With head women's basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs playing the maternal figure, they hope to have something else in common – a MEAC Champion. Cook and Calvin had 17 points apiece to lead the Aggies to a 79-56 win over Coppin State Sunday afternoon at Corbett Sports Center.    

Calvin sparked the Aggies in the first half. After the Eagles jumped out to a 9-3 lead early, Calvin hit four 3-pointers over a four-minute span to give the Aggies a 30-21 lead. But a Leola Spotwood 3-pointer just before the half pulled the Eagles to within two.

The Aggies (13-7, 7-0 MEAC) opened the half on a 17-2 run that included two 3-point plays and a 3-pointer by Cook that gave the Aggies a 50-33 advantage.

“Amber is a lot like Tweet,'' said Bibbs. “She really believes in herself. She is a smart player. She is really going to be special, and I'm glad we have someone here she is familiar with to ease her into the transition between high school and college.”

Cook said she met Calvin when both played for the same AAU organization. Their relationship grew closer when Calvin attended games between her future high school Hope Mills South View and Cook's Fayetteville Seventy-First teams.

“We're well known in Fayetteville,'' said Cook. “But whether we are playing on the same team or playing against each other, we've always been close because we're both fierce competitors. We've always been the stars of our teams, so it's been easy for us to have a close bond. She's like my sister. I lover her so I'm harder on her than any of my other teammates because I want her to keep what we have here going.”

Cook related what Calvin is going through to her own situation when she came to N.C. A&T following in the footsteps of Mia Glover. At the time, Glover was the Aggies all-time leader in assists. Cook has since eclipsed Glover's feat and has her mind set on many other Aggie records.

While Calvin may some day do the same by surpassing Cook's marks, there is a distinct difference between the two. Cook came to N.C. A&T with a shooting guard mentality and had to convert herself into a point guard. Calvin comes in with a pass-first mentality, but on this team she is asked to shoot more.

“It's like a catch 22 for me because I love to pass the basketball,'' said Calvin about being asked to shoot more. “Coach is teaching me not to turn down open shots by passing too much. It's tough because my first instinct is to pass.”

Cook said she tells Calvin to shoot more as well. When asked does she listen to her big sister, Calvin replied, “Yes.”

The Aggies return to action Monday night at 6 against Morgan State. Jeanine Manley led Coppin State with 12 points. Crystal Whittington added nine points and 10 rebounds.