WILDCATS'
HEIGHT HURTS AGGIESAggies do not return to competition until Dec. 20
LEXINGTON, KEN., December 6, 2005 – There were some positives in N.C. A&T’s 71-40 defeat to Kentucky in women’s basketball action Tuesday in Memorial Coliseum. On a team with eight freshmen and four starters trying to learn a new system, that is what N.C. A&T head women’s basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs is stressing throughout a tough December schedule before the MEAC schedule goes into full swing.
Bianca Johnson led N.C. A&T with 12 points. Ahmad Williams and Shareka Glover followed with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Aggies finally got off to the good start Bibbs has been looking for since the season began. The Aggies forced the Wildcats into 10 turnovers in the opening seven minutes. . The Aggies responded by going on an 11-4 run to take a 13-10 lead with 11:45 left in the first half.
The Aggies hung around within five (24-19) with less than five minutes remaining in the half before junior Afton Perry came off the bench to spark the Cats with a rebound, a field goal and a block in less than a minute.
The Wildcats closed the first-half on a 12-2 run that included back-to-back baskets by Chante’ Bowman and Samanatha Mahoney. The Cats went into the locker room with a 36-21 advantage.
The Aggies (0-6) scored six consecutive points out of the break before the Cats again looked to their bench for an answer. Leading by seven, 36-29, UK went on a 13-0 run, capped off by a pair of baskets by Bowman to extend UK’s lead to 49-29 with 11:12 remaining in the game.
The Wildcats helped them defensively as they tied the NCAA record for blocks with 19. Three Wildcats scored in double figures led by reserve guard Nastassia Alcius’ game-high 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
“We didn’t capitalize on some opportunities we had when we were making that run in the second half (to get back in the game),” said Bibbs.
“I don’t think their defense bothered us as much as we took some bad shots. Our shot selection has to improve. I know that I have to rely on my starters, because I have eight freshmen on the bench. We just have to patient as this team grows. But although the score will say we lost 71-40, we were right with them for 25-30 minutes. I’m okay with that.”
The Aggies will receive a two-week break before they head back into action at UNC-Asheville on Dec. 20. Game time is 7 p.m.