SENIORS LEAD AGGIES TO WIN

Seniors combine for 57 of the Aggies 75 points

Box Score
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – February 13, 2006 – Senior point guard Shareka Glover hit two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining in overtime to give the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team a huge 75-73 win over Florida A&M at Gaither Gymnasium. It marked the second straight season, the Aggies have swept both MEAC Florida teams.

 The Rattlers took a four-point lead in overtime thanks to a Denise Tate layup with 1:45 remaining. LaKeisha Williams pulled the Aggies to within two with a baseline jumper. Senior forward Bianca Johnson helped the Aggies regain possession by taking the ball from Q’Vaunda Curry, tossing it to Glover for a fastbreak layup and a 73-73 tie with 42 seconds remaining. Johnson would again come up big defensively with another steal.

 The Aggies ran an isolation play for Glover. Glover spun away from Evette Young, dribbled through the lane and drew a foul from Young who tried to get back into play. Glover’s two free throws put the Aggies (7-14, 7-5 in the MEAC) into a four-way tie for third in the MEAC with Howard, Maryland-Eastern Shore and S.C. State.

 They are a game-and-half behind Delaware State for second with Coppin State leading the league with a 13-0 MEAC record.

 The Aggies three seniors came up big head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. Johnson led the Aggies with 22 points and eight rebounds and 8-for-9 shooting from the free throw line. As it turned out, the Aggies had no room for error from the line. Glover finished with 18 and senior guard Kira Tillman ended the night with 17.

 “Tonight, the seniors did what seniors are supposed to do,’’ said Bibbs. “They really came through for us tonight, and produced when we need them to produce. We’re going to need more of that as we come down the stretch.”

 The Aggies top senior all season – Shareka Glover – left the game at the 15:50 mark of the first half because of foul trouble. Bibbs turned to freshman Ryann King to run the point and she complemented her with fellow freshman Emilee Christopher and Tillman. Even without the leading scorer and assists leader in the conference, the Aggies were able to keep the game close and eventually take the lead.

 “You have to still compete when your clutch player leaves the game,’’ said Bibbs. “I thought Kira did a nice job of stepping up and making sure we were still competitive without (Glover). “I liked the way our freshmen showed poised tonight.”

 King turned the ball over just once, Christopher hit a big three and Tillman’s 15 first-half points, including nine straight points between the 15:07 to the 8:40 mark for the Aggies, helped N.C. A&T take a 38-35 lead into the locker room.

 With Glover back on the floor, the Aggies struggled from the floor, allowing the Rattlers to take a four-point lead, 60-56 with 4:06 remaining in the game. But when Glover intercepted a Deidra Jones pass and scored on a fastbreak layup with 1:05 remaining, the Aggies had regained the lead at 64-62.

 Jones, who had 18 of her 20 points in the second half, made amends for her mistake by going by the Aggies defense to tie the game at 64. Two Glover free throws put the Aggies ahead again, but following a timeout, Rattlers reserve center Ifeoma Onuaku split an Aggies double team and scored, sending the game into overtime.

 “You have to give Florida A&M credit, they played well tonight and really made us earn this one. But we won this game at the free throw line. Defense wins championship, but free throws win ball games,’’ said Bibbs, whose team was a season-best 93.3 percent from the line on 14-for-15 shooting. The Aggies return to action against the MEAC’s top team Coppin State on Saturday afternoon at 2 in Baltimore. The Aggies will be trying to avenge a 28-point loss to the Eagles earlier this season.