GREENSBORO - As March approaches, the North Carolina A&T women's basketball team showed off its depth on Monday by winning easily despite missing three starters.
The Aggies played without leading assist woman Amber Calvin, leading scorer Ta'Wuana "Tweet" Cook and second-leading scorer Jaleesa Sams. But behind the leadership of senior point guard Tyronnica Alford the Aggies blew out Winston-Salem State 63-31 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Calvin and Sams were serving one-game suspensions, while Cook missed Monday's action with an injury. Alford filled in with 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Sophomore Tierra Thomas led all scorers with 16, and freshman JaQuayla Berry added a season-high 15 points.
"People get off into you have to have this person or that person to win,'' said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. "I knew we had people who could step up. I see them practice with us every day. They're on scholarship. So I expected them to get it done."
N.C. A&T handed the Rams (2-25) their 23rd straight loss. It was the Aggies 15th straight win over the Rams in the series. There was little doubt that the short-handed Aggies were more than capable of keeping the Aggies (19-8) moving toward another 20-win season. Twelve minutes went by in the first half before the Rams scored their first points.
By then, the Aggies had a 23-3 lead. Thomas and Berry led the way by combing to score 13 of the Aggies first 23 points. Thirty-one points are the fewest points the Aggies have allowed in school history. Bibbs said she knew she would get an outstanding defensive effort because she had to play Thomas and Alford a lot of minutes, and they are two of her better defensive players.
"Our kids are seasoned,'' said Bibbs. "We've played what, 27 games now? We've practiced numerous times since the start of the season, so when it's time to step up, it's time to step up. These young ladies are always asking for the opportunity to prove themselves, so when that time comes, you need to prove yourself."
Thomas came into the game 5-for-26 from 3-point range, but she went 2-for-4 from the arc on Monday, and knocked down six of her 11 shot attempts. Alford, who had just two 3-point attempts before Monday, joined the coming out party by hitting a 3-pointer.
"We need our starters,'' said Bibbs. "But now we know we have a team of players that can take care of business. The idea is that this game is not important. Well to me, every game is important. So I'm pleased with what I saw."
While the Aggies were playing out of conference, the MEAC's second-place team Morgan State lost to conference foe Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Bears' loss assured the Aggies at least a share of the MEAC regular-season title, which is the Aggies third straight regular-season crown. The Aggies can win the title outright and the clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming MEAC tournament with a win over Coppin State Saturday afternoon in Baltimore.
