North Carolina A&T Aggies (10-7, 2-2 MEAC) vs. Morgan State Bears (5-13, 2-3 MEAC)
Date: January 26, 2013
Time: 2 p.m.
Facility: Corbett Sports Center
Series: A&T leads, 33-23
Webstream: www.ncataggies.com; Walter Johnson (play-by-play); Terry Cooper (analyst) 

Probable Starters: G Adriana Nazario (5-8 So., 6.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg,2.5 apg); G Amber Calvin (5-8 RJr., 9.6 ppg, 2.8 rbg, 2.2 apg); F Tracy King (5-10 Jr., 9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.8 apg); F JaQuayla Berry (5-11 Sr., 12.1 ppg, 6.6 rbg, 1.1 apg); C Eboni Ross (6-2 RFr., 5.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.2 apg)

CHIT CHAT:  The Aggies have done a good job of responding following a loss this season.  After losing a close 44-42 game to Howard last Saturday, the Aggies are looking to bounce back with a win against Morgan State this weekend. The longest losing streak A&T has compiled this season was two games-against No. 18 Nebraska and Omaha to start the season.  The Aggies last defeated the Bears in the opening round of the MEAC Tournament last year, 66-53.  The Aggies held the Bears to 15 percent shooting and just 14 points in the second half of that game. Senior JaQuayla Berry is averaging 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in conference play, while junior Tracy King is averaging 16.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per MEAC contest.  The Aggies will also look to have a strong inside presence, which has been a key factor in their victories this season. 

From the Coach:
"At this point in the season with Nikia Gorham out, up until we know when she can come back, we're relying on Eboni [Ross] to give us an inside presence."-A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson after Saturday's 44-42 loss to Howard

It's a "Lock": Scoring in the paint is key to A&T victories this season.  The Aggies are 8-2 in games when they score 30 or more points in the paint.  The Aggies scored a season-low eight points in the paint in Saturday's loss to Howard, after scoring more than 30 in four of their previous five games.  The Aggies went 4-1 in those games.  The Aggies will look to Eboni Ross out of foul trouble early so that she can give the Aggies the inside presence they need to score early and often in the paint.   

The Opponent: Morgan State has lost its last two games, falling to Hampton and Norfolk State. The Bears return three starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that went 6-24 overall and 3-13 in the MEAC.  The Bears are led offensively by senior guard Bianca Jarrett, who is averaging 18.2 points per game, which is third best in the MEAC.  She is also averaging 5.8 rebounds per game.  Sophomore guard Tracey Carrington is averaging 10.8 points and 5. 9 rebounds per game this season. 

Potential Gameday Star Power: North Carolina A&T:  Junior Tracy King averaged a double-double last week with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Florida A&M and with 10 points and nine boards against Howard.  She has scored in double figures in her last four straight games.  Morgan State: Senior guard Bianca Jarrett has scored in double figures in her last six games, including double-doubles at Penn and at Hampton in which she scored 30-plus points. 

The Magic Number for A&T: 35: The Aggies have held their last two opponents to under 35 percent shooting and look to extend that streak on Saturday.  A&T is 4-1 when holding an opponent to under 35 percent shooting from the floor this season.  The Aggies have held nine of their 17 opponents this season to under 40 percent shooting.     

From the Notes:
In the last meeting with the Bears, JaQuayla Berry had a double-double with 14 points and matched a career-best with 16 rebounds at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. 

Redshirt freshman Eboni Ross won her third MEAC Rookie of the Week honors on Jan. 21.  Last season, Tiffanie Adair won that weekly award six times before being named to the All-Rookie team.