No. 12 Women Drop Road Battle at No. 11 Kentucky


LEXINGTON, Ky. The No. 12 Texas A&M women's basketball team was unable to get by No. 11 Kentucky, falling 76-54 at Memorial Coliseum Thursday night. A strong third quarter from junior guard Kayla Wells helped her lead the way with 18 points, while junior forward Ciera Johnson also added 18.

Johnson got things going to the Aggies in the first quarter, scoring nine of the team's 13 points, including the first seven. A&M led 13-12 heading into the second quarter, holding the league's leading scorer, Rhyne Howard, to just 1-for-7 shooting from the floor and 0-for 5 from three.

Howard knocked down back-to-back buckets to start the second period and spark the Wildcats. Kentucky closed out the first half on an 11-3 run to take a 33-21 lead into the break.

After putting up six points in the first half, junior guard Kayla Wells came alive in the third quarter and added eight points to her total the first five minutes of the new half. She tallied 12 by the end of the period to get the Aggies back within single digits heading into the final 10 minutes.

Five straight points for Kentucky to open the fourth quarter quickly put the Wildcats back up 14. A&M got back within 10 early on just the Wildcats responded with a pair of threes and never looked back.

TEAM NOTES

• A&M held the slight edge in the paint, outscoring Kentucky 24-22.

• The Aggies are now 1-2 this season against nationally-ranked opponents.


• Texas A&M used a starting lineup of Shambria Washington, Aaliyah Wilson, Kayla Wells, N'dea Jones and Ciera Johnson for the first time this season.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Junior guard Kayla Wells used a strong second half to help lead the way with 18 points, scoring in double figures for the 12th time this season.


• Junior forward Ciera Johnson scored in double figures for the ninth straight game as she also put up 18 points in the game.


• Junior forward N'dea Jones recorded her fifth straight double-double, adding 10 points and 12 boards.


• Jones is now tied with Johnson for sixth all-time at A&M with 17 career double-doubles.


• Senior guard Shambria Washington dished out a career-high 10 assists, while committing just a single turnover.


• Washington's lone turnover marked the 11th time this season she has had two-or-fewer turnovers in a game.


• Junior guard Aaliyah Wilson made her first start of the season, 10th of her career, replacing the injured Chennedy Carter.

UP NEXT
The No. 12 Aggies return home to host Florida on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available here.


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Johnson 6/14 FTs but hits her fgs ok ?

Sorry, the Ags are not a very good team this year. Talent wise, they have a whole lot to go with. Teamwork, agility and coaching wise, not good at all so far with or without Carter. Seems like with Blair, he's fine with hanging every game on Carter's constant shooting and the rest of the team seems like it's okay with that too. No one else looks like a leader or has sufficient talent to carry the Ags. JMO

Hard to deal with a 13-12 lead after the first qtr. UK star has 2 fouls and does not play in 2nd qtr and UK expands the lead to double digits by the half.

Most of the good teams, both men and women, shoot the 3 ball well. We do not most of the time.