Aggies win eighth straight road game

Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md., February 14, 2009 – The Maryland-Eastern Shore women’s basketball team appeared to have momentum on its side Saturday afternoon against North Carolina A&T.

The Fighting Hawks had trimmed the Aggies lead to two four minutes into the second half. Senior UMES forward April McBride was scoring on almost every trip down the floor in front of a homecoming crowd at the W.P. Hytche Center.

Then the Aggies happened. The Aggies pressure defense started causing turnovers. Amber Bland started knocking down threes. And Brittanie Taylor-James started knocking down everything. Over the final 16 minutes of the game the Aggies dominated on their way to an 89-68 win. It was their 12th straight win.

Taylor-James led the way with a career-high 34 points. Bland added 17 points to move to within 23 points of becoming the Aggies No. 2 scorer all-time. Jaleesa Sams contributed with 12 points and seven boards.

“We are now accustomed to being tested,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “They’re now used to having everyone come after them with their best shot because they’re the top team. Being the team everyone is gunning for has made us a team that is together, a team that is strong and team that wants to win. Even on someone’s homecoming we were able to withstand the pressure and pull away.”

Two McBride free throws turned what was an 11-point lead in the first half to a 46-44 lead with 16:38 remaining in the game. Bland, who leads the MEAC in 3-point shooting, quickly answered with a 3-pointer from the corner. After two free throws from Aggies forward Jaleesa Sams push the Aggies lead to seven, Taylor-James began to put together a performance for which the UMES crowd did not request an encore.

Taylor-James started her onslaught with a crossover dribble and pull up jumper that put the Aggies up 53-44. After McBride completed a 3-point play, Bland responded with another 3-pointer. A turnover by UMES’ Adobi Agbasi gave Taylor-James the opportunity to score again. This time, Taylor-James posted up Jasmine Speed, took two dribbles to back her down and then immediately spun and hit a fade away jumper for a 58-47 Aggies lead with 14:35 to play.

Four minutes later, Taylor-James returned to her scoring ways by driving to the basket for a layup that made it 66-51. Seconds later, she spotted up from just inside the free throw line and knocked another jumper for a 17-point Aggies lead. From there, she kept hitting jump shots regardless of how tight the defense was.

 “Brittanie Taylor-James believes in herself,’’ said Bibbs. “She doesn’t have any fear. I love that about her. Last year, Brittanie was not this type of player. You can just look at her and tell. She took some weight off and now she can do the things she is able to do this season.”

 The Aggies forced 28 turnovers and shot 51.2 percent on Saturday. The Hawks were led by McBride’s 28 points. Casey Morton added 18.

The Aggies will travel to Dover, Del., to play Delaware State at 4:30 p.m., on ESPNU. The Hornets are 9-2 in the conference, and trail the Aggies (18-5, 11-0 MEAC) by just two games in the standings. Delaware State led the Aggies by 15 points with 10 minutes remaining in the game on Jan. 19 in Greensboro. The Hornets eventually lost by five.