GREENSBORO – Creating good shots made it possible for another impressive victory for the North Carolina A&T's women's basketball team. Jordyn Dorsey scored 21 points, and the Aggies were on target for much of Friday night, defeating visiting College of Charleston 71-59 at Corbett Sports Center.
"This team finds a way regardless of how we start, regardless of what goes on throughout the game," A&T coach Tarrell Robinson said.
So, some turnovers and the ability of the Cougars to hang within range into the fourth quarter weren't too much for the Aggies to combat.
"It's the preparation," Dorsey said. "We were prepared for everything. We just have to go out and execute."
It was a well-rounded performance from the first-place team in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). All five starters scored in double figures to improve the Aggies to 13-8 overall and 9-1 in the CAA. A&T sophomore Paris Locke and graduate teammate Maleia Bracone scored 11 apiece, and Chaniya Clark and Ajia James posted 10 points apiece.
Locke collected 10 rebounds, and Bracone delivered eight assists. The Aggies shot 57.1 percent, their best shooting percentage against a Division I team since shooting 61 percent at Ohio on December 28, 2017.
"We have individual after individual after individual step up when we need it to get the results," Robinson said. "We just have a lot of talented young women that want to win a championship. And when we need them, they show up."
They needed clutch moments in the second half. Dorsey completed a 3-point play after receiving Bracone's nifty pass in transition. When Clark sank two free throws on the next possession, the Aggies were up 52-43. After several missed opportunities, James hit a 3-pointer, and Locke scored in the lane as A&T built a 59-49 lead. Charleston never got closer than within seven points the rest of the way.
The Cougars got 16 points and six assists from Taylor Barbot but dropped to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in league play, as she was only 5-for-21 from the field.
"This is a really quality win," Robinson said. "A statement win in regards to our goals and our missions for the end of the season. I'm just really proud of this group for how hard they work."
The Aggies will seek corrections for their 23 turnovers. But the offense clicked, helping create 20 assists on 28 baskets. A&T also outscored the Cougars 36-18 in the paint and out-rebounded them 42-28. Clark blocked four shots and battled in the lane at both ends of the court.
Dorsey finished 10-for-15 from the field, adding eight rebounds and five assists to her totals.
"Just trying to be aggressive," Dorsey said. "The drives open up the shots for other players as well."
Bracone drained a long 3-pointer to put A&T up 15-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Aggies scored the last nine points of the quarter and extended that to an 11-0 run with the first bucket of the second quarter.
A&T led 34-31 at halftime, shooting 58 percent from the field but committing 14 turnovers. Charleston guard Nyah Willis, a former member of A&T's women's basketball team, tallied 15 points. The Aggies conclude a three-game homestand at 2 p.m. Sunday versus Campbell.
"We just want to continue to play like this and hopefully continue to get the results we're getting," Robinson said.
