AGGIES MISS OUT ON UPSET OPPORTUNITY

Glover leads Aggies with 20 points

 Men's Story     Women's Box Score
BALTIMORE, Md., February 18, 2006 – The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team had an legitimate opportunity at an upset against the MEAC’s No. 1 team, but miscues on the offensive end cost the Aggies their opportunity as Coppin State came away with a 59-52 win at the Coppin Center.

 The Aggies (7-15, 7-6) committed six of their 22 turnovers in the last five minutes of the game and the Eagles (15-8, 14-0) capitalized by scoring eight points of their 13 points off of those turnovers. Shareka Glover led the way for the Aggies with 20 points.  Seniors Bianca Johnson and Kira Tillman added 11 apiece.

 Along with missing out on the upset, the Aggies also missed out on an opportunity to make a major move in the standings. Earlier in the day, both S.C. State and Delaware State lost, which gave the Aggies a chance to move ahead of S.C. State and move a half-game behind Delaware State for second place in the conference.

 “When opportunities like that present themselves you have to take hold of them,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “This is a good learning experience for our ladies.”

 Ahead 47-45, Talia Sutton took an Aggies turnover and scored on a fast-break layup to tie the game at 47. Sutton’s layup ignited an 8-0 run that gave Coppin State a 53-47 lead with 3:15 remaining in the game.

 Two Bianca Johnson free throws cut the Eagles lead to four, and the Aggies had a chance to cut the lead to two with 2:38 remaining, but missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity.

 Forty-five seconds later, the Aggies made it a one-possession game at 54-51, but Rashida Suber stripped the ball away from Glover and raced down the court to put Coppin State up five. Once Jennifer Martin scored in the paint, giving Coppin State a 58-51 lead with 54 seconds remaining in the half, the upset bid started to faint.

 The Eagles were led by Suber’s 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Shalamar Oakley added 10 points.

 The Aggies are back in action 5:30 p.m., Monday at Morgan State. They return home on February 25 against Norfolk State.