Texas A&M. DePaul play for spot in Sweet 16 (Mar 17, 2018)
Fourth-seeded Texas A&M has had its primer. Now it's time to see what the Aggies have learned as they square off against fifth-seeded DePaul on Sunday in an NCAA Women's Tournament second-round game at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas.
The Aggies got 26 points and 11 assists from Chennedy Carter and 22 from Khaalia Hillsman in a tougher-than-expected 89-76 victory over Drake in Friday's first round.
"This team really gets us ready for DePaul by the way they played," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said after the win over Drake. "But if that's the No. 13 in the nation, we're fixing to play No. 5, I mean, in seeds, we've got our work cut out for us."
Texas A&M (25-9) is looking for its seventh appearance in the Sweet 16, but its first since 2014.
Danni Williams added 18 points for the Aggies in the win, and Anriel Howard had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Even though the final tally would indicate Texas A&M just outscored Drake, defense played a big part in the victory, especially the effort produced by Williams, the national freshman of the year.
DePaul, a team that likes to run the floor and shoot quickly, will provide Texas A&M a different test.
"I don't know if we can press DePaul," Blair explained. "They take the ball out of the net and while our back is turned, they're laying it up down on the other end. So it will be a different game plan because DePaul is twice as quick as Drake."
The Blue Demons (27-7) reached the second round with a 90-79 win over Oklahoma in the first round on Friday. Amarah Coleman and Kelly Coleman led all scorers with 17 points apiece, and Mart'e Grays and Ashton Millender added 16 each for DePaul.
"This game was won by the players," DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. "They made every play. They got off to the quick and efficient start, and they also held strong when that Oklahoma team made a great run at us in the second half."
DePaul jumped on the Sooners early, sinking five 3-pointers to take a 15-7 lead three minutes into the game. The Blue Demons ultimately hit 12 of 24 3-pointers.
"We just press getting off to a quick and efficient start every game," Coleman said. "Today, we came out and hit the shots that counted."
DePaul had five players averaging in double figures for the season -- Grays (14.4 points per game), Millender (13.7), Coleman (12.5), Chante Stonewall and Campbell (both 10.6).
The Blue Demons have won six straight games and 12 of their last 13. DePaul will try to inflict its offensive will on Texas A&M but will have to work to do it.
"You earn the right to shoot the ball quickly and play at the pace that you love to play by bringing your hard hats and bringing your lunch pails," Bruno said. "Defending and rebounding earns you the right to have a party on offense."
DePaul is 2-2 all time against Texas A&M. The Blue Demons' only previous appearance in Reed Arena was Dec. 12, 2015, when they upset the Aggies 80-66.
