AKRON, OHIO – North Carolina A&T saw its four-game winning streak snapped with a 64-52 loss to Akron at Rhodes Arena. The Aggies dropped to 6-4 on the season.

"We got off to a good start," N.C. A&T coach Tarrell Robinson said. "We talked about that, getting off to a good start because we haven't done that in the last few games. We talked about how great Akron plays in the first half and we wanted to make sure that we matched that because we also knew that they didn't have great second halves and we had great second halves."

For the first time in five games, the Aggies were outscored in the second half.  N.C. A&T came into the game outscoring its opponents 121-71 in the second half, but Akron outscored the Aggies 31-21 in the second half.

"I believe we gave up a three to open the half and the rest was kind of downhill," Robinson said.  "We never quite got our grip in terms of putting ourselves in position to win the game."

It was a homecoming of sorts for Cleveland, Ohio natives Deja Winters, Alexus Lessears and Shantell Bostick. Winters finished with 14 points, four steals and added three rebounds. Senior Alexus Lessears added 10 points and seven rebounds. Bostick had three assists.  

"I was talking to them in the locker room, I thought it was important for their fans, their families to see their names called out in the starting lineup, so I decided to start them, and I think they're really appreciative," said Robinson. "With this being their homecoming and having people out there supporting them, I knew that it was important for them."

Senior forward Le'on Hill led the team with a game-high 11 rebounds and added seven points. 

"I can stick her everywhere," Robinson said of Hill.  "She is our utility person.  She doesn't get tired.  I asked her if she wanted to come out and she said no.  She played 40 minutes and had 11 rebounds for her second game of having double-figures in rebounding."

Senior guard Cinia McCray added nine points, three rebounds and two assists.

The Aggies got off to a fast start with a 12-5 lead. Hill's layup grew the Aggies lead to 20-12 with 1:48 remaining in the first quarter. Akron (5-4) scored the next seven points to cut the Aggies lead to 20-19 to end the first quarter.

The Zips opened the second quarter by outscoring the Aggies 12-3 to take a 31-23 lead. N.C. A&T went on an 8-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer from Winters to tie the game at 31 with 29 seconds remaining in the first half. Two free throws from Akron's Haleigh Reinoehl sent the Zips into the locker room leading by two, 33-31.

Akron outscored the Aggies 19-6 during the third quarter as the Zips took a 15-point lead, 52-37, after the third quarter. They grew their lead to 20, 62-42, with four minutes remaining in the game. The Aggies never got any closer than 12 from that point.

Akron was led by Reinoehl with 22 points and eight rebounds. The Aggies head back to the south to face Clemson in Clemson, S.C., Friday at 2 p.m.