GREENSBORO - There were times on Monday when it looked like North Carolina A&T's streak would end without much of a fight.
That is until the Aggies started to fight. They took conference-leader Hampton's best shots, and kept getting off the canvas. But missed opportunities on the offensive end, and made Hampton free throws finally finished off the Aggies in a 74-66 loss to the Pirates.
The loss brought to an end one of the most impressive streaks in MEAC history. The Aggies went four years without losing to a conference opponent at home. The winning streak lasted 30 games. It lasted so long; no current player on the roster was an Aggie when the streak began.
"A streak like that says you have had one of the better programs for a long time," said N.C. A&T head Patricia Cage-Bibbs.
Under the radar, another streak may have come to an end on Monday. The loss puts the Aggies (11-12, 7-5) four games behind the Pirates with four conference games to play. That simply means Hampton (19-6, 11-1) is one game away from eliminating any chance the Aggies have to claim their fourth straight regular-season MEAC crown. Again, it is another testament to how solid N.C. A&T's program has become.
It is a program that is proud it wouldn't let Hampton roll in and take away a streak it has worked so hard to build. The Pirates took a 31-14 lead in the first half before the Aggies became defensive and small.
Bibbs went to a guard-oriented lineup that consisted of Reisha Bullock, Jaleesa Sams, Jaqualya Berry, Mikala Scott and Tracy King. The quicker Aggies could not match Hampton's team speed. Hampton was held without a point for more than six minutes as N.C. A&T got back to within three.
At the 8:29 mark of the second half, the Aggies did something they had not done since the game was 3-minutes old. They took the lead. Jaquayla Berry's turnaround jumper put the Aggies ahead 53-52.
From there the two teams fought to a 61-61 tie before Hampton became hot at the line and the Aggies turned cold from the field. Jericka Jenkins gave the Pirates a two-point lead with 3:45 to play. Melanie Warner hit two free throws to move Hampton ahead 65-61. Berry moved the Aggies to within two on a runner with 3:11 remaining.
N.C. A&T's next field goal didn't come until three minutes later. In the meantime, the Pirates went 7-for-8 from the line down the stretch to clinch the win. Chiocetta McMillian led the Pirates with 22 points. Jenkins added 15 points and five assists.
The Aggies return to action Saturday afternoon at S.C. State.
