Texas A&M Women's Basketball
Jordan Kirkland: I know it was a tough loss against Oklahoma. Talk about your personal struggles as well as the team's.
Adaora Elonu: "I think as a team, we just weren't shooting well. They were knocking down shots that they needed to, and the shots that we had that were good shots, we weren't knocking them down. That held us back and we weren't able to score enough points and they played hard and got the victory."
JK: On a more positive note, you've played an incredible senior season. Coach Blair has constantly said you're the most consistent player there is. What about your game has let you be so consistent this season?
Elonu: "I think it's just the experience that I've had, playing three years prior, so I know what's expected of me. And just putting the effort out on the court to do that. Being a consistent player on the team is something that I think about before I go out on the court. And I think it's great that Coach Blair said that. He doesn't tell me that, but I just try to stay consistent and help the team."
JK: Alexia Standish and Kelsey Bone are progressing incredibly, getting better every game. How does them getting better help your game on the court?
Elonu: "It helps a lot because teams have to focus on them. Their progression helps the rest of us out on the court because they're playing so good that other players have to pay attention to them and they're not so focused on us. We're able to move without the ball, score when we need to, run our offense ... they're a threat inside and out, so it's a bonus to our team. As long as they keep playing like they're playing, we should be playing pretty well."
JK: This Saturday you're playing Texas Tech. It's your senior night ... I know it's going to be quite emotional. Talk about how you're going to feel. I know you're technically playing a game against Baylor, but since this is 'Senior Night,' what will it mean to you?
Elonu: "It means a lot just knowing that I got to my senior year, and my family will be here. It's a special night. Hopefully we can just play well and show our fans and our families just how much they've meant to us, allowing us to be here and getting us here. We'll play hard and get the win for them."
JK: What's your game plan going in? Has Coach Blair established exactly what you're going to be doing against them?
Elonu: "We haven't looked at the film yet, but we played pretty well up there. We had our little miscues on defense, but our offense worked pretty well. We're going to do a little tweaking because we know they're going to adjust as well. But we played a pretty good game, so we're going to stick to our game plan that we had earlier in the year, and hopefully that works for us."
JK: You were the #6 power forward in the country coming out of high school and you chose Texas A&M. Do you remember why?
Elonu: "Well, there were a couple of reasons. One, my brother was here. It was close to home. And, as I got here and watched his games, it was just the atmosphere of being here and being a fan first. It was pretty amazing. My younger sisters knew the traditions and every song by heart before I did. It was just something where I could see myself, place myself here and that was really important to me. I didn't want any regrets. And the feeling that I could actually see myself at this school was a big factor for me."
JK: Now that you're a senior, did all those reasons come true in looking back over your four years here?
Elonu: "Oh yeah, I have no regrets. Everything I expected, I pretty much got."
JK: This might be too easy of a question, but what has been your favorite memory of your time at Texas A&M?
Elonu: "Huh... let's see... I think I would have to say the national championship. Of course. By far. By far. Aaaand, graduating. I think that's a close second."
JK: You're actually in grad school right now in health education, getting your Master's and wanting to go to medical school. Getting such a great education and being on the basketball court 24/7, how did you get it done?
Elonu: "Definitely the support of my family. I know I couldn't have done it without them. It's been tough, but it's been fun. It's something I really wanted to do, and I think that's helped me. If I didn't want to do it, I probably wouldn't have had the effort that I've had. It's something I really wanted to do, so I put forth the effort."
JK: Have you started looking into what medical school you're looking at going to? Do you apply and go in in the fall, is that how it works?
Elonu: "Well, I still have one more class to take, and then I'll most likely apply in February. I want to come to Texas A&M's medical school. I've talked to some of the staff over there and administration. But that's still a ways away. I'm not sure where I'm going to go from here, but medical school is definitely on my radar and A&M is the place I want to attend."
JK: Talk, finally, about the seniors that you have with you. Tyra White, Sydney Carter, Skylar Collins, what do all of them mean to you after going through so much together? How great is it to finish out your career with those women?
Elonu: "It's great. I can remember when we first met at freshman orientation. We were in G. Rollie or somewhere around there. We had a great summer. Me and Kelsey (Assarian) were just reminiscing about the good times we had. ...I'm going to miss it. I know that much. But they're great and they're a core group I can definitely say I'll continue friendships with after we're done with A&M. It's a great group and I couldn't ask for a better senior class."
