College Confidential

A&M women hold off Kansas

COLLEGE STATION -- Kansas did something no other team has done against No. 11 Texas A&M this season, shooting 56.4 percent from the field, but the upset-minded Jayhawks still lost.

After getting an earful from the coaching staff at halftime, the Aggies turned up the heat defensively and went on a late 11-0 run to overcome a seven-point second half deficit in a 73-60 victory in front of 7,143 at Reed Arena.

"They got an earful on everything," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said of the fiery halftime speech. "I better be at church tomorrow. And they better be there too -- to be thankful that we can come back after that. We wouldn't have won this game in Lawrence."

Kansas (12-7, 1-5 Big 12) led 35-29 at the break, going 16-for-25 (64 percent) from the field, but made just six field goals and committed 14 of their 26 turnovers in the second half. A&M scored 29 points off turnovers in the game.

Danielle Gant scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the second half for the Aggies (17-3, 5-2), who won their third straight since starting Big 12 play 2-2. Takia Starks was just 8-for-21 from the field but tallied 17 points and five steals.

Gant scored five points, had one assist and blocked a shot during A&M's second-half run.

"When you play the [No. 11] team, you better be ready to throw two punches and then duck when they throw one," Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "In this league, you've got to be able to answer a run and weather a storm. ... Turnovers, losing some poise, a lack of toughness and poor point guard play hurt us."

Danielle McCray had 24 points for the Jayhawks, the highest total for an Aggies opponent this season.

-- Lori Dann

Countdown talk: No.14 Kansas

Quick take: What the Jayhawks did last year was stunning. It would be disappointing to see a dramatic decline and for players to revel in last year's success through non-conference. I don't think that will happen, but I just can't see them rolling through their schedule like 2007, either. Not with Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma on the slate. But I do think they'll steal one of those games.
My player to watch: QB Todd Reesing (5-11, 200). The Austin Lake Travis graduate is coming off a record-setting season in which he threw for 3,486 yards and 33 touchdowns. In his first three games, he didn't throw an interception, and had four games in which he threw four touchdown passes.

-Trae Thompson

Not rooting for Oklahoma State?

That's what Kansas coach Bill Self said after the Texas A&M game on Saturday.

If Oklahoma State, which is Self's alma mater, can beat Texas on Sunday, then the Jayhawks will earn the outright Big 12 regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. If Texas wins, the Longhorns and Jayhawks will share the title and Texas will be the top seed in the tournament by virtue of beating Kansas this season.

"I may watch the game, I may not," Self said. " I'm not going to burn any energy on that. I think Texas will win. They don't lose at home very often. Whatever happens, happens. It's certainly not a slap in anyone's face to share (the conference title) with another team that I think has a chance to win a national championship, because I do think Texas potentially could be that good."

_ John Miller