COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Ny’Ceara Pryor’s three-pointer hit nothing but net at the third quarter buzzer, giving the Aggies all the momentum heading into the final frame against the No. 3 team in the nation, South Carolina.
That momentum carried the Aggies (8-10, 1-8) to cut the deficit 55-51 with 7:53 to play, before No. 3 South Carolina (22-2, 8-1) closed the game on a 16-5 run to win 71-56.
“We talk about it being a hard stretch for us,” A&M guard Ny’ceara Pryor said. “Now, coming into February, it’s a different mindset than we came in with, knowing that we have nothing to lose. The teams we’re playing have everything to lose. So we just got to go out there and fight every day for 40 minute,s and I think that’s the mind switch we’ve had so far.“
Why did the Aggies lose? They almost didn’t. This was a David vs. Goliath situation. Texas A&M was losing games by historic margins this season, while South Carolina continues to be the gold-standard of the SEC. Texas A&M’s defense did a good enough job to make things uncomfortable for South Carolina.
“Offensively, we just didn’t do a good job of just moving the ball in a way that really impacts the defense,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. We just played according to how Texas A&M wanted us to play. So they did a great job of just executing defensively.”
With all the momentum to start the fourth quarter, the Aggies then went cold, shooting 1-for-12 in the final ten minutes. The Gamecocks tightened up their defense without fouling, and that was the difference. South Carolina shot 5-for-11 in the fourth quarter while both A&M’s leading scorers, Pryor and Fatmata Janneh, fouled out.
“I think everyone was starting to make multiple efforts on both sides of the basketball, cutting offensively, going to offensive rebound if that’s your assignment for the game,” Texas A&M head coach Joni Taylor said. “Defensively, not standing around, not leaving your teammates on the island, and I think we’re just getting a better concept of that.”
Who stood out? Joyce Edwards put on a show, with a game-high 28 points and 11 rebounds. She shot 9-for 12 from the field and 10-for-12 at the free throw line. 14 of Edwards’ 28 points came in the fourth quarter.
For the Aggies, Ny’ceara Pryor led the way with 14 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 rebounds. Fatmata Janneh fouled out and only played 11 minutes, but was effective with 12 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 and grabbing 5 rebounds. Freshman Anita Franchini had a career high of 29 minutes and scored a career-best 7 points and 9 rebounds.
What’s next? The Aggies look to snap a six-game losing streak when they host Alabama this Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
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