Savannah
State Tigers (7-20, 2-12 MEAC) at North Carolina A&T Aggies (19-8, 11-3
MEAC)
Date: March 4, 2013
Time:
6 p.m.
Facility:
Corbett Sports Center
Series:
A&T leads, 5-1
PROBABLE STARTERS: G Ariel Bursey (5-10
So., 6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg,1.5 apg); G Amber Calvin (5-8 RJr., 10.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.4
apg); F Tracy King (5-10 Jr., 10.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.2 apg); F JaQuayla Berry
(5-11 Sr., 12.4 ppg, 6.3 rbg, 1.3 apg); C Eboni Ross (6-2 RFr., 7.4 ppg, 5.2
rpg, 0.4 apg)
CHIT CHAT: Seniors JaQuayla
Berry and Nikia Gorham are one game away from achieving a goal they have not
accomplished since their freshman years, winning 20 games in a season. The Aggies recorded their fourth
come-from-behind victory and 19th win of the year on Saturday,
rallying from being down by eight early in the second half to win 59-54 against
S.C. State on Senior Day. The Aggies had
four players record double-figures in the contest, including a team-best 13
from sophomore Ariel Bursey, 12 apiece from Tracy King and Adriana Nazario and
11 points from redshirt freshman Eboni Ross.
The victory kept the Aggies' second-place standing in the conference
secure. The Aggies will be looking to finish the season in second place, which
would give them an opening bye in the MEAC Championship Tournament. After facing Savannah State on Monday, the
Aggies will finish the regular season on March 7 at Norfolk State, before
heading back to Norfolk, Va., for the conference tournament.
From the Coach
"Tonight, I told the ladies, 'It's about the seniors and
making sure we send them off the right way.'
We have two games left to do that."
A&T
head coach Tarrell Robinson after Saturday's 59-54 win over S.C. State
It's A "Lock": After a slow
first-half, the Aggies shot 56 percent in the second half on Saturday to pick
up the win against S.C. State. The
Aggies have won eight games when they have shot 50 percent or better in the
second half this season.
The
Opponent: The Tigers have dropped their last five
games after losing to N.C. Central 33-29 on Saturday. Ezinne Kalu, who had been
leading the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game, sustained a
season-ending knee injury in a game at Florida on Dec. 20. The Tigers have gone
2-13 since losing Kalu. Forward Erin
Hogue is averaging a team-best 11.8 points and 9.7 rebounds this season.
Potential
Gameday Star Power: North
Carolina A&T: Redshirt junior
Amber Calvin loves playing against the Tigers.
In three games against Savannah State, she has totaled 68 points, 11
rebounds, 11 assists and five steals.
She led the team with 24 points in the last meeting against the Tigers
on Feb. 18. Savannah State: Erin Hogue recorded her 11th double-double with 10
points and 15 rebounds to lead the Tigers in Saturday's game at N.C.
Central. She nearly had a double-double
with 11 points and nine rebounds against A&T on Feb. 18.
The
Magic Number for A&T: 20: The Aggies have not
won 20 games in a season since 2009-10, when they finished the year 23-11 with
a trip to the WNIT. The Aggies are
looking to reach that victory benchmark this season.
FROM
THE NOTES:
Redshirt freshman Eboni Ross was a rebound
short of her second straight double-double on Saturday, recording 11 points and
nine rebounds. She has recorded
double-figures in her last five consecutive games.
Sophomore Ariel Bursey's 13 points against
S.C. State matched a career-best.
