CINCINNATI, OHIO – North Carolina A&T junior guard Shareka McNeill (Charlotte, N.C.) hit a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation to send the Aggies women's basketball contest against the Cincinnati Bearcats into overtime. The Division II transfer then hit a layup to send the game into a second overtime before the Bearcats pulled away in the second overtime to defeat the Aggies 87-77 Sunday afternoon at the Fifth Third Arena.
The Aggies (3-7), who came into the game winners of three straight, had to overcome a 19-point second-half deficit to even send the game into the first OT.
The Aggies trailed 52-33 with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter. The Aggies got the lead down to 13 thanks to a 6-0 run that featured four points from Chanin Scott (Charlotte, N.C.).
The Bearcats (7-4) pushed the lead back to 16 before back-to-back 3-pointers first from Scott and then from McNeill put the Aggies down 10, 55-45, going into the fourth quarter. Scott led the Aggies with 11 points during the quarter with two steals.
A&T slowly chipped away at the Cincinnati lead until they knocked it down to two, 64-62, on a McNeill three with 2:19 to play in regulation. Two Akira Levy free throws pushed the Cincinnati lead to four before senior center Jazmin Harris (McLeansville, N.C.) hit one of two free throws to make it a three-point with a minute to play.
Levy turned the ball over after Scott recorded her fourth steal of the game with 55 remaining. However, McNeill missed on a layup, and Harris missed the follow, giving the Bearcats possession again. But another Bearcats turnover thanks to a shot clock violation gave the Aggies the ball back with six seconds to play, leading to McNeill's heroic jumper to tie the game at 66 with 0.2 seconds on the clock.
The Aggies Charlotte combo of McNeill and Scott combined for 15 points in the fourth.
Cincinnati took a quick 70-66 lead in the first OT, but four straight Aggie points capped off by a Scott layup tied the game at 70 with 2:26 remaining in overtime No. 1. However, Bearcats forward Jadyn Scott put her team back in front with a layup 22 seconds later.
But McNeill came through for the Aggies again, late. McNeill took the ball from Arame Niang and scored on the other end to tie the game at 72 with 1:21 to play in OT.
After two Cincinnati misses, the Aggies had an opportunity to win the game, but McNeill's 3-pointer rimmed out. McNeill retrieved her rebound, but senior guard Jasmen Walton (Baltimore, Md.) missed a three with three seconds to play, leading into another overtime.
The Bearcats scored the first nine points over the first three minutes to take a significant advantage in the second overtime. A&T did get the game within six, 83-77, with 37 seconds remaining. But the Bearcats put the Aggies away with solid free throw shooting.
"As we finish our last tune-up before conference play, though we didn't get the results we wanted, I'm left feeling excited about what's to come for these young women," A&T coach Tarrell Robinson said. "We showed great fight and resilience at times tonight. I think this group finally realizes that if we can be consistent in taking care of the ball offensively and defending at a high level, we'll give ourselves a chance against anyone.
It's been a tough semester for my young women, and I think they are deserving of a much-needed break before we transition to conference play."
Scott finished the day with 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. McNeill had her second consecutive 20-plus point performance with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting from the field and 6-for-11 shooting from 3-point range. Harris added 15 points, seven rebounds and a career-high three blocks.
The Aggies recorded a season-low 10 turnovers and forced the Bearcats into 16. A&T sent the game into two overtimes despite not having the lead since it was 13-12, with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter. The Bearcats closed the first half on a 5-0 run to take a 35-27 halftime lead.
Levy led the Bearcats with 22 points and 12 assists.
A&T starts Big South Conference play next with a 6 p.m., Dec. 29 game at Corbett Sports Center against the Longwood Lancers.
