Hunter’s heroics not enough for A&M in 65-57 loss to Villanova

Texas A&M redshirt junior guard Kyndall Hunter did everything she could in the fourth quarter.

In its opening game of its trip to Paradise Island, Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis, A&M women’s basketball fell to Villanova, 65-57, in a game marked by a scoring drought for the Aggies.

With 4:17 left in the game, Villanova was in the midst of a 12-2 run that put it in a power position it would not relinquish. At the same time, A&M went scoreless for over two minutes. The Wildcats shot 57.1% from the floor last quarter, noticeably higher than their game-long 39% and the Aggies’ 33.3% fourth quarter total.

Hunter tried to put the team on her shoulders in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of the team’s 13 points in the final period. With the score within reach at 45-44, Villanova, the Houston product made a circus shot while falling down to bring his team within six points with 3:42 left on the clock, but A&M would only go on to score four points more to erase any chance of a comeback.

The Wildcats had four players score in double figures, including freshman G Jasmine Bascoe’s game-high 15. Graduate G Sahara Jones led the Aggies with 14 points.

Despite the late struggles, the Aggies had the Wildcats on the board in the first quarter. With 3:37 left in the first period, A&M Villanova led 13-2 and shot 6-of-9 from the floor compared to the Wildcats’ 1-of-10. Redshirt senior forward Lauren Ware’s play was emblematic of the Aggies’ play early, ripping down a rebound, getting two early blocks and winning with her physicality.

The Maroon and White dominated the glass early in the first quarter with a 10-to-1 advantage over their counterparts early. A&M coach Joni Taylor said in her pregame interview that Villanova struggled with rebounding, giving A&M an advantage in that department in her eyes.

After the first quarter clock wound down, the Aggies led 14-4. It was the first quarter they’ve held their opponent to five points or less since Jan. 4, 2024. The Wildcats continued to be lifeless offensively, but A&M’s shooting slowed, missing its final five field goal attempts of the quarter. Villanova sophomore guard Maddie Webber relentlessly tried to assert her will on the play, but the shot wasn’t falling for the Bridgeville, Pennsylvania product, who went 1-of-6.

The Aggies’ offense began to sputter in the second quarter, hitting just five of 15 field goals. The perimeter for A&M struggled to get anything going as sophomore LSU transfer G Janae Kent and redshirt senior G Aicha Coulibaly went to a combined 2-of-8 shooting in the second period.

A&M’s inability to buy a bucket came at the same time as Villanova caught fire and closed the gap at the half at 27-26. The Wildcats’ 8-of-14 shooting to close the half included going 3-of-6 from behind the arc. Bascoe found his footing, scoring nine points in the quarter and getting two backdoor assists from the Wildcats.

Villanova battled back from a one-point deficit in the third period and briefly took its first lead of the game in back-and-forth quarters. The Aggies’ perimeter defense struggled to keep up with Webber as she repeatedly chipped into the paint for a six-point quarter.

A&M will take on Ball State in the Battle 4 Atlantis loser at 8pm on Sunday.