Smalley records third double-double of the season

Box Score           Postgame Quotes             Postgame Notes
PRINCESS ANNE, Md., January 19, 2008 – The Aggies women’s basketball team not only missed Lamona Smalley’s body, but they missed her mind as well.

After missing 14 games last season with a severe knee injury, Smalley has played excellent basketball for the Aggies lately. Her strong play continued Saturday afternoon as she scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead North Carolina A&T to a 72-59 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore at W.P. Hytche Arena.

Amber Bland added 24 points and five rebounds. The Aggies improved to 10-5 overall and 4-0 in the MEAC to remain in a first-place tie with Hampton.

“Lamona is an intellectual player,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “She is an intelligent player, which is what I love about her. When you have a player who knows the game and makes good decisions, it really hurts your team when they get injured.”

The Aggies went 8-6 without Smalley in the lineup. Among those losses was a loss to Delaware State that dropped the Aggies to the third seed in MEAC Tournament. The Aggies also lost to Coppin State twice without Smalley, and they lost in the first round of the MEAC Tournament without the sophomore out of Philadelphia.

But thus far in conference play, Smalley is showing the Aggies what they missed. In four conference games, she is averaging 10.5 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting .559 from the floor.

“She continues to get the big rebounds,’’ said Bibbs. “She hit clutch shots tonight and tonight she knocked down some big free throws. I’m just happy to see her playing so well. She made the difference for us tonight. In the last five minutes, when she’s been competing hard all night, she had enough left to pull down some big, big rebounds for us.”

With 5:57 remaining in the second half on Saturday, Smalley intercepted an April McBride pass and started a fastbreak that would spark the Aggies to victory.

Bland finished off the break with a short jumper to give the Aggies a 57-55 lead with 5:38 to play. Bland didn’t have a second-half point prior to the 5:38 mark. But she scored again on a short jumper to give the Aggies a 59-55 lead. 

Maryland-Eastern Shore (7-8, 0-2) kept the pressure on N.C. A&T. Tiffany Reid hit two free throws to pull the Hawks to within two. Nancy Rembert answered with a layup, and Smalley hit another jump shot with shot clock winding down to put the Aggies ahead 63-57 with 3:14 to play.

After two more Hawk free throws, Smalley took the ball at April McBride, scored and was fouled on the play. Smalley’s 3-point play gave the Aggies a 66-59 lead. Ta’Wuana Cook then sealed the game by stealing the ball from Tiffany Reid at halfcourt and sprinting down the other end of the floor for a 68-59 Aggies lead with 1:03 to play.

“Eastern Shore wasn’t going to quit,’’ said Bibbs. “They fought hard tonight and played extremely well. What we wanted to do was make sure we kept them off the boards late because they’re great rebounding team as well. We beat a good team on the road tonight.”

The Aggies will have another tough test on the road Monday night. They Aggies face the defending MEAC Champion Delaware State at 5:30 in Dover, Del. The Hornets are 2-0 in the MEAC