Guru’s WBB Report: Texas A&M Tops Kentucky in Top 10 Battle While Tennessee Upsets Arkansas and Penn State Fades to Indiana

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

No. 8 Texas A&M held serve Thursday night at home at Reed Arena in College Station, beating No. 10 Kentucky 77-60 in a Top 10 showdown in the Southeastern Conference.

Kentucky (9-2, 2-1 SEC) came into the contest riding high off previous upsets of Arkansas and Mississippi State in overtime to move back into the Associated Press top 10 of the weekly women’s poll but the Aggies (11-0, 2-0) overcame 22 points from the Wildcats’ Rhyne Howard and 12 from KeKe McKinney to stay unbeaten overall. 

A&M has managed to avoid getting cut short with its schedule game load caused by the coronavirus and in the special math of this season is within the minimal number of 13 games that gets you qualified for consideration for the NCAA tournament, though depending where things stand next month more resume items will be needed including placement in the new .NET measurement replacing the RPI to determine placement in the field of usually 64 teams though options remain for a smaller field if necessary..

The Aggies’ N’dea Jones had 12 points and 12 rebounds tying Khaalia Hillsman, a former center, for the program record of 33 double doubles. Jordan Nixon, scoring the team's first 11 points, finished with a career high 19 while Aaliyah Wilson scored 18 points.

Kentucky goes to No. 5 South Carolina Sunday to play a Gamecocks team that had its Georgia game postponed Thursday due to Covid-19 protocols.

Texas A&M heads Sunday to No.13 Arkansas, which was upset by Tennessee 88-73, the Lady Vols’ SEC overall  opener at home in Knoxville.

In that game, Rennie Davis and Rae Burrell each scored 26 points for Tennessee (7-1, 1-0 SEC) and Davis also grabbed 11 rebounds.

Arkansas (10-3, 1-2) got 30 points and 13 rebounds from Chelsea, while Destiny Slocum scored 17, and Amber Ramirez scored 15.

“I’m so proud of this team, we’ve shown a lot of resiliency,” said Tennessee coach Kellie Harper, who’s squad had a long break off coronavirus protocols.

“I thought there were times we just let them get too deep,” said Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors.

Elsewhere in the SEC, No. 14 Mississippi State won 68-56 at Florida in Exactech Arena in Gainesville as Jessika Carter had 25 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulldogs (7-2, 2-1 SEC) against the Gators (7-4, 0-3).

“I think the ceiling is high for our team when Jessika is playing well,” said first year Mississippi State coach Nikki McCray-Penson.

Penn State Fades Against Indiana: In a competitive situation after the third quarter, the Lady Lions got wiped by the No. 19 Hoosiers in the final period and fell 85-64 at home in the Bryce Jordan Center in a Big Ten game in State College.

It was the third straight game with a ranked opponent in the conference and fourth in last five for Penn State (3-5. 0-4 Big Ten). 

Johnasia Cash had a double double of 19 points and 17 rebounds, second most this season in the league, while rookie Tova Sabel scored  15, former Villanovan Kelly Jekot scored 13, and Makenna Marisa scored 10.

Indiana (6-3, 4-1) got a triple double of 15 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds from Grace Berger, while Ali Patberg scored 24, and Mackenzie Holmes scored 27

“Three top-25 teams in a row was an excellent opportunity for us to learn, to grow, and to figure out what our weaknesses are,” said Penn State coach Carolyn Kieger. “That’s s very good team right there. I’m proud of our first-half effort but very displeased with how we gave up in the fourth quarter.”

Penn State next goes to Minnesota Sunday at 4 p.m. in Minneapolis.

Elsewhere in the Big Ten, No. 12 Maryland edged No. 23 Michigan State 93-87 on the road at Ann Arbor as Ashley Oswusu scored 20 with 10 rebounds and six assists for the Terrapins (8-1, 4-0 Big Ten) while Chloe Bibby also scored 20, Katie Benzan scored 19, Diamond Miller scored 14, as did Mimi Collins, knocking the Spartans (8-1, 3-1) from the unbeaten column.

“I just thought this was a great top 25 matchup against a really good team on the road with Michigan State,” said Maryland coach Brenda Frese. “I loved how we came out and were ready to punch first.”

Nia Clouden had a career-high 32 points for the Spartans for the game in East Lansing.

No. 15 Michigan held off visiting Nebraska 64-62 at home in Ann Arbor as Naz Hillman had 35 points and 22 rebounds for the Wolverines (8-0, 3-0) while Sam Haiby scored 27 for the Cornhuskers (5-4, 3-3).

Looking Ahead: Saint Joseph’s comes out of a lockdown Friday hosting La Salle at 2 p.m. to open the Atlantic Ten slate for the home team and then the two will play Sunday at 2 o.m. At the Explorers’ Tom Gola Arena. 

A big national game has No. 11 Oregon playing Stanford in a Pac-12 game in the No. 1 Cardinals’ temporary home in Santa Cruz..

No. 9 UCLA is short of healthy players in terms of injuries causing postponement of the Colorado game in the Pac-12.

And that’s the report.