The No. 14 Aggies host the Kansas State Wildcats Wednesday to wrap up a two-game home stand. A&M enters the game firing on all cylinders having won three in a row to seize sole possession of second place in the competitive Big 12 conference.
The Wildcats (15-7, 6-4) suffered a 70-41 rout at the hands of undefeated No. 1 Baylor Saturday and hope to rebound against the streaking Aggies, whose recent surge pushed their record to 7-3 in the Big 12 and 16-5 overall.
Kansas State already has one win over A&M to their credit this season, as junior Mariah White sank a runner with 1.6 seconds left in overtime to topple the Aggies 71-69 in Manhattan, Kan. The loss came in the Big 12 opener for A&M, and the Aggies have won seven of nine since. The Aggies blew a 34-25 halftime lead despite 17 points from senior guard Tyra White and 16 from senior guard Sydney Carter.
Kansas State tends to lean on their defense, forcing teams into slow-paced, low scoring games that better suit the game plan of the Wildcats. Kansas State ranks last in the conference in scoring offense, netting just 59.2 points per game, but slots in second among Big 12 teams in scoring defense allowing just 55.0 points per game.
Though the Wildcats are the worst shooting team in the league, making just 38.5 percent of their field goal attempts, they were able to shoot 60 percent in the second half of the earlier meeting against the Aggies to pull away and secure the victory.
Junior guard Brittany Chambers heads the Wildcat offense with her 15.8 points per game, good for fifth among eligible Big 12 players. Chambers scored a game-high 21 in the Kansas State win over A&M, followed by 17 from senior guard Tasha Dickey (10.0 points per game) and 16 from senior forward Jalana Childs (13.9 points per game). Chambers, Childs, and Dickey comprise the vast majority of Kansas State's scoring, averaging a combined 39.7 points per game of the team's total 59.2. Chambers is a threat from the perimeter, averaging 2.73 three-pointers made per game, the most in the conference.
Junior center Kelsey Bone scored a career-high 26 points in a win against Kansas Saturday, boosting her season average to 12.4 points per game. White continues to lead the team with 13.8 points per game, while Carter and senior forward Adaora Elonu each pitch in 12.0 points per game.
The Aggies established Bone in the post early in the Kansas game and never trailed in the 62-51 home win. The team will attempt to continue the swarming, pressing defense that has led to a conference-best turnover differential and crash the offensive glass to maintain an offensive-rebounding percentage that also leads all Big 12 teams.
A&M is 10-1 at home in Reed Arena, with the only loss coming to rival Texas. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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