GREENSBORO (November 14, 2016) – Freshman point guard Shantell Bostick played 19 minutes, scored nine points, went 2-for-6 from the field and added three rebounds and three assists in the Aggies 74-59 win over UT Martin Monday night at Corbett Sports Center.
Forget her final numbers, however, because her contribution was so much more significant than mere numbers. Early in the game Bostick was able to effectively replace starter and graduate transfer Aliyah Kilpatrick who struggled early. Once Kilpatrick was able to observe the game from a different vantage point – the sideline – she was able to return and finish with 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals. Junior Quenswayla Story added 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field and Downtown Dana Brown had 14 points on four 3-pointers.
“My hat goes off to Shantell Bostick,” said N.C. A&T coach Tarrell Robinson. “I had to take AK out to wake her up and show her what she needed to do.”
Kilpatrick left the game at the 6:03 mark of the first quarter with the Aggies trailing 8-2. After two more Skyhawk free throws, the Aggies began their transition game led by Bostick, and the contest was never the same again. A missed layup by UT Martin's Janekia Mason led to a fastbreak as Bostick finished in transition and was fouled.
She completed the 3-point play to get the Aggies (1-1) going. Bostick then rebounded a miss by teammate Michelle Fitzgerald and scored on a 3-pointer. Bostick later hit two free throws to cut the Skyhawks' lead from eight to three at 14-11 with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter.
After two free throws from UT Martin's Breanna Boggs, Kilpatrick began proving she was over her early struggles. Kilpatrick, who is at N.C. A&T for one year after transferring in from Winthrop, hit two free throws and then found Quenswayla Story in transition for a layup. Story was fouled on the play and hit the And-1 to tie the game at 16.
Following another Skyhawks free throw, another Aggies fastbreak led by Kilpatrick, led to a 3-point play from Fitzgerald to give the Aggies their first lead of the game at 19-17. The quarter ended with another Kilpatrick assist as she found Story for a short jumper to give the Aggies the 21-19 first-quarter lead.
“It got me to calm down a little bit and focus on what I need to do,” said Kilpatrick about being subbed for early in the game. “As a scoring guard and a point guard, it's my job to set up my teammates, run our offense and score off transition. I think sitting was the little push I needed and that's why I came here.”
UT Martin (0-2) had a recovery of their own. The Skyhawks were able to regain a 27-22 lead in the second quarter. The Aggies responded by ending the half on a 12-2 run highlighted by 3-pointers from senior Dana Brown and Kilpatrick as the Aggies went into the locker room leading 34-29. That lead grew to 12, 56-44, by the end of the third quarter before UT Martin made another run to cut the Aggies lead to 56-50 with 8:17 remaining in the game.
N.C. A&T was able to put the game away seconds later as Kilpatrick followed her own miss to put the Aggies up by eight before Brown took a pass from Kilpatrick and knocked down a three to give the Aggies a 61-50 lead with 7:10 to play. The Aggies shot 54.8 percent in the second half and held a 19-3 fastbreak points advantage in the game. The Aggies did it without the services of experienced guard Kala Green.
“We missed Kala Green today and that's what their run came down to. We had some of our youth out there. But Dana saved us with some of those big shots like Downtown Dana Brown does.”
N.C. A&T returns to action 5:30 p.m., Thursday as they welcome Auburn to Corbett Sports Center.
