AGGIE
SENIORS TOPPLE HOWARDGREENSBORO, March 1, 2006 – North Carolina A&T’s senior class dominated, sparkled and simply showed out on their night.
The Aggie women’s basketball team celebrated Senior Night on Wednesday at Cal Irvin-Don Corbett Court at Corbett Sports Center and Shareka Glover, Bianca Johnson and Kira Tillman responded with career nights. In the process, the Aggies (9-17, 9-8) defeated Howard 88-74 and could still earn a first-round bye in next week’s MEAC Tournament in Raleigh.
Johnson, who sat out the last two seasons after playing for Hampton, led the Aggies with a career-high 26 points. Glover scored all 19 of her points in the second half and added a season-high 13 assists. Tillman notched the Aggies first individual double-double of the season with 22 points and 14 rebounds. She also had six steals.
“I’m so happy for these young ladies,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “I’m happy for a young lady like [Glover] who has given her all for this program. I’m proud of a young lady like Bianca who had the determination to return to school and finish out her career and education. Kira has worked hard for us this year and she came through in a big way tonight. If she comes to play like that the rest of the way, we can stay in Raleigh for a little while.”
The first half for the Aggie seniors in no way resembled their second half. Glover had no points, Johnson was just 4-for-11 from the field, Tillman was 2-for-8 and the Aggies trailed 36-30.
The Aggies started the second half on an 8-0 run to take a two-point lead. Two free throws from Howard’s Courtney Smiley tied the game and Melloni Benson’s layup gave Howard the lead back at 42-40 with 16:46 remaining in the game. The two teams traded baskets over the next two minutes until a Tillman steal and layup put the Aggies ahead for good.
The Bison was able to keep the Aggies from extending the lead any further than four until the 11:27 mark. Johnson’s spin move into the lane freed her up for a layup that gave the Aggies a 59-53 lead. Glover followed with a drive to the basket and score. She was fouled on the play by Ebony Lacey. Glover’s free throw gave the Aggies a 62-53 lead with 10:27 remaining.
The closest the Bison got the rest of the night was four on two free throws by Brittany James. But a jumper by sophomore LaKeisha Williams, two free throws from Williams and a 3-point play from Tillman put the Aggies up 11, 80-69, with 4:19 to play to assure the seniors would go out victorious at home.
The Aggies will face S.C. State on Friday in Orangeburg, S.C., for a chance to earn a first-round bye in the MEAC Tournament. Both teams are 9-8 in the conference. The Bulldogs won the earlier match-up between the two teams in Corbett, 74-71.