sports
page 7 friday 1.28.2011
thebattalion
Battle for the Big 12 No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 5 Texas A&M Noon, Sunday Reed Arena
Come watch this game
I
t will be a matchup between two of the top teams in the country, will decide who has the edge in the Big 12 title race and will feature two of the best players in the nation that will go headto-head for 40 minutes in a heated Lone-star state rivalry. It will be one of the biggest games in the history of Reed Arena and Texas A&M basketball. No, I’m not talking about ESPN’s Big Monday game when the Texas Longhorns come into town. Sunday, before all of the hype of men’s basketball takes over Reed Arena, Texas A&M’s No. 5 women’s basketball team will square off against No. 1 Baylor. The game will only be the third time in the history of the Big 12 that two top-5 teams will face each other in conference play. Earlier this week, the A&M ticket office sold out the lower bowl of Reed Arena for the first time ever for a women’s basketball game. As seats continue to be filled in the upper decks, it will be up to the student body to make Sunday’s contest the first sellout in the history of A&M women’s basketball. Estimates show that 3,0003,500 students will need to be in attendance in order for the sellout to take place. If this were a men’s game, this goal would be surpassed easily and ahead of schedule. However, despite the program’s vast success and opportunity to win a conference and national cham-
Rivals face off for conference supremacy Mike Teague
Mike Teague
Students need to show up for the biggest game in the history of the A&M women’s basketball program
pionship this season, A&M’s student body still refuses to acknowledge or recognize the talent on display. The arguments of the game being too slow or not physical enough will be completely debunked in Sunday’s game. Both teams average more than 81 points a game and feature two of the toughest defenses across the country regardless of gender. So instead of sitting around Sunday waiting for Monday’s men’s game, be a true member of the Twelfth Man and come show your support for the Aggie women in the biggest game of their program’s history. Mike Teague is a senior university studies major.
The Battalion In a battle for first in the Big 12 standings, Texas A&M’s No. 5 women’s basketball team will take on No. 1 Baylor at noon Sunday at Reed Arena. Texas A&M (18-1, 6-0) and Baylor (18-1, 5-0) share identical overall records and both are undefeated in conference play. The winner of Sunday’s game will take a huge step towards the Big 12 regular season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament. Baylor is led by 6 foot 8 inch phenom Brittney Griner. The sophomore center ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring with 22.2 points per game and leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per game. “There’s nobody in the game like her,” said Texas Tech Head Coach Kristy Curry after losing to Baylor Saturday in a game Griner scored 25 points. “She’s incredible. She’s got a chance to lead her team to a national championship, Olympic gold medals, one of the greatest to ever play the game. She’s a hard matchup for a lot of people.” Griner’s battle with A&M senior center Danielle Adams is one of the most highly anticipated matchups across the nation this season. Adams leads the Big 12 in scoring with 22.9 points per game and ranks fourth in the conference in rebounds averaging 8.4 per game. “Everyone tries to stop Danielle inside with double or triple teams and then she goes outside and hits the jumper,” Head Coach Gary Blair said. “When she’s guarding a post player, then has to go outside to hit the shot, that’s tough,
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Above: Head Coach Gary Blair and his No. 5 Aggies take on No. 1 Baylor at noon Sunday at Reed Arena. Left: Baylor center Brittney Griner is in consideration to capture the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year. She and the Lady Bears are 18-1. but if she misses, she never misses bad. I’m very lucky to have her.” In a game that may be decided by the role-players, both teams have plenty of options. A&M senior guard Sydney Colson leads the Big 12 in assists while junior guard Tyra White is averaging 13.9 points per game.
For Baylor, senior guard Melissa Jones is averaging a team-high 3.84 assists per game and scored 17 points in a 61-53 win over A&M last season in Waco. The Bears are also backed by freshman guard Odyssey Sims who is averaging 13.3 points per game. The numbers that A&M
and Baylor have racked up have been both impressive and similar. Both rank in the top-three in the Big 12 in scoring, scoring margin, field goal percentage, assists and turnover margin. When Baylor came to A&M last season, the Bears escaped College Station with 65-63 victory.
TING N E S E R P Y RE L E V WI I S D S H E T R I G W G A GED R A H C E S THO
m o c . w o l B t o N
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Church Street Band Line-Up
Murray Newman
Tyler Flood
• Class of ‘95 • Former Felony Chief Prosecutor • Bryan Native
• Board Certified in Criminal Law • Instructor in Field Sobriety Testing • National College for DUI Defense
murray@newmanflood.com
tyler@newmanflood.com
Newman Flood ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Thurs:
Lucky English
(Newman Flood is currently accepting new clients charged with all felonies and misdemeanors)
302 W. 28th Street, Bryan
979.775.4DWI (4394)
Fri:
Reagan Firestorm Sat:
Catfish and the Hushpuppies $
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TAKE A PIECE OF A&M HISTORY WITH YOU Reserve your 2011 Aggieland The 109th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook — the Aggieland — will chronicle the 2010-2011 school year: traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, greeks, campus organizations, and seniors and graduate students. By credit card go online to http://aggieland. tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Cost is $64.90, including shipping and sales tax. Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.
1/27/11 6:34 PM