GREENSBORO – It was a different kind of route to a familiar result for North Carolina A&T's women's basketball team.
It came with barely a glitch for the Aggies on Sunday afternoon. Jordyn Dorsey scored 25 points, and A&T breezed past Stony Brook in a 79-46 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) romp at Corbett Sports Center.
"It feels great, just staying on the same page the whole time," Dorsey said. "We know how to work through adversity, but when there isn't as much, we know how to compound on top of that."
Maleia Bracone added 15 points for the Aggies (10-7, 6-0 CAA), who are on an eight-game winning streak. Stony Brook (8-9, 3-3) shot 31.9 percent against an A&T team that is No. 1 in scoring defense in the CAA.
"Really wanted to make sure we made a statement with this win and we did," coach Tarrell Robinson said after the Aggies defeated the defending CAA regular-season champions.
The Aggies had sizzling shooting, hitting a season-best 53.7 percent of their shots from the field. They went 17-for-28 (.607) from the floor combined in the second and third quarters. They outscored the Seawolves 47-29 over that span.
For the game, A&T made 9 of 17 attempts from 3-point range. Bracone had three, while Dorsey and Ajia James each bagged two. Dorsey shot 9-for-13 from the field on her way to her 11th career 20-point scoring game.
"When we needed a basket, when we needed a play, she made it," Robinson said. "That's why she's the best player in this league."
Dorsey produced a double-figure point total for the sixth straight game. The 25 points mark her second-highest total of the season and her career.
"I'm just trying to be aggressive and make sure I'm taking good shots," Dorsey added.
James picked up where she left off Friday night by sinking a 3-pointer for the game's first basket. Bracone matched her season-high point total. She drained a jumper and then a 3-pointer for a personal five-point spurt in a 25-second span as the Aggies stretched their edge to 25-15, causing a Stony Brook timeout.
Dorsey's 3-pointer made it 32-20. Reiven Douglas got into the 3-point act for the half's final points with a corner jumper, putting A&T up 37-20 at the break. After the Seawolves scored the first eight points of the second half, the Aggies were back in tune when James and Dorsey connected on consecutive threes.
A&T was unfazed.
"Coach Rob just preaches staying the course," Dorsey said. "Our stuff works. Our plays work. Our defensive scheme works."
Bracone's three at the third-quarter buzzer pushed the gap to 61-39. Five Aggies had connected on at least one 3-pointer by the game's end.
"Once the defense has to worry about one, then the others can get off," Robinson said. "That's what happened."
James finished with a team-high seven rebounds, and Bracone delivered five assists, five steals and one blocked shot. The Aggies had 19 assists on 29 baskets.
Junior center Delaney Yarborough, a transfer from Stony Brook, racked up nine points and six rebounds in less than 14½ minutes off the bench against her former team.
Robinson said he likes the option to give Dorsey and others a break, something that comes with reliable players off the bench.
"As long as the momentum isn't dropped, I can rest them," Robinson said. "And that's the difference. (Dorsey's) production says that works."
The Aggies go on the road for their next two games, visiting Monmouth on Friday night and Hofstra on Sunday afternoon. They're home again at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 vs. Hampton. It will be Greek Night.
