EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T women's basketball senior guard Cinia McCray recorded a game-high 16 points to reach the 1,000-point career as the Aggies used a big third quarter to defeat Howard 60-55 in Corbett Sports Center Saturday in a key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup.

What made McCray's feat even sweeter was that it came on Senior Day.

"Cinia McCray has been very important to the overall success of this program since she stepped in the locker room," N.C. A&T coach Tarrell Robinson said.  "I remember in her freshman season she wasn't getting the playing time and she had to understand the things that it takes to compete at this level. One thousand points, that was something that we knew with her being a scorer, she was going to get."

McCray shot 7-for-15 from the floor and added four rebounds and three steals. Senior center Alexus Lessears, one of four four-year seniors on the Aggies roster, recorded a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds and added 10 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the floor.

"Alexus played inspired basketball today," Robinson said.  "That's something that she talked about this game and moving forward, that she was going to be an impact like she's been in this conference.  I'm proud of her."

Sophomore guard Jasmen Walton added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Aggies (17-8, 9-4 MEAC) needed McCray to perform well on her big night. The Aggies fell down by 14 points in the first quarter as Howard led 21-7 after the opening quarter. N.C. A&T's defense became smothering from there.

The Bison (14-11, 6-6 MEAC) did not have a field goal in the second quarter going 0-for-8 from the field. Despite the Bison's offensive troubles, the Aggies still trailed 25-19 at the half.

 "I talked to them about picking it up defensively," Robinson said.  "They outscored us in the first quarter.  We settled in defensively and held them to four points in the second quarter.  I told them the next thing to do is to get our offense together and we did that."

The third quarter did not start well for the Aggies. Howard took a 30-21 lead over the first two minutes. But the Aggies took charge from there. An 11-0 run that included four points apiece from Lessears and McCray to give the Aggies a 31-30 lead with 5:12 remaining in the quarter.

The Aggies continued to strive offensively. A 3-point play by Bostick gave the Aggies a 38-32 lead. A Jasmen Walton 3-pointer from the corner gave the Aggies a 44-32 with 1:22 remaining in the third. Walton then hit a runner in the lane for a 48-34 lead before two Howard free throws put the Bison down 12 going into the fourth quarter.

N.C. A&T increased their lead to 52-37 over the first 2 ½ minutes of the fourth quarter.

Howard scored the next 10 points to cut the lead to five points, 52-47, with 5:25 remaining in the game. McCray got the Aggies back on track with a layup. The Bison kept coming, however. They cut the Aggies lead to 55-51 with 2:10 to play.

McCray came through again as Walton found a cutting McCray for a layup. McCray then exceeded the 1,000-point career mark as the ball went into the post to senior Jayla Jones-Pack. Jones-Pack then tossed a pass to McCray who was cutting toward the basket for a layup and a 59-51 lead with 1:35 to play.

The Bison never recovered. The Bison was led by Ayonna Williams with 15 points and five rebounds.

In addition to Lessears and McCray, the Aggies also honored Mikaya Wilson, C'coriea Foy, Le'on Hill and Bostick after the game.

The Aggies host Maryland Eastern Shore in the final home game of the season Monday at 5:30 p.m. in Corbett Sports Center.