BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Going up against a ranked opponent to begin the season, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball program hung tough early but fell 87-54 at No. 23 Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Reed Arena.
The Islanders (0-1) led after the first four and a half minutes and trailed by just two with 1:33 left in the first. Though, the Aggies (1-0) answered with a run early in the second quarter to build a lead and never looked back. The key stat from the night was Texas A&M shooting 12-24 (.500) from three, compared to 0-13 (.000) for A&M-Corpus Christi.
Junior
Alecia Westbrook, a Preseason All-Conference Second-Team selection, notched a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Senior
Makinna Serrata was also a heavy contributor with 11 points and eight rebounds.
A strong showing came from senior
Alexandria Pollard as she was a bucket away from a double-double with eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds. As a team, A&M-Corpus Christi secured 19 offensive rebounds including six from both Pollard and Serrata.
The Aggies, the reigning SLC regular season champions and a Sweet 16 team last season, were led by Kayla Wells who scored a game-high 18 points.
The first bucket of the season came on a second chance bucket inside by Westbrook to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead. Another second chance opportunity was converted by Serrata to put them up 9-5 at the 6:47 mark. The team's final lead of the game 13-10 came on a jumper in the paint by Pollard with 5:22 left.
A&M-Corpus Christi trailed just 19-17 when Texas A&M closed the final 1:33 on a 6-0 run to lead 25-17. The Aggies extended their advantage to 43-26 midway through the second, but a jumper and free throw by freshman
Annukka Willstedt cut it to 43-31 with 57 seconds to go.
The third quarter was highlighted by a pair of field goals from Willstedt, but the Aggies were able to increase their lead to 65-41. The fourth saw sophomore
Nabaweeyah McGill knock down a pair of field goals and a free throw.
Up next, the Islanders will play their home opener Sunday at 2 p.m. against UTRGV in the Dugan Wellness Center. The game is part of the South Texas Showdown, presented by NavyArmy Community Credit Union and can be watched live on ESPN+.
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi began its 23rd season of basketball. The Islanders were the 2020 Southland Conference champions, finishing the year 23-7 overall and 17-3 SLC.
-
Royce Chadwick began his 10th season at the helm and 37th year overall as a head coach. Chadwick was the 2020 SLC Coach of the Year winner.
- Westbrook tallied her ninth career double-double. It was her 17th career double-figure scoring game and sixth in a row dating back to last season. It was also her 12th career double-digit rebounding performance.
- Serrata registered her 12th career double-figure scoring game and her fifth in the last six games dating back to last year. Her eight rebounds were one shy of a career-high.
- Pollard pulled down 10 rebounds for the first time in her career. Her previous high was nine against Concordia on Dec. 13, 2020.
- The Islanders outscored the Aggies 14-7 in second chance points.
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