ATHENS, Ga. – North Carolina A&T took its veteran squad and a bright outlook on the 2023-24 season into SEC Country on Monday for its women's basketball season opener and nearly came away with a signature win at the University of Georgia. But after a solid first half by the Aggies, Georgia gradually found its way defensively and defeated the Aggies 71-59 at Stegeman Coliseum. 

The Power Five Bulldogs took an early 12-7 lead before the Aggies defense took hold, and the offense benefited. Senior Maleia Bracone grabbed a rebound and scored on a layup to spark an 8-2 run to end the first quarter that D'Mya Tucker ended with two free throws, giving A&T a 15-14 lead. 

A&T extended its lead to four on a Tucker free throw and basket before Asia Avinger hit a 3-pointer, and De'Mauri Flournoy hit two free throws to put the Dogs in the lead, 19-18 with 6:46 remaining in the first half. A&T began to build a lead from there. Bracone hit two 3-pointers during a 10-2 run that gave the Aggies a 28-21 lead with three minutes remaining in the first half. 

After a Javyn Nicholson basket, Tucker netted another three for the Aggies to give A&T a 31-23 advantage. A&T carried that eight-point lead into the locker room as Nyah Willis took a pass from Chaniya Clark to give the Aggies a 33-25 halftime lead. A&T held the Dogs to 26.3 percent shooting in the first half and used an 8-0 advantage in transition points to grab the first-half lead. 

A Jordyn Dorsey free throw gave the Aggies their biggest lead of the game at 34-25 10 seconds into the second half. But over the next five minutes, Georgia outscored the Aggies 14-4 to take a 39-38 lead on an Avinger three from the top of the key. Two Taniyah Thompson free throws increased the lead to three before a Paris Locke free throw. 

The Dogs then scored the next nine points, highlighted by a Flournoy 3-pointer to take a 50-39 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Aggies lost the lead thanks partly to shooting 1-for-10 in the third quarter. Georgia grew its lead to as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Aggies never got any closer than nine in the fourth quarter. 

Tucker led three Aggies in double figures with 14 points. Bracone added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Dorsey finished with 12. Nicholson recorded a double-double for the Dogs with 14 points and 12 rebounds. 

A&T will play its home opener at Corbett Sports Center at 5 p.m., Friday against Division III Guilford College.