NCAA First Round - Raleigh Region   1 2 FINAL Albany (NY) 26 21 47 Texas A&M 30 39 69 Video Highlights  |  Box Score  |  Buy Texas A&M Basketball Gear    Quick Stats Albany Texas A&M Points 47 69 FG Made - Attempted 19-60 27-58 FG Percentage .317 .466 3PT Made - Attempted 3-10 7-12 3PT Percentage .300 .583 FT Made - Attempted 6-16 8-18 FT Percentage .375 .444 Rebounds 48 33 Turnovers 24 15    Statistical Leaders Albany (NY) Pts Rbs Asst St Blk  Ebone Henry 14 9 2 3 0  Julie Forster 8 12 1 1 0 Texas A&M Pts Rbs Asst St Blk  Trya White 18 7 0 1 1  Alexia Standish 12 1 2 0 0    Related Links  ♦ Big 12 Championship Central | Season Stats | Media Guide  ♦ Big 12 Mobile Apps | Big 12 Digital Network  ♦ Big 12 Report - presented by Dr Pepper

Tyra White's return helped set up a nostalgic rematch for her coach.

The senior helped third-seeded Texas A&M pull away from No. 14 seed Albany (23-10) in the second half for a 69-47 first-round women's NCAA Tournament victory in College Station Saturday. That means that the next opponent for the Aggies (23-10) will be Arkansas, the school Gary Blair coached before taking over the A&M program in 2003.

"We're going to have to be very smart to play with Arkansas, and they're on house money now," Blair said. "(President) Obama has picked us to lose (in his bracket). We need to show the nation we're the defending national champions, because no one is giving us any credit."

The sixth-seeded Razorbacks overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat Dayton 72-55. The Aggies and Arkansas face off at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Reed Arena with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

White had started 97 straight games until missing the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Championship with a foot injury. The fact that she didn't get to play in her hometown saddened White but her return to the lineup brightened her mood and sparked the Aggies.

"Not being able to play in Kansas City last week was kind of rough for me," White said. "But I knew it was best for me to be able to wait for the big tournament. ... I needed to step up for the team because I'm kind of a leader. I don't speak a lot, but I let my game speak for me. I was just anxious to play."

White scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the first half and had four points and a steal during a second half spurt that led to the victory.

"Tyra was so instrumental in this game because she can create her own shot better than any of my other starters," Blair said. "(Albany) brought the fight to us."They were the better team in the first half. We had to expend a lot more energy than I wanted to in this game."

A&M's offense, tentative in the first half against Albany's aggressive zone, was much more effective in the second half as Blair orchestrated the plays right in front of his bench.

Freshman point guard Alexia Standish helped the Aggies foil Albany's trapping defense by hitting  four 3-pointers.

"I missed my first two shots," said Standish, who finished with 12 points. "That might've been excitement or being anxious and not focusing on my form. But I came out in the second half a little more calm and ready to shoot the ball with my feet ready. Once I hit one, I kind of felt it."