Women's Hoop Report XXVI

Texas A&M 112 - Northwestern State 26

It's been a hard month for Northwestern State (0-5). The Lady Demons not only loss by 86 to Texas A&M they also dropped a 93-point defeat to Baylor on Dec. 18, when they loss 136-43. Northwestern's closest loss was a 68-55 decision to Louisiana-Monroe.

Below: Destiny Pitts

Texas A&M (9-0) did not take any pity on Northwestern State as it scored a school record in points. The Aggies shot 58 percent overall, including 52 percent from three-point land. Northwestern shot 18 percent connecting on nine-of-50 shots. The Aggies forced 26 turnovers while only allowing six assists from Northwestern State. Texas A&M had 26 assists and six turnovers.

Fifteen players took the court for Texas A&M, all but one scored. Five Aggies scored at least 10 points. Reserve guard Destiny Pitts posted 14 points. The 5-10 senior scored a season high in points as she entered the game averaging 7.6 points per game.

Below: Kayla Wells

Starters Ciera Johnson and Kayla Wells scored 13 points each. Johnson, a 6-4 center is averaging 10.6. She led all players with six rebounds in 12 minutes of action. Johnson also made all five of her shot attempts. Wells shot 5-7 and shared the team lead of four assists with starter Jordan Nixon and reserve Zaay Green. This game was Green's first of the season. The transfer from Tennessee scored 10 points in her Texas A&M debut.

Another player that was in double digits was reserve Alexis Morris. The 5-6 junior guard from Beaumont, Texas. collected 12 points in 12 minutes. She is averaging 10.8 points and has made three of her first six three-point shots this season.

The Aggies did not allow one Northwestern State player to score more than eight points.

Lasalle 75 - Coppin State 49

Lasalle improved its record to an even 3-3 with a road win over Coppin State. Lasalle sophomore guard Claire Jacobs led all players with an efficient 26 points. The six footer shot 8-14, including 3-7 from three-point territory. She also went nearly perfect from the free-throw line, where she shot 7-8.

Below: Claire Jacobs

Jacobs' 26 points was a season best as she is came off of a 21-point performance in a 75-72 loss to Howard on Dec. 11. She is averaging 17.6 points in five contests this season.

Senior point guard Kate Hill led Lasalle with six assists and only one turnover. Hill has done an excellent job of taking care of the basketball this season. She has had more than one turnover only one time in the team's first six games. In her last two contests combined she has tallied 12 assists and two turnovers.

Below: Kate Hill

Freshman guard Jaye Haynes had a strong effort off of the bench. She posted 10 points, with careers bests seven rebounds and three steals.

Lasalle posted 14 assists and 14 turnovers while Coppin State was plagued with 24 turnovers with just eight assists. Coppin State was led in scoring by guard Aliyah Lawson's 15 points. Forward Rebecca Wilson pulled down 10 rebounds.

Portland 74 - Pepperdine 64

After a slow start visiting Portland took off to defeat West Coast Conference foe Pepperdine by 10 points.

Below: Haylee Andrews

Despite trailing 25-17 after the first quarter, Portland went on to outscore its opponent 36-22 over the next two periods to cruise to the win. Pilots guard Haylee Andrews led the way with a season high 22 points. The 5-9 junior also grabbed a season best nine rebounds and dished six assists. Her teammate forward Alex Fowler had a double-double with 19 points and 10 reb0unds. It was her second double-double of the season.

Below: Alex Fowler

Maddie Muhlheim and Liana Kaitu'u also scored 10 points each for Portland. Pepperdine was led in scoring and rebounding by forward Monique Andriuolo who scored 13 points on five-of-eight shooting, while collecting nine rebounds. Guard Jayda Ruffus-Milner had seven points, six rebounds and four assists with zero turnovers and two steals.

Below: Jayda Ruffus-Milner