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Gant, Texas A&M avoid another early exit

Mar 18, 2007 - 1:20 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Danielle Gant helped Texas A&M make sure this trip to the NCAA Tournament lasted longer.

Gant scored 20 of her 24 points in the second half as fourth-seeded Texas A&M held off No. 13 Texas-Arlington in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament's Dallas Region.

Takia Starks added 10 points for the Aggies (25-6), who advanced to face either fifth-seeded George Washington or Boise State in the second round on Monday.

Last season, the then-No. 6 seed Aggies were shocked by TCU in the first round.

Trailing, 26-24, at the half, Texas A&M turned to Gant, who scored the first eight points after the break, giving her team a lead it would not lose.

Gant, who ended up scoring the first 13 points in the second half for the Aggies, finished 8-of-10 from the field, made 8-of-11 free throws and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Terra Wallace scored 18 points and Ashley Bobb had 10 and 15 rebounds - including 14 offensive - for the Mavericks (24-9), who came up short despite holding a 45-32 advantage on the boards.

Texas-Arlington, the champion of the Southland Conference, finished 22 percent (14-of-65) from the field.