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No. 15 Texas A&M downs No. 11 Oklahoma 78-55

Mar 3, 2010 - 4:04 AM By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas(AP) -- Written on the board in Texas A&M's film room before Tuesday night's game against Oklahoma were two words: Be physical.

The 15th-ranked Aggies did just that, annoying and harassing No. 11 Oklahoma into a horrible offensive performance en route to a 78-55 win.

Tanisha Smith scored 19 points and Danielle Adams added 18 as Texas A&M won its second straight game by more than 20 points, following Saturday's 95-61 victory over Colorado.

"Being physical was what won us the game," Adams said. "We were physical inside and outside with them. We were consistent on our shots, contested their shots and played great defense. I thought it got some of them out of their game."

Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale agreed.

"It was a very physical game and we didn't handle that very well," she said.

The Aggies (21-7, 9-6 Big 12) used a dominant first half to build a 19-point lead and didn't allow Oklahoma to get within 10 points after halftime. Adaora Elonu had her first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Sydney Carter had 13 points and a career-high seven assists.

"We took it to them early and our kids were not going to back down," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said.

The Sooners (20-9, 10-5) cut the lead to 13 before the Aggies scored eight consecutive points to stretch their advantage to 64-43 with 8 minutes left.

Danielle Robinson led Oklahoma with 16 points. Abi Olajuwon had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Sooners struggled in this one because of their 21 turnovers and poor shooting, particularly from 3-point range (0 for 8). Robinson shot 4 of 16 overall and Nyeshia Stevenson was 3 of 14, including 0 for 5 on 3-pointers.

"We didn't execute on offense," Coale said. "When you make shots it gives you life and sometimes when you miss them it takes it away."

Whenever the Sooners got anything going, Texas A&M responded with a big run. Oklahoma scored four quick points with about seven minutes remaining before the Aggies began a 13-4 run that made it 77-51 and put the game completely out of reach with about three minutes left.

Adams, who was 8 of 8 from the free throw line, also had seven rebounds and three blocks. Two of those came when she rejected Olajuwon, who got the rebound and went up for a layup only to get blocked a second time.

Oklahoma trailed by 19 before the Aggies were called for offensive fouls on consecutive possessions to ignite a 6-0 run by the Sooners that cut the lead to 56-43 midway through the second half.

Texas A&M was up by one in the first half before going on a 16-4 run to push its lead to 33-20 about three minutes before halftime. The Sooners had six turnovers and went several minutes between their two baskets during that span.

Oklahoma scored four straight points after that but the Aggies answered with a 10-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Carter, to make it 43-24 at halftime.

The Aggies finish the regular season Saturday at Kansas, and Blair is looking for a win so his team can be "that hot team" entering next week's Big 12 tournament.

Adams thinks their recent play will help the Aggies do that.

"We are just being more prepared, getting ready for the next team and what they do well," she said. "We are going into the tournament well-prepared and focused."