COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance by Texas A&M proved too much for a gritty Tarleton State team as the Aggies pulled away for a 79-64 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Thursday afternoon at Reed Arena.

A crowd of 7,851 watched the Aggies improve to 2-0 on the young season, while the Texans fell to an even 2-2.

The game was a tale of two halves, with Tarleton State controlling the early tempo before Texas A&M’s depth and efficiency took over. The Texans came out aggressively, building a 20-13 lead after the first quarter behind the sharp shooting of guard Gia Adams. The Houston native set the tone early, connecting on a jump shot and a 3-pointer in the opening minutes to give her team an early advantage.

Texas A&M responded in the second quarter, outscoring Tarleton State 21-13 to take a narrow 34-33 lead into halftime. The Aggies’ run was fueled by balanced scoring and an increased defensive intensity that began to disrupt the Texans’ offensive flow.

After the break, the Aggies seized control of the game. They exploded for 24 points in the third quarter while holding Tarleton State to 15, stretching their lead to 58-48 heading into the final period. The Aggies’ offensive execution was markedly improved, and they continued to apply pressure in the fourth, matching their second-quarter output with another 21 points to secure the 15-point victory.

Texas A&M’s victory was built on superior shooting and a significant advantage on the boards. The Aggies shot 45.8% from the field, making 27 of 59 attempts, while the Texans finished at 40% on 20-of-50 shooting. From beyond the arc, Tarleton State was more prolific, hitting 9 of 24 attempts compared to Texas A&M’s 4 of 16. The Aggies, however, capitalized on their opportunities at the free-throw line and, more critically, on the offensive glass.

A decisive factor in the game was rebounding, particularly on the offensive end. Texas A&M hauled in 12 offensive rebounds, leading to numerous second-chance points, while Tarleton State managed only two. The Aggies also attempted 11 more free throws, making 21 of 33 compared to the Texans’ 15 of 22.

Tarleton State’s offensive struggles were encapsulated by their efficiency metrics. They scored 64 points on 77 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 82.6. Texas A&M, by contrast, was far more efficient, posting an offensive rating of 100.4 by scoring 79 points on 79 possessions.

Gia Adams was the standout performer for the Texans, leading all scorers with 21 points in 30 minutes of action. The 5-foot-6 guard from Houston added three rebounds and two assists, but also committed several of her team’s 19 turnovers.

For Texas A&M, the offense was a balanced effort. Salese Blow, a 5-foot-11 guard from Murphy, Texas, led the Aggies with 18 points. Lauren Ware, a 6-foot-5 post player from Bismarck, North Dakota, provided a strong interior presence with 15 points and four rebounds. Point guard Ny’Ceara Pryor, despite standing just 5-foot-3, orchestrated the offense masterfully from her Baltimore, Maryland, hometown, dishing out eight assists to go along with 10 points.

The Aggies also received significant contributions from their bench. Fatmata Janneh, a 6-foot-1 forward from London, England, was a force on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds and scoring eight points. Janae Kent, a 6-foot-1 guard from Oak Forest, Illinois, added 12 points and five rebounds.

For Tarleton State, Shadasia Brackens of Fairfield, Texas, provided a defensive spark off the bench with two blocks and four rebounds in just 15 minutes. Jakoriah Long from Waco, Texas, chipped in six points and four rebounds, while Kyriana Jones of Little Rock, Arkansas, added eight points.

The game was characterized by its physicality, with the two teams combining for 49 personal fouls. Both teams also showed active hands on defense, with Tarleton State recording nine steals and Texas A&M finishing with eight.

The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for Tarleton State, which had defeated Houston Christian in double-overtime its last time out. The Texans will look to return to the win column when they host McNeese State on Sunday.

Texas A&M, which opened its season with a commanding win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, faces a stiffer test on the road Sunday against Kansas State. According to Interstat’s ELO system, the Aggies were projected with a 91% probability to win Thursday’s contest, a forecast they ultimately fulfilled with their strong second-half performance.