Texas A&M Aggies 50, Connecticut Huskies 81

November 18, 2012

COLLEGE STATION, TX (Reed Arena) -- "I appreciate the national attendance. I appreciate Connecticut and what they've done for this program; and, I hope y'all had a chance to see what that next, next level was all about. And, hopefully, we aspire to get back there ourselves; but, right now, we've got a long way to go."

Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair said those words Sunday afternoon after his team was trounced 81-50 by the Connecticut Huskies in front of 7,657 fans gathered inside Reed Arena.

With the loss, the 13th-ranked Aggies' record falls to 0-3 for the first time in the program's history.

The Huskies (2-0) raced to a 16-6 lead five plus minutes into the game. Center Stefanie Dolson scored seven of the 16 points. The Huskies carved up the Aggies defense and assisted on all seven of the made shots during the stretch.

Aggies' freshman Courtney Walker scored six straight points and helped spark the Aggies with some energy and much needed scoring. Walker's steal and layup pulled the Aggies within four (16-12) points; but, the Huskies responded with a 9-0 run to lead 25-12 with 9:33 remaining in the first half.

Kelsey Bone converted back-to-back layups for a 25-16 Huskies' lead; and, Walker added another layup to trim the Aggies' deficit to 25-18 at the 7:02 mark of the half. The Aggies managed to get within seven points after freshman Courtney Williams drained a three-point shot.

However, Connecticut finished the first half with a 10-5 burst to lead 40-28 at halftime. Dolson scored 20 points in the half on 9 for 12 shooting from the field and 2 for 3 from the free throw line. Dolson finished the game with a 24 points (11 for 15 field goals), six rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

The Aggies made only 9 of 29 field goal attempts (31.0%) in the first half; but, in the second half, the Huskies amped up their defense and continued their laser-like precision on offense. The Huskies opened up a 58-31 lead. Sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (14) and Dolson (22) combined for 36 of the 58 points on 16 for 23 field goal shooting.

The rout was on; but, A&M frosh, Courtney Walker, finished the game with a team-high 20 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. The Aggies trailed by as much as 34 points in the ball game.

For the third time in three games, the Aggies struggled to make field goals. The Aggies shot a frigid 30% (18 for 60) from the field; and, Walker (7 for 12) was the only Aggie to make more than half her field goal shot attempts.

The Aggies will attempt to end their losing skid Tuesday at 7 pm when they host Liberty.