Sams records a double-double   

Box Score
HAMPTON, Va., February 2, 2009 – Twenty games into the 2008-09 season, there is at least one thing you can say about the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team. They can take a punch.

The Aggies rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat Hampton 75-69 at the HU Convocation Center Monday night. Brittanie Taylor-James led the Aggies with 26 points. Sophomore Jaleesa Sams recorded her fourth career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Her 12 rebounds tied a career high.

Monday’s game marked the second time in two weeks the Aggies have rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half to win. The Aggies have managed to win nine of the 11 games in which they have trailed at the half this season, including Monday’s game.

Despite making its first run to take down the Pirates lead, N.C. A&T could not wrestle the lead away from the Pirates until Sams hit a free throw just inside the free throw line to tie the game at 64 with 3:25 remaining. The Pirates went on a 5-0 run capped off by a Fortune jumper that gave the Pirates a 69-64 advantage with a little more than two minutes remaining.

The Aggies, who had not deplored the full brunt of their press throughout the game, went back to their pressure even with the speed of the Pirate guards.

“We told them in the film room that Hampton had some of the quickest guards they would see all year,’’ said Bibbs. “When you put on that pressure, you’ve got to be smart and not get caught trailing. Our ladies did a great job of getting the passing lanes.”

After Amber Bland grabbed one of her seven offensive rebounds, she found Taylor-James underneath for a layup. Ta’Wuana Cook then stepped in front of a Whitney Hill pass to cut the Pirates lead to one at 69-68 with 1:05 to play. During another Aggies trap, Bernadette Fortune had the basketball go off of her foot for one of the Pirates’ 26 turnovers.

Taylor-James made them pay with a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Aggies a 71-69 with 48 seconds remaining. It was N.C. A&T’s first lead since the 6:01 mark of the first half. Hampton’s Quanneisha Perry missed a baseline jumper that would have tied the game. Bland grabbed the rebound – her 12^th of the game – and was fouled. Bland hit two free throws with 27 seconds remaining to seal the game. 

“They were ready for us tonight,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “But our kids never believed they were out of this game. And I really believe it’s good that we are being tested because it gives us an opportunity to show character.”

Hampton’s Fortune put the Pirates ahead 50-37 three minutes into the second half.  Over the next 5 ½ minutes it didn’t appear Monday’s game was going to live up to the previous two games between the Aggies and the Pirates. Fifteen games into the conference season a year ago, the Pirates derailed the Aggies hopes of an undefeated conference season by beating the Aggies at the HU Convocation Center.

In the 2008 MEAC Tournament, the Aggies overcame a six-point deficit in overtime to beat the Aggies. The Aggies comeback attempt came at the free throw line on Monday as freshman Tierra Thomas and Taylor-James hit two free throws apiece to cut Hampton’s lead to 58-52 with 10:56 remaining. Tyronnica Alford added a runner in the lane to slice the Pirates lead to four.

“There are some strong teams in this conference despite what people say,’’ said Bibbs. “Yes, we have the Brittanie Taylor-Jameses and the Amber Blands, but we are certainly glad we have the Jaleesa Samses and the Lamona Smallies and the other young ladies because we need them to win games in this conference.”

The Aggies return home to face Florida A&M Saturday at 2 p.m.