AGGIES
RATTLE FLORIDA A&MGREENSBORO, NC, January 14, 2006 – LSU? Wofford? Those lopsided outcomes that did not go in the N.C. A&T women’s basketball team’s favor may eventually be characterized as valuable albeit painful lessons learned on the way to something special.
After 0-11 start, the Aggies put themselves in the thick of the MEAC race on Saturday with a 73-66 win over Florida A&M at Corbett Sports Center. The win improves the Aggies to 2-11 overall and 2-2 in the MEAC with three more games remaining in their homestand.
Senior Shareka Glover led the way with 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists moving her closer to setting the Aggies all-time assists record since the Aggies statistics were recognized by the NCAA in 1982. Glover moved into a tie with Samara Dobbins.
Glover was among four players in double figures as Bianca Johnson and Kira
Tillman had 16 points apiece, and LaKeisha Williams added 15.
“I always go back to defense,’’ said N.C. A&T women’s basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “I think the ladies are starting to understand what we’re trying to get them to do defensively and that makes a big difference.”
Florida A&M turned the ball over 26 times, which negated a 47-30 rebounding advantage it had against the Aggies. The Rattlers used Deidra Jones’ 14 first-half points to take a 38-36 lead at the half. Jones was held to five points in the second half.
In the meantime, the Aggies put together their best shooting performance of the season, shooting 46.4 percent in the second half and 44.6 percent for the game. The Aggies took the lead for good early in the second half as Williams buried an open jumper to give N.C. A&T a 39-38 lead.
The Aggies lead would increase to their biggest of the game, nine points at 59-50 with 8:36 remaining on two Tillman free throws. The closest the Rattlers would get the rest night was within five with 1:27 remaining, but a Williams layup and two Glover free throws ended any hopes of a rally.
Jones finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Rattlers, while Ifeomae Onuaku scored 15 points off the bench.
“The ladies played hard tonight, and it showed on both ends of the floor,’’ said Bibbs. “There is still room for improvement, but we’re progressing.”
The Aggies face Bethune-Cookman Monday afternoon at 2 inside Corbett Sports Center. The women will play following the men this time because of the men’s nationally televised game on ESPN 2 at noon.