Another electrical performance boosted No. 3 Aggies over Gamecocks from fifth place, 65-57. A packed Reed Arena witnessed history today, when the Aggies won their first crown in the SEC regular season and first place in the SEC tournament.
Aaliyah Wilson mentioned what this victory says about his team.
“This victory says a lot,” said Wilson. “It says a lot about what we can do. I don’t think we played a perfect game. I think we still have to show who we are and what we can do. Knowing that we were able to achieve this is already good. Hopefully, we will be able to build on that. “
This game marked many debuts for the Aggies, with an unprecedented title in the regular season and the first clash between the top five of the Associated Press of the Reed Arena.
The Aggies achieved their tenth consecutive victory (22-1, 13-1 SEC) and maintained their undefeated status over ranked opponents (10-0).
Both of the first five teams came out hot and ready for battle, but this game was all about the final minutes and who would show more resilience. The Aggies maintained a tight lead for most of the first half, ending the first quarter with 17-14.
“Sometimes you have leaders, but nobody wants to listen and follow. This team does well and trusts each other, so it’s easy to lead. “
– Anna Dreimane Senior Center
The Aggies faced momentum waves at the start, with two big races in the second quarter. Keeping Gamecocks with three points in the first four minutes, Maroon and White fired a 9-point run to climb 26-17.
Gamecocks quickly showed signs of struggle in their physicality and in the offensive production of Destanni Henderson, who scored 12 points in the first half. The Gamecocks gained a fleeting lead on 27-26, but the Aggies came on top less than a minute later and entered the interval with a narrow 35-34 lead.
The second quarter saw N’dea Jones hit his seventh game rebound, which earned him the all-time leader in rebounds for the Aggies. Jones now boasts an incredible 1,012+ rebounds in his career. Jones caught 16 rebounds in the game and scored his 40th double-double career and 13th double-double of the season.
The rebound machine N’dea Jones reflected on his achievements this season, specifically on the rebound.
“I knew I was going to the game tonight that I only needed seven rebounds. When it happened, I didn’t even know why I was worried about going back to defense. It feels very good, but I am happy that my team won and I feel that they needed the extra belongings that I was able to give them. “
The explosive performance displayed by the Aggies in the third quarter pushed the Aggies to a 54-42 lead over the Gamecocks. The Aggies held South Carolina with 41-34 for five minutes of goalless play. Texas A&M continued its run, but suffered four fouls in an attempt to obstruct South Carolina’s attack on painting. Jordan Nixon contributed a pair of three crucial points to solidify a 12 point advantage over Gamecocks in fourth three.
Coach Gary Blair assessed his team’s ability to close the option of scoring in paint for South Carolina.
“South Carolina is dominant in painting, but look at the paint dots in this game, 36 for us and 26 for them. This never happened to them all year round. His score in the last 16 games, including against Connecticut, is off the charts. You win championships with your paint touches and paint spots. ”
Lia Musgrave, TexAgs
This is the first Texas A&M regular season conference title since 2007.
Zia Cooke kept the Gamecocks alive with his free-kick in the first minutes of the fourth half. Cooke hit four free throws and hit a trey for the Gamecocks, bringing the score to 56-49. South Carolina fought its defense with an entire court press, but the Aggies could not be shaken. Maroon and White showed a final series of the game, 5-0, for a stifling end of the regular season, 65-57.
Sunday’s victory was even more significant as the Aggies celebrated their veterans the day before the match. Each senior posted points and four of the six seniors scored double digits, including Aaliyah Wilson (17), N’dea Jones (16), Jordan Nixon (11), Kayla Wells (10), Ciera Johnson (6) and Anna Dreimane (2 ).
Anna Dreimane explained the leadership that these six elderly people demonstrate.
“We did a great job with the people who follow us and want to hear,” said Dreimane. “Sometimes you have leaders, but nobody wants to listen and follow. This team does well and trusts each other, so it’s easy to lead. “
The Aggies will now prepare for the quarter-finals of the SEC tournament. Texas A&M is scheduled to play on Friday, March 5 at 11 am, where the opponent has yet to be announced. All SEC tournament games will be played in Greenville, South Carolina, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Friday’s game will air on SEC Network.