GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T remained in first place in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). There are many reasons why that's the case after Sunday afternoon's game at Corbett Sports Center.
The Aggies clicked at times from various angles in a 71-55 victory against Delaware.
"Just thankful and happy to still be in first place and look forward to what's next," coach Tarrell Robinson said.
Junior center Chaniya Clark racked up 17 points, Graduate wing Ajia James had 16, graduate guard Maleia Bracone supplied 15 and senior guard Jordyn Dorsey finished with 14 for N.C. A&T. After placing four starters in double figures, the Aggies improved to 16-9 overall and 12-2 in the CAA.
The Aggies have won three games in a row and six of their last seven.
"I think we're still getting better offensively. It's great to see that we're able to, when we need a basket, to find each other," Robinson said. "Twenty assists, when we're in that range and we have people scoring double figures, more than likely, we're going to win big."
Bracone and Dorsey both delivered seven assists.
"They are our creators," Robinson said.
Ella Wanzer's 12 points led four players in double figures for Delaware, which had a six-game winning streak snapped to drop to 10-15 overall and 7-8 in league play.
"They came in there and really gave us a tough game," Robinson said. "… A very intense, physical game, which you would expect at this time of conference play."
Clark was a typical force in the lane. She went 7-for-11 from the field with 14 rebounds. She has seven double-doubles this season and 18 for her career.
"That's what my team needs me (to do) is to make layups and finish my shots," Clark said.
Bracone's three that beat the shot clock buzzer extended A&T's edge to 46-38. Darrionna Howard's basket made it 55-42 with 1:28 to play in the third quarter. James was 4-for-8 on 3-pointers, and Bracone went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
"Just taking the right shots when I'm comfortable and open," Bracone said.
Bracone's steady contributions have a strong influence on the Aggies' results.
"I'm extremely proud because she's playing her best basketball when we need her to," Robinson said. "Hopefully, that will just continue until we complete our mission."
By the time James drilled consecutive 3-pointers, the Aggies had thrilled the home crowd and held a 65-53 lead with 5:40 to play.
Earlier, the Aggies took the lead for good at 25-24 when Dorsey's one-handed flick from the lane bounced in off the backboard midway through the second quarter. She stretched the lead on a corner 3-pointer.
A&T led 35-26 before Wanzer's buzzer-beating 3-pointer for the Blue Hens ended the first half.
There are areas that the Aggies sense they need improvement after committing 18 turnovers Sunday.
"It's a choice for these young women to make it what they want to – to win the CAA regular season, to go to the NCAAs," Robinson said. "Teams that do that, they clean that stuff up."
Notes: A&T's women's basketball alums were honored during a halftime ceremony. Robinson said it's special to have them back. "Just seeing that was great," he said. … Sunday's game marked the first of five in-state outings in a row to end the regular season for the Aggies. Next is Friday night's visit to UNC Wilmington for the first of two matchups with the Seahawks over a nine-day period.
