Taylor-James leads Aggies with 30

Box Score
NORFOLK, Va., March 5, 2009 – The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team played without two starters and two reserves on Thursday, but still closed out the regular-season with a 97-65 win over Norfolk State at Echols Hall.

Brittanie Taylor-James led the Aggies with 30 points. Her performance marked the third time this season she has scored 30 or more points. It also marked the first time an Aggies player has scored 30 points in back-to-back games since Malveata Johnson did during the 2000 season. Taylor-James closes out the regular season as the MEAC’s leading scorer.

Junior Ta’Wuana Cook added a season-high 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting, while junior Reisha Bullock finished with 12 and freshman center Nakia DeBlanc had 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Aggies closed out their regular season 23-6 and 15-1 in the MEAC despite missing All-MEAC performer Amber Bland and starting power forward Jaleesa Sams. Reserves Brittane Neely and Shantar Waddell also sat out Thursday.

“We have so many people that are hurt, but we also have so many people that are willing to step up,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “Despite our injuries, our focus is to continue to play solid basketball. Regardless of who you are playing or who is playing with you, you must play your very best basketball.”

Norfolk State (1-26, 1-15 MEAC) also came out playing solid basketball. The Spartans led by one at halftime against the Aggies in December. On Thursday, they trailed by just five. But Cook, who scored 22 second-half points, led the Aggies blowout efforts.

After a Danelle Tate 3-point play pulled the Spartans to within five at 57-52 with 13:45 to play, Cook began to take on the scoring void left by Bland. The former MEAC Rookie of the Year, hit two free throws to put the Aggies up seven. Cook then raced into the lane to score on a layup for a nine-point Aggies advantage. On a pass from Cook, Ahmad Williams scored on a short jumper to give the Aggies their first double-digit lead of the game at 63-52.

A Taylor-James steal led to another fastbreak layup from Cook to extend the lead to 13. Cook closed out her scoring during the Aggies 21-6 run with a 3-pointer that gave the Aggies a 78-58 lead with 5:06 remaining in the game.

“I told the ladies not to focus on who’s out,’’ said Bibbs. “We just need to execute and do the things we know makes us successful. Now that we are finished with regular season, we’re going to focus on getting some people healthy because it’s going to be a tough tournament.”

Bibbs will give her team Friday off. The Aggies know they will play in the MEAC Tournament at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem Wednesday afternoon at 12:30. The Aggies will play the winner of the Howard vs. Bethune-Cookman play-in game.