BIBBS EARNS MEAC WIN NO. 100 AGAINST FORMER TEAM

HAMPTON, VA., January 30, 2006 -- If ever there was a night where irony reigned supreme it was the North Carolina A&T's women's basketball game against Hampton on Monday night.

The Aggies defeated Hampton 73-69 to improve to 5-13 overall and 5-4 in the MEAC, and that's where the irony begins.

Aggies head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs made her first return to Hampton University, the place where she coached the Pirates to three NCAA appearances. In defeating the Pirates, Bibbs earned her 100th MEAC win. The win came against a program where Bibbs coached seven years and won 95 of those 100 MEAC wins.

The Aggies' win also ended a long drought. Before Monday's win, the Aggis had lost 16 straight games to the Pirates, a streak that extended over eight years. The losing streak started in 1997-1998, the same year Bibbs took over at Hampton. To end the irony, Bibbs' leading scorer on Monday was Bianca Johnson, who had 22 points. Johnson played under Bibbs at Hampton during the 2002-2003 season and won a MEAC title.

"It really felt good to be back here,'' said Bibbs who retired as the Pirates head coach in 2004. "It was special to come back here to see all the banners the players put up in the rafters when we I was here. I tell my kids all the time, 'When you leave a place, make sure you leave a mark -- make sure you leave something positive they can remember you by. So when you comeback you can hold your head up high.' "

"I'm really proud of these group of kids I'm coaching now. They showed a lot of character tonight. With all that was surrounding this game, they played extremely well."

Johnson gave the Aggies their biggest lead of the night at the 8:06 mark of the first half when she hit two free throws to put the Aggies ahead 56-46. The Pirates were able to slowly able to cut the Aggies lead over the next 5 1/2  minutes. Linda Rickenbacker's layup cut the Aggies lead down to three, 67-64 with 2:52 remaining.

Johnson responded hitting two free throws. After two missed free throws by Hampton's LInda Rickenbacker, Johnson scored again on a turnaround jumper. When Shareka Glover hit two free throws, the Aggies had stretched their lead back to nine, 73-64 with 44 seconds remaining.

"I enjoyed being back here,'' said Johnson. "This will definitely go down as one of the best moments in my life. I was nervous at first, but once I hit my first shot, I felt good."

Bibbs, who was 14-0 against the Aggies as Hampton's head coach, improved to 61-21 at the HU Convention Center. The Aggies place three other players in double figures as Glover had 12, LaKeisha Williams finished with 11 and Kira Tillman had 10 points off the bench. The Aggies are in action again on Monday when they return home to face Delaware State at 5:30 p.m.