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Adams leads Aggies to easy win over Lamar

Jan 5, 2010 - 4:22 AM By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas(AP) -- Texas A&M breezed through its nonconference schedule for the fifth straight season. Now, the Aggies can focus on the challenging Big 12.

Danielle Adams had 17 points and seven rebounds and No. 10 Texas A&M routed Lamar 90-57 on Monday night in the Aggies' final tuneup before conference play begins.

Tanisha Smith had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists and Tyra White scored 13 for the Aggies (12-1), who play at No. 15 Texas in their conference opener on Saturday.

A&M outrebounded the smaller Lady Cardinals 56-35 and improved to 63-5 in its last 68 home games. The Aggies have won 42 consecutive nonconference games at Reed Arena.

A&M is one of seven Big 12 teams in the Top 25, and the players say they have plenty to improve as the competition stiffens.

"I don't think we're where we want to be, mentally as a team, but I think we're getting there," White said. "Going into Texas, it's going to be a real eye-opener for us. I think we can get better. We just have to practice, that's going to make us better."

A&M has won at least 10 nonconference games with no more than two losses in each of the last five seasons. But coach Gary Blair says this year's team needs to sharpen its focus as Big 12 play approaches.

"We've got to become more mentally tough on a consistent basis, adjusting to what defenses are doing, continuing to keep working on our leadership," Blair said. "I think we need to be a little bit better defensively and a little more focused on offense, to be able to run our stuff when the defense takes something away."

Jenna Plumley sank four 3-pointers and scored 21 points for Lamar (10-4). The Lady Cardinals shot 33 percent (19 of 58) and committed 23 turnovers that led to 31 Aggies' points.

Lamar coach Larry Tidwell, a Texas native and former Baylor assistant, didn't see many weaknesses in the Aggies.

"They are long, fast and athletic," Tidwell said. "This may be the most athletic Texas A&M team I've ever seen. They play well together."

The Lady Cardinals frustrated the Aggies early with a zone defense, and A&M missed 16 of its first 19 shots. The Aggies grabbed 10 offensive rebounds in the first five minutes, but also missed five layups.

White said the Aggies have developed a habit of starting slowly.

"Not the start we want," White said. "As we kind of get going, get the jitters out, we start to pick up our play."

A&M started to take control midway through the half by forcing and generating easy baskets. Back-to-back layups by Smith put the Aggies ahead 29-20, and Adams' 3-pointer with 7:04 left in the half pushed the lead into double digits for the first time.

A&M outscored Lamar 23-9 over the final 10 minutes of the half to lead 45-29 at the break. Lamar missed eight straight shots during a 4-minute stretch and finished the half with 11 turnovers.

The Aggies built a 32-14 rebounding edge for the half, including an 18-5 advantage in offensive boards.

A&M started the second half with a 13-4 spurt to stretch the lead to 58-33. The Lady Cardinals gave away five turnovers in the first four minutes after the break.

The Aggies' lead swelled over 30 points, and Blair had all of his starters on the bench by the 5-minute mark.