Smalley scores 15 points, grabs nine boards

 Box Score
ORANGEBURG, S.C., December 2, 2006 – Two weeks is a long time when you’re coming off of a loss. Fortunately, the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team will not have to concern itself with its last memory on the court being a loss as it heads into exams and a two-week layoff from competition.

 The Aggies took command of Saturday’s conference opener with S.C. State early, and never allowed the Bulldogs back in the game in a 74-61 win at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

 Amber Bland led the way with 20 points and four assists, while Lamona Smalley added 15 points and nine rebounds. What might have been most encouraging for head Patricia Cage-Bibbs, however, is Tweet Cook’s 18-point, seven-assist and no turnover performance.

 “I’m very excited for the program,’’ said Bibbs. “It’s always a building process, but to see these young kids come in here and win a conference game – a road conference game – is great for our program and it’s great having this win with us for the next two weeks.”

 N.C. A&T (3-4, 1-0) is not back in action until Dec. 16 when it faces UNC-Asheville at Corbett Sports Center at 7 p.m. With the long layoff approaching, the Aggies played like a team wanted who wanted to hold on to some good memories.  

 Down 3-1 in the first minute of the game, Ahmad Williams hit a three from the top of the key, and Amber Bland spotted up from the corner to knock down another 3-pointer that gave the Aggies a 7-3 lead. The back-to-back threes sparked a 22-2 Aggies run that gave the Aggies a 23-5 lead seven minutes into the game.

 “We had a great start,’’ said Bibbs. “We had a good practice before we came down here, and it showed when we stepped on the floor today. Our young ladies were real excited about playing their first conference game.”

 The Aggies expanded their lead to as many as 21 in the second half before Amber Bland picked up her fourth foul with 13:25 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs took advantage by going on a 10-run to cut the Aggies lead to 11. Without their leading scorer on the floor, the Aggies still responded. Cook knocked down a deep three from the corner to push the lead back to 14 at 55-41.

 The Bulldogs kept fighting as a Kristin Johnson jump shot closed the Aggies lead to eight at 57-49 with 5:43 to play. Again, the Aggie freshman point guard had an answer, finding Bland running out ahead of Bulldog defenders. Cook hit Bland with long pass for a layup, which also resulted in a Bulldog foul and subsequent 3-point play for a 60-49 Aggies lead. The Aggies would go on to score the next eight points to put the game away.

 The Aggies-UNC Asheville game will start a three-game homestand for the Aggies, which will see them play Navy on Dec. 18 and Elon on Dec. 20.