GREENSBORO – There was a lot that went right for the North Carolina A&T women's basketball team, the 17th-ranked mid-major program in the nation, Tuesday night at Corbett Sports Center. But there are a few things the MEAC-favored Aggies are working through as they get ready for conference play.
On the upside for the Aggies, they cruised to a 76-45 win over Johnson C. Smith. The win gave the Aggies (3-1) three wins in four games during their season-opening homestand.
In the process, A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson got to see 13 players from his roster play as he continues to work through putting together a rotation.
Four of those players scored in double figures, including 6-foot-3 redshirt junior Eboni Ross who scored 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field. It was the first time this season Ross has scored in double figures. On the flip side, the Aggies other 6-3 standout Aprill McRae, failed to score in double figures for the first time all season after playing limited minutes due to foul trouble.
“We need them to both play well in the same game,” said Robinson. “We're hoping with our fingers crossed that happens this year.”
In McRae's last two outings she posted career highs, scoring 22 against UNC Asheville and 23 against William & Mary. She did not have a field goal on Tuesday.
“The last two games we were talking about Aprill having career highs without noting she was also having career highs in minutes because she was staying out of foul trouble,” said Robinson. “Tonight was Eboni's night to stay out of foul trouble, and she had a real impact on the game. If we can ever get those two on the court for 20-plus minutes, it's going to be something special.”
The Aggies were still able to function without major contribution from both even though the Golden Bulls (4-1) were able to take a 5-0 lead early. The Aggies outscored the Golden Bulls 11-1 to take the lead for good. Two Adriana Nazario free throws grew the Aggies lead to nine at 27-18 with 6:14 remaining in the first half.
A Shanequa Phifer 3-pointer cut the Aggies lead to six, but Kala Green quickly responded with an Aggies three to push the lead back to nine. Quenswayla Story's jumper pushed the lead to double figures. JCSU was never able to get the lead under double figures again. Nazario's layup before the half gave the Aggies a 36-24 halftime lead. Dana Brown opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put the Golden Bulls away for good. The Aggies, who came into the game 6-for-37 from 3-point range, were 6-for-12 Tuesday night.
“Thank goodness,” Robinson said about the hot shooting. “Hopefully, this will start a trend for us.”
Debbie Smith was 2-for-2 from 3-point range and finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Christina Carter added 10 points, six steals, five assists and four rebounds. Nazario hit all eight of her free throws and finished with 10.
“We got to see everybody play and we got to see how they performed in front of our home crowd," said Robinson. "We're still trying to work out the continuity within our team. I'm still trying to see what combinations work and who plays well together. Today was another step in that process."
The Aggies will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Hattiesburg, Miss., as a part of the Southern Mississippi Thanksgiving Tournament. They will then go to Davidson on Tuesday, Dec. 2 (7 p.m.) before beginning conference play on the road against Howard on Dec. 6 (4 p.m.) and Maryland Eastern Shore on Dec. 8 (5:30 p.m.).
“Championship teams take care of business at home and steal games on the road,” said Robinson.