Adaora Elonu prepares for Senior Night
Jordan K interviews Elonu before A&M's Senior Night game against Tech
Jordan Kirkland: I know it was a tough loss against Oklahoma. Talk about your personal struggles as well as the team's.
Adaora Elonu: "I think as a team, we just weren't shooting well. They were knocking down shots that they needed to, and the shots that we had that were good shots, we weren't knocking them down. That held us back and we weren't able to score enough points and they played hard and got the victory."JK: On a more positive note, you've played an incredible senior season. Coach Blair has constantly said you're the most consistent player there is. What about your game has let you be so consistent this season?
Elonu: "I think it's just the experience that I've had, playing three years prior, so I know what's expected of me. And just putting the effort out on the court to do that. Being a consistent player on the team is something that I think about before I go out on the court. And I think it's great that Coach Blair said that. He doesn't tell me that, but I just try to stay consistent and help the team."JK: Alexia Standish and Kelsey Bone are progressing incredibly, getting better every game. How does them getting better help your game on the court?
Elonu: "It helps a lot because teams have to focus on them. Their progression helps the rest of us out on the court because they're playing so good that other players have to pay attention to them and they're not so focused on us. We're able to move without the ball, score when we need to, run our offense ... they're a threat inside and out, so it's a bonus to our team. As long as they keep playing like they're playing, we should be playing pretty well."JK: This Saturday you're playing Texas Tech. It's your senior night ... I know it's going to be quite emotional. Talk about how you're going to feel. I know you're technically playing a game against Baylor, but since this is 'Senior Night,' what will it mean to you?
Elonu: "It means a lot just knowing that I got to my senior year, and my family will be here. It's a special night. Hopefully we can just play well and show our fans and our families just how much they've meant to us, allowing us to be here and getting us here. We'll play hard and get the win for them."JK: What's your game plan going in? Has Coach Blair established exactly what you're going to be doing against them?
Elonu: "We haven't looked at the film yet, but we played pretty well up there. We had our little miscues on defense, but our offense worked pretty well. We're going to do a little tweaking because we know they're going to adjust as well. But we played a pretty good game, so we're going to stick to our game plan that we had earlier in the year, and hopefully that works for us."JK: You were the #6 power forward in the country coming out of high school and you chose Texas A&M. Do you remember why?
Elonu: "Well, there were a couple of reasons. One, my brother was here. It was close to home. And, as I got here and watched his games, it was just the atmosphere of being here and being a fan first. It was pretty amazing. My younger sisters knew the traditions and every song by heart before I did. It was just something where I could see myself, place myself here and that was really important to me. I didn't want any regrets. And the feeling that I could actually see myself at this school was a big factor for me."JK: Now that you're a senior, did all those reasons come true in looking back over your four years here?
Elonu: "Oh yeah, I have no regrets. Everything I expected, I pretty much got."JK: This might be too easy of a question, but what has been your favorite memory of your time at Texas A&M?
Elonu: "Huh... let's see... I think I would have to say the national championship. Of course. By far. By far. Aaaand, graduating. I think that's a close second."JK: You're actually in grad school right now in health education, getting your Master's and wanting to go to medical school. Getting such a great education and being on the basketball court 24/7, how did you get it done?
Elonu: "Definitely the support of my family. I know I couldn't have done it without them. It's been tough, but it's been fun. It's something I really wanted to do, and I think that's helped me. If I didn't want to do it, I probably wouldn't have had the effort that I've had. It's something I really wanted to do, so I put forth the effort."JK: Have you started looking into what medical school you're looking at going to? Do you apply and go in in the fall, is that how it works?
Elonu: "Well, I still have one more class to take, and then I'll most likely apply in February. I want to come to Texas A&M's medical school. I've talked to some of the staff over there and administration. But that's still a ways away. I'm not sure where I'm going to go from here, but medical school is definitely on my radar and A&M is the place I want to attend."JK: Talk, finally, about the seniors that you have with you. Tyra White, Sydney Carter, Skylar Collins, what do all of them mean to you after going through so much together? How great is it to finish out your career with those women?
Elonu: "It's great. I can remember when we first met at freshman orientation. We were in G. Rollie or somewhere around there. We had a great summer. Me and Kelsey (Assarian) were just reminiscing about the good times we had. ...I'm going to miss it. I know that much. But they're great and they're a core group I can definitely say I'll continue friendships with after we're done with A&M. It's a great group and I couldn't ask for a better senior class."Never miss the latest news from TexAgs!
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