Bland finishes with more than 20 points for the ninth time this season

 Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md., February 3, 2007 – When you have no seniors and only one junior, first-time experiences abound. The young North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team found that out the hard way on Saturday afternoon in a 65-60 loss to Maryland-Eastern Shore at W.P. Hytche Athletic Center.

 “It is always a different story when you have to walk into the other team’s gym,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “This is the second half of our conference season. A lot of the teams we beat at home, we’re going to have to face on the road, so you’re going to have to come ready to take their best shot.

 The Aggies (12-9, 7-3) defeated UMES on Jan. 6, 74-59 at Corbett Sports Center. On Saturday, the Fighting Hawks jumped out to a 7-3 lead and led by as many as 10 in the first half before taking a 33-27 lead into the locker room. Two Qiana Cheatham free throws put the Hawks lead back at 10, 44-34 with 14:54 remaining in the game.

 But Amber Bland, who had a game-high 28 points, begin to bring the Aggies back. Bland’s 3-pointer started a 13-2 Aggies run that helped the Aggies take a 49-46 lead with a Bland 3-pointer with 11:33 to play. It was the Aggies first lead since the 13:42 mark of the first half.

 But the Hawks would not let the Aggies get away from them. They scored 11 straight points Before Bland hit a free throw to put the Aggies down 57-50. Jasmine Speed’s layup put the Hawks up nine with 3:57 to play, but Ahmad Williams answered with a big 3-pointer to make it 59-53.

 It was one of the few shots that fell for the Aggies as they had their worst shooting day of the season – 24.6 percent. Despite that, Ta’Wuana Cook’s layup with 3:01 remaining put the Aggies down 59-55. After an April McBride layup, Bland’s 3-pointer put the Aggies down by just three with 2:17 to play.

 Waddell then hit a baseline jumper for the Aggies to cut the Hawks lead to one, 61-60, but on an April McBride jump shot, Jelila Abdul-Bassit grabbed the rebound instead of an Aggie which helped the Hawks ice the game.

 “We have all these good shooters on our team, but when the shots are not falling you need people rebounding,’’ said Bibbs. “We didn’t rebound the basketball tonight and they did, which was the ball game.

 The Hawks (9-13, 5-5) out-rebounded the Aggies 59-38 and grabbed 22 offensive boards. Speed led the Hawks with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Aggies travel to Washington, D.C. to take on Howard Monday at 5:30 p.m., as they try to come road-ready for the Bison.