BUIES CREEK, NC – The North Carolina A&T women's basketball team had its two-game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a 54-46 loss to the Campbell Fighting Camels at the Gore Arena/Pope Convocation Center in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) action.
A&T shot 39.5 percent from the field, making only 15 field goals throughout the game. The Aggies dropped to 9-13 overall and 4-7 in the CAA. Fifth-year center
Chaniya Clark led the Aggies with 14 points and six rebounds. The Camels improved to 15-9 overall and 8-3 in league play.
Campbell took advantage of A&T's 20 turnovers by outscoring the Aggies 24-14 in points off turnovers. Seventeen of those points off turnovers came in the second quarter. In addition, the Camels attempted 20 field goals, making 10, while the Aggies attempted 10, making 3.
The Aggies went into the second quarter on a roll. A&T went on a 7-0 run over the final three minutes of the first quarter, culminating with freshman
Crystal Hardy finding freshman
Anaya Karriem underneath for an easy layup to tie the game 12-12 heading into the second period. However, the Aggies could not maintain the momentum.
The Camels outscored the Aggies 13-1 over the first three minutes of the second quarter to take a 25-13 lead. Junior
Paris Locke whipped a pass to Clark for a layup, and junior
Darrionna Howard made two free throws to cut Campbell's lead to eight before a 7-0 Campbell run resulted in a 34-17 Campbell lead after a Jasmine Felton 3-pointer with 3:14 remaining in the first half.
Clark responded again for the Aggies. Clark powered inside for a layup and was fouled by Olivia Tucker on the play. Clark completed the and-1 and later scored on another layup to bring the Aggies to within 12 at 34-22. But Jasmine Navir made a 3-pointer at the buzzer as the first half ended to send A&T into the locker room trailing by 15.
A&T was not able to get the Camels' lead to single figures again until Howard made a layup with 2:31 remaining in the game to bring the Aggies to within eight at 54-46. Unfortunately, Howard's bucket marked the final points of the game. Howard finished with 10 points and has scored in double figures in four out of her last five games.
Navir led the Camels with 15 points. The Aggies will try to return to their winning ways when they travel to Wilmington, NC, to face the UNC Wilmington Seahawks on Friday, February 13, at 7 p.m.