Box Score
RALEIGH, N.C., March 15, 2008 – After rolling through the conference season winning games by an average of more than 20 points, all tournament long the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team had its character tested late in games and each time they passed with honors – even in defeat.

Coppin State’s veteran guard Rashida Suber hit a game-winning floater in the lane with 3.8 seconds remaining to lead Coppin State to a 72-70 win over the Aggies in the championship game of the MEAC Tournament. The Eagles have now won three out of the last four MEAC conference tournaments, and will represent the MEAC in next week’s NCAA Tournament.

Lamona Smalley, who made the all-tournament team, led the Aggies with 18 points. Ta’Wuana Cook and Amber Bland had 10 points apiece. Suber was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as she finished Saturday’s game with 19 points and seven assists. Whitney Cunningham added 15 points and 16 boards as the Eagles out-rebounded the Aggies 44-29.

“They’re an experienced team. They have been here before,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “But I felt like we had what it takes to beat this team. There were several key plays down the stretch where I thought our pressure made them turn the ball over. But what can you say other than I thought my kids played hard?”

The Aggies will be going to the postseason. They have a RPI of 81 which makes them a bubble team for the NCAA Tournament. As the MEAC regular-season champion, the Aggies received an automatic bid to the WNIT. It is a bid that would have gone to Coppin State as the No. 2 team if the Aggies could have won.  

The Aggies found themselves in another tight ball game in the tournament. It took a late 11-0 run before the Aggies could rid themselves of Florida A&M in the quarterfinals. It took late rallies in regulation and overtime before the Aggies eliminated Hampton on Friday, and it appeared on Saturday that the Aggies had one more late run available even though they lost a key component to the team.

Smalley, who has been the Aggies most consistent player throughout the tournament, was called for a foul with 57 seconds remaining. It was followed by perhaps one of the biggest calls of the game. Smalley, who averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 blocks in the tournament, went up to block a Cunningham jumper. She blocked the shot, but was called for a foul with 52 seconds remaining.

The call prompted Smalley to run to the other end of the floor in disbelief. In a matter of five seconds, the Aggies saw two fouls called on their best post player.

“I have to keep my composure,’’ said Bibbs when asked about whether she should have driven her point home to the point of being called for a technical. “If I lose my composure, my team will lose theirs and we couldn’t have that during that point of the game. It was a big loss for us because she is a young lady who has been playing some great basketball for us.”

Cunningham hit one of two free throws to give the Eagles a four-point lead. But the Aggies have not late deficits affect them in the tournament. Tyronnica Alford raced down court and scored on a layup to cut the lead to two. After an Oakley free throw, Amber Bland got open for a 3-pointer that she netted to tie the game at 70 with 25 seconds remaining. 

Bibbs' composure would come into play again. Coppin State had trouble getting the ball in-bounds after the timeout. Suber then turned a called a disputed timeout. Bibbs said the official acknowledge five seconds expired, but said Suber called the timeout at the five second mark.

After the timeout, the Aggies appeared to have Shalamar Oakley trapped. Ambers got through it somehow and found Suber who weaved through A&T defenders to hit the game winner. The Aggies had one more chance but Jalessa Sams’ 3-pointer missed the mark.

“We thought they would go man and we could get Ta’Wuana Cook in a one-on-one situation,’’ said Bibbs. “They came out in a zone and we didn’t have another timeout to adjust. But anytime you have to go length of the court to win a game it’s difficult.  I thought we got a good look any way.”

The Aggies fell to 25-7 overall while the Eagles improved to 22-11. For Bibbs it was her sixth championship game appearance in 11 years. One of those years included a year in which she retired from coaching. ook on the offensive end. N.C. A&T was there for the first time in 14 years.

“This is very tough on the whole A&T family,’’ said Bibbs. “It wasn’t meant to be today, but I told them to remember this feeling because I believe this group will make it back here.”