Sams scores career-high 21  

Box Score
GREENSBORO, February 28, 2009 – North Carolina A&T junior forward Jaleesa Sams made the best of Friends and Family night at Corbett Sports Center Saturday. Fifty-to-60 people from her hometown of New Castle, Pa., bused to Greensboro to watch her play.

She rewarded their long trip by scoring a career-high 21 points and had six rebounds and five steals on 9-for-11 shooting to lead the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team to an 84-60 win over Howard. Sams’ family also witnessed the Aggies clinch their second-straight MEAC regular-season title.

 “I always play better with my family in the stands because they are my worst critics,’’ said Sams. “I have no other choice but to play well. It was very important that I got out there and played. They told me if I didn’t play tonight they weren’t going to speak to me.”

Sams’ outing was satisfying because she had missed the previous two games with a leg injury. She has seven games this season, so N.C. A&T head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs was happy to see her back after some late-season injuries caused other players to miss time as well.

“We were just happy to have Jaleesa back,’’ said Bibbs. “The way Jaleesa played tonight; I wish all of our players would have a busload of people come in every time we play. It was a great motivator for her, and it really gave her an emotional lift.”

The Aggies also got a lift from Ta’Wuana Cook. Cook came off the bench to score 12 points, dish out three assists and record three steals. Brittanie Taylor-James added 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the free throw line.

The Aggies began to break things open toward the end of the first half. After Howard center Tamaya Daniels scored on a layup to cut the Aggies lead to 32-28 with 1:45 to play, Cook answered with a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Aggies up seven. Cook followed her three by taking a long rebound off of a 3-point miss by Lonice Kenley and turning into a transition opportunity as she scored on a layup and was fouled by Jalisa Pullings.

Cook completed the 3-point play to give the Aggies a 38-28 lead with a minute remaining in the first half. The Aggies would go on to lead 40-30 at the half. They expanded that lead by going on a 10-0 run to start the second half. Reisha Bullock scored four points during the run to give the Aggies a 50-30 lead 2 ½ minutes into the half.

“You don’t know who you are going to have from game-to-game this time of the year,’’ said Bibbs. “It was better for us to go ahead and take care of business because we have some players that are not healthy. It’s very important that when we call on people to step up, they respond.”

The Aggies improved to 21-6 overall and 13-1 in the MEAC. They have two regular-season games remaining. They play at home against Hampton on Monday night at 6 and at Norfolk State Thursday night at 5:30. By virtue of earning the No. 1 seed, the Aggies will play their quarterfinal game Wednesday, March 11 at 12:30 p.m., from Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

“I feel comfortable that we will have people step up these last two games and contribute for us as we get ready for the tournament,’’ said Bibbs. “We certainly want to do our best to make sure we are fully loaded going into the tournament.”