Women's Hoop Review VIII

Texas A&M 80 - Lamar 63

Above: Jordan Nixon

Sophomore point guard Jordan Nixon led Texas A&M (3-0) with 10 assists in an 80-63 win over Lamar (0-4). The transfer from Notre Dame sat out last season and had a limited role as a freshman for the Irish in 2018-19.

Nixon only had three turnovers but evened those out with three steals. The 5-8, New York City native also had eight points. While Nixon just missed her double-double, two of her teammates pulled off the feat. Power forward N'dea Jones continued her dominant season with her third double-double in as many games. The 6-2 senior, poured in 16 points with 11 rebounds. Another positive for Jones is that she did not commit a turnover. In the first two games of the season she had a combined eight turnovers.

Senior guard Aaliyah Wilson had 14 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three steals. Wilson is averaging eight boards per game which is up from her career 3.6 rebounds per game average.

Texas A&M had 23 assists to 13 turnovers. Lamar had seven assists to 14 turnovers. The Cardinals were led in scoring by Angel Hastings who posted 18 points. The junior guard had her best performance of the season as she scored 10 points once in three previous games.

Iowa 103 - Drake 97

Above: Caitlin Clark

Wednesday night, Iowa and Drake shot the lights out of the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

The visiting Hawkeyes shot 61 percent, while the host Drake (1-2) made 52 percent of its shots during the 103-97 offensive explosion. Iowa (2-0) who scored 96 points in its season opener was led by arguably the nation's best offensive performance of the young season. Freshman Caitlin Clark posted 30 points with 13 assists. The 6-0 guard shot 12-19 and also tallied four steals and a block on the defensive end.

College basketball has been easy so far for Clark. In her first collegiate game against Northern Iowa, she dropped 27 points in the season opening win. Two other Hawkeyes rose up big against Drake. Junior center Monika Czinano followed up her season opening effort of 19 points with 27 against Drake. Czinano made 11-of-13 shots from the field. Sophomore guard McKenna Warnock scored 20 points and grabbed a team best eight rebounds.

Above: Grace Berg

Drake made Iowa earn the win behind a trio as well. Forward Grace Berg led the way for Drake with 27 points on 12-17 shooting. She also powered down nine rebounds. Kierra Collier had 25 points and 10 assists. The senior guard is having the best season of her career with averages of 15.7 points and seven assists. Another senior guard Maddie Monahan put up 23 points, going 9-15.

Drake led 68-65 at the start of the fourth quarter. Iowa outscored its instate foe 38-29 to take the win.

Valparaiso 62 - Illinois 59

In four previous games against Illinois, Valparaiso had never lost by less than 19 points. The Crusaders came into Wednesday night's game 0-1, with a 70-60 season opening loss against Bowling Green.

Surely, when Illinois of the mighty Big Ten comes into the picture, Valpo's chances would be slim, right? Illinois won its first game against Indiana State by 19.

Dec. 2, turned out to be a different situation as Valparaiso came out with a 62-59 win over the favorite. Both teams shot under 40 percent from the floor but Illinois shot a horrid 1-16 from three and 10-22 from the free-throw line. Valpo connected on 10-of-26 threes and 10-of-15 free-throws. The Crusaders also outscored Illinois off of the bench 16-6.

Above: Grace White

Over half of Valparaiso's points were scored by guard Grace White and Carie Weinman who combined for 33 of the team's 62 points. White, a senior posted 17 points, nine boards and five assists. Weinman, also a senior had 16 points and four rebounds.

Illinois' Jeanae Terry had 16 points and 13 rebounds while her teammate Kennedi Myles had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Georgia State 88 - Tennessee State 83 OT

The fans at Tennessee State were treated to a strong basketball game but the visiting team came out on top.

Above: Taylor Hosendove

The Panthers of Georgia State (1-1) won, outscoring Tennessee State 12-7 in the extra session. Forward Taylor Hosendove led her team with an 18-point, 16-rebound showing. The Atlanta native who began her career at Clemson, guided Georgia State with five steals and two blocks. She also delivered three assists.

Georgia State center Elexus Bell posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Tehya Lyons shot 5-8 with 14 points. Tennessee State's leading scorer was forward Taylor Roberts with 28 points. Andreana Wrister was second with 20 points.

Above: Tehya Lyons