GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T picked their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball game of the year to get into a 40-minute rhythm offensively as the Aggies scored a season-high 52 second-half points to blow by Howard 88-70 Saturday afternoon at Corbett Sports Center.
The Aggies shot a season-high 56.4 percent from the floor led by junior Dana Brown's career-high 20 points. After an 0-for-6 performance from 3-point range on Monday against North Greenville, Brown went 4-for-5 from three and 7-for-13 from the floor.
“I thought she didn't come with a lot of focus,” N.C. A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson said about Brown's Monday night showing. “I really challenged her today, and she stepped up big time for us. I'm proud of Dana and glad to have Aprill back.
Graduate center Aprill McRae and sophomore Kala Green also turned in good nights. McRae, who did not play Monday, recorded her second career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Green posted a career-high 14 points and added five assists on 6-for-11 shooting. The Aggies made a season-high 10 3-pointers and shot an impressive 62.5 percent from three.
“We just have to recognize that we have a balanced attack,” said Robinson about the team's improved offensive play. “We have an inside presence, and we have some shooters who can knockdown the ball. What we've got to do is just play the game the way it's supposed to be played. Don't let the ball stick to your hands, make the right play, make the right pass and trust the job gets down and play gets made.”
The Aggies (3-4, 1-0 MEAC) had it going offensively from the beginning. They shot 53.8 percent in the first half and connected on 4 of 5 3-point field goals. But they were going against a Howard team, who despite their record, were coming into Corbett coming off a close loss to LaSalle. The Bison (0-9, 0-1 MEAC) also shot better than 50 percent in the first half and guard Essence Brown was also helpful with her 3-point shooting. The Bison trailed 36-34 after the first 20 minutes.
N.C. A&T never hit a cooling off period, however, and the Bison did at the start of the fourth quarter. Senior Natiece Ford closed out the third quarter with a 3-point play that gave the Aggies a 58-48 lead.
Brown would then close out her redemptive night by netting back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Aggies a 66-52 lead with 7:32 to play. After a Ford free throw, Green stepped in front of a Brown pass and sprinted to the other end for an easy layup. A minute later, freshman Rejoice Spivey put the Aggies up 20 points, 74-54, by hitting her first career 3-pointer with 5:32 remaining in the game.
“We got hot in the second half with 52 points,” said Robinson who saw his team shoot 58.6 percent in the second half. “That goes a lot to the 19 assists we had. We really shared the ball. We established the inside presence way more in the second half which opened up shots for everybody, so we shot well from three.”
The Aggies will get another conference game at home on Monday as Maryland Eastern Shore drives into town. Tip is a 5:30 p.m.
“I've not looked at them. I was only focused on Howard,” said Robinson about the Hawks. “I know they're like us, played a tough non-conference schedule. I know (coach Fred Batchelor) will have his ladies ready on Monday.”
