ELON (December 18, 2018) – North Carolina A&T women's basketball slipped to 2-8 on Tuesday following a 73-64 loss to the Elon Phoenix at Elon's Schar Center. Before the alarm bells ring too loudly toward the defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions, there are a few things to keep in mind.
A lot of the players who helped the Aggies win 19 of 20 games during a crucial stretch of last season are still on the 2018-19 team. The Aggies are missing three key leaders from last year's team in Quenswayla Story, Jade Scaife and Kala Green all of whom used up their eligibility after the Aggies NCAA tournament loss to South Carolina.
On Tuesday, the Aggies were missing a leader from this season's team, junior center Alexus Lessears along with Mikaya Wilson and Morgan Batie. While the Aggies try to figure it out and get healthy, they did get a strong performance from junior C'coriea Foy who finished with a season-and-game-high 27 points.
Junior Cinia McCray was the only other Aggie in double figures with 11 points. While the Aggies were missing some of their depth, Elon had plenty of it. The Phoenix (5-5) outscored the Aggies 38-6 in bench points.
The Aggies got off to a good start. They were 8-for-12 from the floor in the first quarter thanks to a combination of Foy taking the ball to the basket and the inside duo of senior post player Charnise Tyler and freshman forward Rayven Peeples. N.C. A&T trailed only 22-20 as freshman guard Charme Lilly found a slashing Foy going to the basket for two points to end the quarter.
Lilly kept the Aggies to within two, 35-33, in the second quarter on a free throw. The Phoenix followed her free throw by going on an 8-0 run aided by a 3-pointer apiece from Ariel Colon and Emily Maupin to make it a 43-33 game. A 3-point play broke up the Phoenix run as McCray put the ball on the floor and drove to the basket for the score and free throw with 43 seconds remaining in the first half. An Elon free throw sent the Aggies into the locker room trailing 44-36 at the half.
N.C. A&T trailed by eight despite leaving a few points at the line by going 9-for-18. N.C. A&T kept the Phoenix's lead under double figures most of the third quarter until an Ariana Nance 3-pointer just before the end of the third quarter sent the Phoenix into the fourth quarter leading 62-49.
The Phoenix led by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter. Foy helped the Aggies get the lead under 10 again, 68-60, with two free throws with 1:53 remaining. Foy got the lead to seven, 69-62, with 31 seconds remaining. But two free throws by Saadia Munford iced the game for the Phoenix.
N.C. A&T will return home Friday afternoon at 2 to face Virginia Commonwealth University at Corbett Sports Center as the conference season approaches with the Aggies hoping to get healthier and better to generate another remarkable run toward a title.
