First career starts yield success for Wilmington native

 GREENSBORO, January 29, 2007 – N.C. A&T women’s basketball player Shantar Waddell went from playing less than 15 minutes per game to becoming a starter to finally becoming the MEAC Rookie of the Week for week of Jan. 22-28. Waddell averaged 11.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.5 steals for the week in helping the Aggies defeat Morgan State and Norfolk State.

 “Shantar is a young lady who has what I call a basketball body,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “She has a tremendous wingspan, which helps her defensively and she is a very athletic person. She is another North Carolina player who is doing well for us. It’s always a good sign for your program when you can recruit well in your own state.”

 Waddell recognition becomes the Aggies sixth conference weekly recognition of the season. Fellow freshman and North Carolina native Ta’Wuana “Tweet” Cook has won two Rookie of the Week honors and a Player of the Week award.

 Sophomore Amber Bland has won MEAC Player of the Week twice. Never in the history of the program has three different players won MEAC weekly honors in the same season. Waddell earned her honor after making her first two career starts last week as she replaced another freshman Lamona Smalley, who has been out of the lineup with an injury.

 The Aggies are 12-8 overall and 7-2 in the MEAC and face Maryland-Eastern Shore Saturday afternoon at 2 in Princess Anne, Md.