After winning their first three games by an average of more than 39 points, Texas A&M is ready for some tougher competition.
Danielle Adams scored 20 points, Tyra White added 15 and the eighth-ranked Aggies cruised to an easy 81-49 win over Liberty on Monday night. It was A&M's last tuneup before traveling to Cancun for a tournament that includes games against Arizona and Michigan.
''That will be good for us,'' coach Gary Blair said. ''We've got to execute better. I want to be able to play better for longer. I want to be able to stay in the flow.''
Adams, last season's Big 12 conference newcomer of the year, has scored at least 20 points in all three of Texas A&M's games this season. Monday was the first time this season she didn't also reach double digits in rebounds, finishing with four in 19 minutes.
The Aggies want to rebound better after only outrebounding Liberty 39-35.
''That's our main thing,'' Adams said. ''We just need to do a better job of blocking out.''
The Aggies (3-0) never trailed, led by 21 points at halftime and built their lead to 63-32 with 11 minutes remaining when many of Texas A&M's starters left the game.
Liberty (2-3) was led by Tolu Omotola and Dymond Morgan who had 13 points apiece.
Liberty had 10 turnovers in the first 10 minutes and finished with 32 to 18 by Texas A&M. The Aggies scored 39 points off Liberty's turnovers.
''The team can play much better but you didn't see it,'' Liberty coach Carey Green said. ''I haven't seen it all year. We are in a developmental phase.''
The Flames were without Big South preseason player of the year Devon Brown who hasn't played this season because of an injured knee.
Texas A&M starting point guard Sydney Colson played for the first time this season after missing the first two games with a foot injury. She entered the game midway through the first half and had two points, two steals and an assist in four minutes.
She said she is still struggling with the injury.
''When I was out there it was definitely still sore and it's sore now,'' she said. ''I'm just wanting it to disappear completely. It's a struggle because I want to be out there.''
Blair hopes Colson can move past her injury soon.
''It's a huge worry because you could see that when she's in the game she's a different dimension,'' he said. ''Kids love playing with her. Recruits have come here because they want to be on the end of some of those passes.''
Texas A&M's highly rated recruit 6-foot-5 Karla Gilbert had 10 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes. She didn't start but saw significant action with the first team.
The Aggies scored the game's first nine points and had built a 22-6 lead by the 11 minute mark of the first half when Adams went to the bench. The Flames went on a 9-4 run with Adams out of the game to get within 26-15.
She came back into the game with about seven minutes before halftime and had four points, two rebounds, two steals and two assists to fuel a 14-0 run over the next 4 1/2 minutes to stretch A&M's lead to 40-15.
The Flames scored the last four points of the half to trail 40-19.
Liberty, which made the NCAA tournament last season, had won two straight entering the game and faces No. 2 Baylor on Friday.
