GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T women's basketball knocked the rust off, celebrated a 1,000-point collegiate scorer and defeated Division III Averett 90-30 Saturday night at Corbett Sports Center. It served as the Aggies final tune-up game before entering Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play exclusively on January 5 at home against College of Charleston at 6 p.m.
The Aggies will be motivated by two things as they chase the program's 11th regular-season conference championship. A year ago, the Aggies were one game shy of finishing with a share of the CAA's regular-season championship after sitting atop the standings for most of the season. A three-way tie for first dropped the Aggies down to the No. 5 seed, where injury and illness in key positions resulted in a first-round exit for A&T. Despite their success in their first year in the CAA, the CAA preseason poll predicted the Aggies to finish eighth in the league. Let the games begin.
"We have a group that wants to win. They want to get it done," said A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson. "They hold themselves accountable. They even hold me and the coaching staff accountable, and I'm proud of them. Our best basketball is ahead of us. We know they picked us eighth. That will be our talk in every pregame; this is what they thought about us. We are going to be on a mission to prove them wrong."
The Aggies (6-5), who won their third straight with the win on Saturday, had a 10-day break away from competition. Their first practice after the holiday break was on December 27. Therefore, the timing and execution were slightly off to start the game on Saturday. Two free throws from Averett's Skylar Jones sent the Cougars into the second quarter trailing 14-8. The Cougars then scored the first five points of the second quarter to cut A&T's lead to 14-13.
After an 11-2 run and 2 ½ quarters of additional action, the Aggies had a 60-point win. A 3-pointer from senior guard Maleia Bracone capped off A&T's 11-2 run in the second quarter. It marked Bracone's 1,000th point as a collegiate player. She spent her first two seasons at Presbyterian College before transferring to A&T. She ended the night with 18 points, eight assists, five steals and four rebounds. The three that solidified her 1,000-point status was the only three she made. But she made all six of her 2-point attempts.
"It's great to be blessed with the ability to play ball," said Bracone, who ranks second in the conference and 25th in the nation in steals per game (2.9). "I'm blessed to have Coach Rob pick me up after I transferred to continue my blessing of playing and being able to do with my teammates as well. I'm really blessed and grateful for it."
Senior D'Mya Tucker, who is on pace to have a career year, led the Aggies with 22 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals on 9-for-15 shooting from the field and 3-for-5 shooting from 3-point range. It marked her second straight 20-plus point performance and her third of the season. She came into the 2023-24 season with one 20-plus point outing. Freshman Paris Locke was the other Aggie in double figures, ending the afternoon with 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
"It is very important to us to win a championship," said Tucker. "Coming into my freshman year, we were able to win a championship. Unfortunately, we've fallen short the past two years. But I really want to make my senior year one to remember. We are very motivated. Last year, they picked us ninth, and this year, they picked us eighth, so I feel like it's a prove-it point for us."
