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          No. 5 Texas A&M women beat North Texas 75-38

          Dec 31, 2014
          • Associated Press

          COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Courtney Walker and the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies rebounded from consecutive loss at the expense of overmatched North Texas.

          Walker scored 12 points in Texas A&M's 75-38 victory Wednesday. The Aggies (12-2) lost to No. 3 Texas and Washington in their previous two games.

          A&M coach Gary Blair was sick, but still sat on the end of the bench. Associate head coach Kelly Bond-White paced the sideline and called out plays in his place.

          "In the true spirit of the `12th Man,' I had to step up for Coach Blair," Bond-White said, smiling.

          The Aggies closed the first half with a 30-10 run to take a 35-18 lead. In that span Chelsea Jennings scored all 10 of her points and Curtyce Knox added eight, both off the bench for slow-starting A&M.

          Texas A&M rebounded from consecutive losses to No. 3 Texas and Washington against the overmatched Mean Green (1-10).

          Briesha Wynn led North Texas with nine points on 3-of-13 shooting.

          "Let's be honest, they're the fifth-ranked team in the country," North Texas coach Mike Peterson said. "And clearly we are not."

          A&M only shot 45.6 percent (31 of 68) from the floor, but rolled over the Mean Green in points in the paint (46-20) and on the fast break (14-6). North Texas countered by making 24.6 percent of its shots (15 of 61), third lowest percentage by an A&M opponent this season.

          "We came out flat against Washington, and I think that bit us in the butt a little bit," Jennings said. "Once we settled down, we had good energy. That's a good thing going into SEC play."

          TIP-INS:

          Peterson said Blair is "one of my dear friends" and "I feel bad that he's sick." Peterson then added with a mischievous grin, "He took the day off on me. He needed to get up and give me a little something."

          UP NEXT:

          North Texas: Opens Conference USA plays at Texas-El Paso on Friday.

          Texas A&M: Opens SEC play at home against Vanderbilt on Friday.