GREENSBORO – It is impossible to deny that redshirt sophomore center Chaniya Clark had an outstanding week in helping the North Carolina A&T women's basketball program earn wins over the ACC's Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Conference USA's Liberty Flames.
The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) certainly didn't challenge the impossibility as the conference named Clark its player of the week on Monday. It is Clark's second career weekly honor after becoming the first Aggie to win a women's basketball weekly honor from the CAA when she was named rookie of the week on Dec. 12, 2022. It is the third overall CAA weekly honor for the program.
"If people only knew this young ladies' journey," said A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson. "I'm excited to hear that Chaniya was chosen as the CAA player of the week. She has worked so hard during her short time here so far, and things like this validate her work."
Clark and the Aggies opened the week by traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face Power Five Wake Forest. The Aggies won for the second straight time over Wake Forest with a 56-51 victory that followed their win 13 years ago in the postseason WNIT at Wake Forest. Clark was one-half of one of the most vital plays in the game.
Guard Maleia Bracone dribbled past the Wake Forest defense and threaded a pass to Clark in a crowded area. Clark was able to make the catch and score while being fouled. After a pump of the fist from excitement, Clark completed the 3-point play to give the Aggies a 52-48 lead with 54 seconds to play. Clark finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in the upset win.
Three days later, at Corbett Sports Center, Clark secured her third career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Aggies defeated Liberty, a team picked to finish in a tie for second place in CUSA, 56-47. Clark did some memorable things in that win as well.
She rattled off nine straight points in the third quarter to take A&T's lead from 26-20 to 35-23 in approximately two minutes of game action. Clark averaged 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds for the week and shot 11-for-24 (.458) from the field. The Aggies have won three straight, with Clark scoring in double figures in all three victories.
A&T (3-1) will head to Moraga, Calif., for the Thanksgiving Holiday to play in the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic hosted by the St. Mary's College Gaels. The Aggies will face St. Mary's at 9 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on Friday, Nov. 24. They will play UT Arlington at 4 p.m. EST on Saturday.
