AGGIES HOLD OFF PIRATE RALLY TO WIN

Box Score
GREENSBORO, February 27, 2006 – Sometimes it better not to ask. The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team committed 33 turnovers, were out-rebounded by 15 and saw 24-point second half lead trimmed to one.

 Despite all those occurrences, the Aggies still came away with a 63-60 win over Hampton Monday night at Cal Irvin-Don Corbett Court at Corbett Sports Center.

 The win gives the Aggies a season sweep of the Pirates, something that hasn’t happened in eight seasons. Senior point guard Shareka Glover scored 25 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor, and fellow senior Bianca Johnson had 19 points and six rebounds.

 “When things break your way like they did for us tonight, you don’t try to over analyze things,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “You walk away with the win, and try to do it better the next time. I was proud of my freshmen for hanging in there tonight and making some plays for us. It was encouraging to see.”

 N.C. A&T led by 17 in the first half and led by as many as 24 in the second half as a driving layup by Johnson gave the Aggies a 57-33 lead with 8:28 remaining in the game. The next seven minutes for the Aggies would be filled with miscues.

 They turned the ball over 11 times in a seven-minute span. They also went 4 ½ minutes without a basket, allowing the Pirates to cut their lead from 24 to six with 3:36 remaining in the game. Johnson ended the drought with soft floater in the lane that gave the Aggies a 59-51 advantage.

 Hampton would then benefit from free throws as it began to cut into the Aggies lead with the clock stopped. Hampton’s next five points would come at the free throw line. When Shahara Johnson turned a missed Johnson free throw into a transition basket for the Pirates, the Aggies lead was down to 59-58 with 1:03 remaining.

 The Pirates had a chance to cost the Aggies their second straight close loss at home with the Aggies two days removed from a 59-57 loss to Norfolk State. But this outcome would be different. Johnson fumbled the ball away into the hands of Rachel Butler with 21 seconds remaining and the Aggies still clinging to a 59-58 lead.

 As Butler turned up court, Johnson made a swipe for the ball, got her hands on it and bounced into the hands of freshman Emilee Christopher. Christopher turned to the basket and scored, giving the Aggies a 61-58 lead. Two Glover free throws clinched the win.

 The Aggies are still alive for a top-five seed in the upcoming MEAC tournament. N.C. A&T is all but assured now lower than sixth seed thanks to Monday’s win. A sixth seed means the Aggies play on Tuesday. A fifth seed means the Aggies will not have to get on the court until Thursday.

 “I’ve said all year long you don’t want to be in the play-in game,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “You want to go in knowing you only need three games instead of four to win the tournament. If we have to play in the play-in game, we’ll go for it. But there is something to be said about not having to play your way in.”

 The Aggies will invite a tough Howard team in for Senior Night on Wednesday as the Aggies bid farewell to Glover, Johnson and Kira Tillman. Game time is 5:30 p.m. The Aggies end the regular season at S.C. State on Friday night, the team they are in contention with for the fifth spot in the conference.