GREENSBORO, N.C., September 19, 2007 – When a coach is trying to reach a milestone, the hope is that he or she can obtain the accomplishment in front of the home crowd. In the case of N.C. A&T women’s basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, she might reach the milestone in front of the home crowd, but away from the home.

The N.C. A&T women’s basketball team has released its 2007-2008 schedule. In one of those games on the schedule, Bibbs will earn her 400^th career win. She is three wins shy of the mark. By winning 400 games for her career, she will become the 38^th or 39^th (Texas’ Gail Goestenkors has 396 career wins going into the season) women’s basketball coach to achieve the milestone. She will also become just the second coach at a historically black college or university to achieve the milestone. Alcorn State’s Shirley Walker was the first. 

“I never got into this business to get 400 wins,’’ said Bibbs. “I got into to help grow the game of women’s basketball while helping young ladies mature, become leaders of tomorrow and achieve their dreams. It will be a nice accomplishment, but I want these ladies to play in the NCAA Tournament. That is where our focus is.”

The Aggies journey toward that goal begins on Nov. 9 when they go on the road to face Stetson at 6 p.m. The Aggies will then play six straight games in the Triad area, making it possible for Bibbs to get the record at Corbett Sports Center or somewhere close.

After playing Stetson, the Aggies play Liberty at home on Nov. 16; they play Elon at Elon and will then play two games at Fleming Gymnasium in the UNC-Greensboro Holiday Tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend. Bibbs final chance to assure 400 close to home will be a home contest against S.C. Upstate on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.   

The Aggies will play 12 times at home during the season. They also have two ACC opponents on their schedule in Virginia Tech and N.C. State and two Big 12 teams on the schedule in Texas A&M and national power Baylor. The Aggies also play arch-rival Winston-Salem State for the first time in 10 seasons.  

Bibbs returns all five starters from a team that went 17-13 last season and finished tied for second in the MEAC. Among the returning players is first-team All-MEAC selection Amber Bland, who led the conference and was 21^st in the nation in scoring last season. MEAC Rookie of the Year Ta’Wuana Cook, who led the conference in assists last season, is also back.