COLLEGE STATION — Just a year removed from going 12-1 in nonconference play, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team is preparing to begin its SEC schedule, having stumbled out of the blocks this season.
The Aggies finished the front end of their schedule 7-5, their worst nonconference record since their 5-5 start in the 2022-23 season. They now head into conference play, ready to face an SEC that features nine programs with 10-plus wins.
Despite the challenge ahead, head coach Joni Taylor is confident in her team’s ability to rise and compete in the ever-challenging SEC.
“I think this team has the hunger to learn. They have a hunger to push through some things. They want to be really good. They want to get better,” Taylor told reporters Tuesday. “Talking to them during the break, even when we were away, the communication is constant. They showed back up with a spark in their eye …”
The Aggies haven’t played since Dec. 19, when they handled Mississippi Valley State 96-54, but they will come out of the break with a daunting stretch of games to put Taylor’s group to the test. Four straight upcoming games are against ranked opponents, including a road matchup against No. 2 South Carolina next Thursday.
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A pair of experienced guards leading the way for Aggies
Points have been hard to come by for the Aggies, as they’re currently 15th in the SEC and 141st in points scored per game, averaging 68.3. Despite the challenge the offensive end has been, A&M still has found individual production from some of its upperclassmen leaders.
Senior guard Aicha Coulibaly leads the team in points and minutes, tallying 12.1 and 29, respectively. Coulibaly’s running mate in the backcourt, senior Sahara Jones, is just south of her, totaling 11.3 and 28.5, as well.
The combination has averaged just over a third of A&M’s points per game this season, and Taylor will continue to look for the duo to lead the way.
“Especially talking about Sahara (Jones), who’s been here for five years, that’s rare now in college basketball to have a player that stays five years in one place, so that’s a special thing,” Taylor said. “A.C. (Aicha Coulibaly) came here wanting to make a difference in our program, and she’s done that.”
Jones has appeared in 118 games for A&M, including 65 career starts, while Coulibaly spent her first three seasons with the Auburn Tigers before joining the Aggies last season. She has started all 44 games she has appeared in with A&M.
Texas A&M hosts the Tennessee Volunteers at 7 p.m. tonight in Reed Arena, televised on SEC Network+.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M women’s basketball: Aggies readying for tough SEC slate
