th time this season and the 70th time in her career
- Moved past Courtney Williams (2012-16, 1462 points) for ninth on Texas A&M’s career points list
- Finishes her career fifth in career rebounds with 880, third in career blocks with 149 and second in career double doubles with 23.
- Finishes the season with the Texas A&M single-season record with 71 made 3-pointers
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics