GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T women's basketball team has a deep bench and tons of young promising talent. But in order to reach the ultimate goal of advancing to the NCAA tournament, it will be under the leadership of the players who have endured the heartache of MEAC tournament semifinal losses the longest.
Monday afternoon at Corbett Sports Center two such players emerged to the lead the Aggies to a 64-53 win over Norfolk State. Graduate center Aprill McRae secured her second double-double in as many games with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Fifth-year senior Christina Carter went 5-for-6 from the floor, scored 10 points, dished out four assists and recorded four steals. McRae and Carter, both graduates of North Carolina A&T, combined to go 13-for-17 from the floor in the win.
The Aggies are 8-9 overall and 4-2 in the MEAC after the win.
“I thought we were still stagnated early in the game in terms of what we're trying to do, win this championship and go to the NCAA tournament,” said N.C. A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson. “If we want to make the tournament we have to come with more consistency. But overall I'm pleased with the win. Aprill McRae, we go as she goes.”
The Aggies came into the second half with a different strategy in an effort to take advantage of their 36-24 halftime lead. They pressed in the half court to be more aggressive with the ball. After an action packed third quarter they kept a 46-36 lead. Once the Aggies captured a double-figure lead in the second half, Robinson wanted to limit the minutes of McRae and Carter because of the type of minutes they logged in the Aggies intense 55-52 loss to Hampton on Saturday. As Robinson reflected after the game, he thought he may have subbed for them too early as Norfolk State (0-16, 0-6 MEAC) reduced the Aggies 42-26 third-quarter lead to eight, 44-36, as the third quarter was winding down.
After Norfolk State's Brehanna Daniels got the Spartans to within eight, 46-38, to open the fourth quarter, Carter went to McRae in the post to put the Aggies ahead double figures again. A Carter steal would then lead to a transition layup by sophomore Kala Green. After a McRae offensive rebound led to a Michelle Fitzgerald basket the Aggies were up 52-38 with five minutes to play.
The team's goals for the next game are to get to the free throw line more, continue to score in the paint and get more contributions off the bench. The Aggies head to Baltimore for the weekend to face Coppin State Saturday at 2 p.m.
