RICHMOND, Va. – North Carolina A&T women's basketball finished the nonconference schedule four games above .500 after defeating Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) 69-58 Monday night at Stuart C. Siegel Center.

"We almost let it get away today," N.C. A&T coach Tarrell Robinson said.  "Everybody that played, had a major impact.  This is a good VCU team and they were picked to win the A-10."

The Aggies (8-4) were picked to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and they have looked like favorites non-conference wins over the likes of Clemson, UNC Greensboro and VCU, and they had a close call against nationally-ranked Miami. 

Looking to avenge a loss to VCU from last season, N.C. A&T held a 54-53 with 5:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.  On back-to-back possessions for N.C. A&T, junior forward Deja Winters hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Aggies a 60-55 lead with 3:27 to play. 

After two made VCU free throws to cut the lead to three points, N.C. A&T closed with a 9-1 run to secure their eighth win before heading into the MEAC schedule where they have won 24 straight regular-season MEAC games.

"(Deja) woke up during the last five minutes and made some big plays for us," Robinson said.  "Deja's a big-time player."

Junior forward Jayla Jones-Pack led the Aggies with a season-high 20 points after shooting 8-for-10 from the floor including hitting her first eight shots after missing the last two games. Jones-Pack also added six rebounds and two blocks. Senior guard C'coriea Foy added 15 points and six rebounds with two assists and two steals.

"Jayla came in strong and I knew we could run a couple isolation sets, which we did," Robinson said.  "That got her going to perform the way that she did. Her offense ignited her defense. She had some great blocks and really did well on their two dynamic post players."

Winters finished with 11 points after scoring eight points in the final quarter and added four rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Cinia McCray added eight points, three rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Le'on Hill led the team with seven rebounds.

VCU (5-8) led 5-4 at the 5:56 mark of the first quarter. It would be the first and only time the Rams would hold the lead Monday night. N.C. A&T held a 15-12 lead after the first quarter. The Aggies scored the first three points of the second quarter before VCU cut the lead to 18-15. N.C. A&T then sprinted out to a 9-0 run to take a 24-15 lead with 6:04 remaining in the first half.   

Following a Rams timeout, the Rams were able to recoup and cut the Aggies lead to four at 29-25 at the half. They eventually tied the game at 30 with 7:48 remaining in the third quarter but Jones-Pack scored on back-to-back field goals to push the led to 34-30 with 5:40 remaining in the third. 

With N.C. A&T holding a three-point lead, 38-35, with 2:31 left, the Aggies scored the next five points to increase the lead to 43-35 toward the end of the third. A Foy 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter pushed the Aggies lead to eight, 48-40, with 9:19 to play. 

But a 9-3 outburst by the Rams cut the Aggies lead to two at 51-49. Foy hit another timely three to push the lead back to five with a little less than six minutes to play. But VCU scored the next four points to get the lead to one, 54-53. 

The Rams were led by Tera Reed with 29 points and five rebounds. The Aggies start MEAC play hosting Florida A&M 5:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 6 at Corbett Sports Center.