MIAMI – The thrill ride the North Carolina A&T women's basketball team took its fans on is over. Miami decided to test an Aggies team that has traveled to every WNIT game it has played over the last week. The Hurricanes pushed the tempo against Thursday night, and it resulted in an 84-77 win in a third round game of the WNIT played at BankUnited Center.

The Aggies season comes to an end at 23-11. Jaleesa Sams led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds. Ta'Wuana “Tweet” Cook finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.

“My ladies fought hard, but Miami played us very physical tonight and they did a good job of getting out in  transition,'' said Aggies head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “Their hot shooting to start the game put us in a position where we were constantly having to fight uphill. When you've played on the road like we have, you don't want to be in a position where you're playing catch up.”

Riquna Williams broke open a 15-13 game in the first half by hitting four consecutive 3-pointers that helped the Hurricanes take a 49-37 lead at the half. Miami shot 63.6 percent in the first half thanks to 8-for-11 shooting from 3-point range.

The Hurricanes lost and gained a double-figure lead five times in the second half. Every time the Aggies appeared to have a run going, the Hurricanes would use an Aggie miss to get out in transition to push the lead back to double figures.

“We knew we needed to guard against their running game,'' said Bibbs. “I thought we did a much better job of playing defense in the second half. I just think those threes were hard to overcome.”

The Aggies trailed by as many as 15 in the second half. The Aggies cut the lead to six on an Amber Calvin layup with 5:11 to play. Two Tyronnica Alford free throws got the Hurricanes lead down to five. But a steal and layup by Morgan Stroman also resulted in a foul on Ta'Wuana “Tweet” Cook. Stroman completed the 3-point play to put Miami ahead 77-69 with 2:37 to play.

Calvin, who had an unusual bad night from 3-point range, hit her first three of the game to slice the lead back down to five.  The Aggies had a chance to get even closer as Shenise Johnson missed a jumper. But Aggies forward Crystal Murdaugh had her shot blocked by Stroman.

It led to an easy layup by Charmaine Clark that gave Miami a 79-72 lead with 1:21 to play. Williams led the Hurricanes with 21 points on 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Johnson added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Clark added 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists. The Hurricanes will play Providence on Sunday.

As for Bibbs and the Aggies, they will look forward to what new feats they can accomplish next season. Bibbs has made a habit of setting new milestones since arriving at N.C. A&T. The Aggies' 34 games was a school record for games played. Twenty-four of those games were played on the road. The Aggies also became the first NCAA Division I HBCU to win two consecutive games in a national postseason tournament. 

But the Aggies will lose their most accomplished class in school history. Four-year seniors Lamona Smalley, Shantar Waddell and Cook won more games than any other Aggies' senior class. North Carolina and Duke are the only in-state Division I schools with more wins than the Aggies – 91 – over the last four years. Alford, a Division I transfer three years ago, also played her last game.

In Cook, the Aggies lose their second all-time leading scorer and their all-time leader in assists. Smalley says goodbye as the Aggies second all-time leading rebounder. Cook and Smalley also finish in the top 5 all-time in several other statistical categories.

The three-time defending MEAC regular-season champion Aggies are expected to have seven letterwinners back, including MEAC All-Rookie performers Calvin and JaQuayla Berry. Sams will be the Aggies leading returning scorer, and sophomore forward Crystal Murdaugh came into her own during the WNIT. Freshman center Nikia Gorham also showed tons of potential during the 2009-10.

Bibbs also has an excellent recruiting class coming with the signing of four new Aggies. Add Division I transfer Alex Mitchell to the rotation and it is apparent the Aggies are not ready to let go of the hold they have on the MEAC.

“We had a good year, but a tough year,'' said Bibbs. “What we did in the WNIT was very rewarding because we had to go through some trials to get here. I thought we showed a lot of guts. But after 34 games, and after all the road games we've played, it catches up to you.”