North Carolina A&T (19-9) vs. North Carolina Central (12-17)
Date: March 12, 2020
Time:  Noon
Facility: Scope Arena

Probable Starters: G Cinia McCray (5-9, Sr., 11.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg) G Mikaya Wilson (5-6, Sr., 4.5 ppg, 2.6 apg); G Jasmen Walton (5-11, So., 6.6 ppg, 2.7 rbg); F Le'on Hill (6-2, Sr., 7.3 rpg, 5.3 ppg); C Jayla Jones Pack (6-3, Jr., 8.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg).

AGGIES OVERIEW:  North Carolina A&T women's basketball starts the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship Basketball Tournament with a third contest against archrival N.C. Central in four weeks when they face the Eagles Thursday at noon at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. 
The Aggies are looking for their fifth 20-win season under head coach Tarrell Robinson and the program's ninth in 13 seasons. It will not be easy for the Aggies after losing to the Eagles twice this season. The Eagles beat the Aggies in double overtime in East Greensboro on Feb. 15 before beating the Aggies last Thursday in Durham. 
It marks the first time since the Eagles joined the MEAC that they have swept the Aggies. In fact, the Eagles have defeated the Aggies only eight times in 38 games. The Aggies have reached the semifinals each year Robinson has been the coach as he enters his eighth conference tournament. The Aggies are after the program's fifth MEAC title and their third in the last five years. 

NCCU EAGLES: During the regular season, the Eagles were led by Paulina Afriyie with 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Kieche White and Anissa Rivera are also effective scorers for the Eagles with White averaging 13.8 points and Rivera averaging 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds. 
Against the Aggies, White and Rivera have been extremely effective. Rivera and White are each averages 22.0 points against the Aggies in two games. Rivera is also averaging 11.0 rebounds. Afriyie is averaging 13.0 rebounds per game against N.C. A&T.

The Series: The Aggies hold a 30-8 lead over the Eagles. N.C. A&T holds a 5-2 record in neutral sites, including a 79-49 win in last season's MEAC tournament.

McCray and Winters Receive All-MEAC: McCray earned MEAC second-team honors, while Winters was named to the third team.

McCray ranks second on the team and 16^th in the MEAC with 11.4 points per game. She ranks eighth in the MEAC with 1.6 3-point field goals made per game and 11^th with 12.9 points per game in conference games only. McCray became the 14^th player in school history to record her 1,000 career points.  She completed this feat on Senior Day against Howard.
Winters leads the team and ranks 12^th in scoring at 11.9 points per game. She also ranks 13^th in steals per game with 1.7 and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage at 34.1.

Rankings: The Aggies lead the MEAC and rank fifth in the nation in turnovers forced (22.21). They are second in the MEAC and 10^th in the country in 3-point field goal defense (26.7). N.C. A&T leads the MEAC and ranks ninth in the country in field goal percentage defense (34.1). The Aggies lead the MEAC and rank 44^th nationally in rebounding margin at plus-5.9. They also lead the conference with 43.29 rebounds per game, which ranks 11^th in the NCAA. The Aggies rank second in the conference with 1,212 rebounds. 

N.C. A&T ranks third in the MEAC and 41^st in the nation in blocks per game (4.5). They are 59^th nationally and third in the conference total blocks (127). N.C. A&T leads the conference in scoring defense holding opponents to 56.8 points per game. That's good enough for 27^th in the country.  The team ranks second in the MEAC and 51^st in the country in scoring margin at plus-8.9.

Career Watch: Lessears has 845 career rebounds to place third in school history. She needs seven rebounds to move into second place held by Lamona Smalley (2006-10). Hill has 600 career rebounds and needs 26 rebounds to move into ninth place held by Angela Hill (1990-94). 

Lessears has 113 blocks and needs five blocks to move into fourth place held by Smalley with 115 blocks. Hill has 107 career blocks to rank sixth in school history.