EAST GREENSBORO (November 9, 2018) –Win or lose, North Carolina A&T women's basketball coach Tarrell Robinson knew a season and home-opener opponent like Morehead State would reveal an important thing to his 2018-19 team coming off a 2017-18 championship season – the need to get better if they want to be a 2018-19 championship team.
Unfortunately, the lessons will be learned after an Aggies loss. The Morehead State Eagles hit key shot after key shot in the fourth quarter to defeat the Aggies 72-67 at Corbett Sports Center Friday night.
Four Aggies scored in double figures led by juniors Shantell Bostick and Cinia McCray who had 14 points apiece. The backcourt duo combined for 10-for-17 shooting from the floor and 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Junior Alexus Lessears opened the season by recording her 11thcareer double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds on 5-for-7 shooting. Junior C'coriea Foy added 11 points and eight rebounds.
“I knew coming in – win or lose – that we have a lot of work to do,” said Robinson. “We knew Morehead would be a challenge for us. They are a team that won 20 games last year and they're well-coached. I use the word team because they were the better team tonight.”
The Eagles certainly made the winning plays with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. Bostick did get the Aggies to within two, 60-58, with a top-of-the-key 3-pointer with 6:48 remaining. But Aliyah Jeune, who finished the night with a game-high 28 points, hit a pull-up three of her own to stretch the lead to five.
An Aggies turnover led to a jumper by Miranda Crockett to give the Eagles a 65-60 lead. A Jeune steal led to another basket for her. A Crockett free throw capped the Eagles 8-0 run as the Aggies trailed 68-60 with 3:37 to play.
“This is going to sound odd considering we are returning five starters from a championship team, but we have to work on our chemistry,” said Robinson. “Playing a game like this early in the season allows you to see those things, so you can get back in the gym and get better.”
Bostick ended the Eagles run with a steal and bucket. But after working the clock under two minutes, Crockett drove the lane and fired a pass to Crystal Simmons-Cozar for a corner 3-pointer that put Morehead State ahead 71-62 with 1:42 to play. Crockett, Cozar-Simmons and Jeune were all 2-for-2 from the floor in the fourth quarter as Morehead State went 6-for-7 from the floor and 3-for-4 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter.
N.C. A&T, the defending MEAC champs, got off to a good start Friday. Led by Bostick's eight points, the Aggies led 22-13 after the first quarter. The Eagles did cut the lead to three, 22-19, on a Crockett jump shot. N.C. A&T responded with a 7-0 run capped by a McCray 3-pointer with 5:45 remaining in the first half to give the Aggies their biggest lead of the game at 29-19.
Junior Mikaya Wilson helped the Aggies maintain their lead after McCray made a steal and gave her a bounce pass in transition for an easy layup and a 33-24 lead with 3:08 remaining in the half. Morehead State made it competitive from there. Back-to-back threes helped the Eagles end the half on a 10-1 run to tie the game at 34 at halftime.
The two teams combined for 33 steals with the Aggies recording 18. McCray and junior Le'on Hill had four apiece while Crockett finished with 18 points, six rebounds and seven steals for the Eagles.
The Aggies return home to face Akron 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Corbett Sports Center.
