Jan. 10, 2011
Box Score
Call WBB Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278 -
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Monday's game proved to be a bittersweet homecoming for freshman forward Amanda Hairston, coming with the Lady Wildcats to face her hometown's North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies. Though Hairston played at a career-high level, B-CU faced their biggest challenge of the early MEAC season, taking on the three-time consecutive MEAC Champions on their home court. Fighting back from a substantial deficit, the Lady Wildcats recovered late in the second half, but missed opportunities and the capitalizing Aggies proved too much as B-CU fell 69-50.
North Carolina A&T raced out to a 10-0 lead on B-CU, as they turned the ball over three times in the first four minutes of the game, unable to break down the NCAT defense enough to get a good shot look. B-CU got their first point on the board at 16:00, but it was nearly seven minutes in before a Lady Wildcat field goal hit the board.
Once B-CU got started, the game began to stabilize, but NCAT took off on a 12-1 run late in the first. B-CU fired back, but couldn't keep the Lady Aggies off the board, going into the locker room with NCAT leading 31-18.
The Aggie momentum carried over to the start of the second period, as they built their lead to 20 right out of the gate. B-CU, however, did respond quickly, holding NCAT to just two points over the next six minutes and narrowing the gap to just 11. Each time B-CU got within striking distance, NCAT came out firing in their transition game to rebuild the difference.
B-CU's last run began with just over seven minutes on the clock, bringing the NCAT lead to just nine. The Lady Aggies appeared to be breaking down and the Lady Wildcats were gaining an upper hand, but missed free throw opportunities and turnovers sealed it for B-CU. NCAT went on a 12-0 run to put B-CU away, building to the 69-50 final.
In the Lady Aggie scoring runs, B-CU had the biggest struggles in the passing game and getting rebounds, especially on the offensive glass, setting up the NCAT transition game, which put in 16 points on the fast break. The Lady Wildcats gave up 20 points on turnovers, but stayed in the game by capitalizing for 16 off NCAT turnovers.
NCAT's inside game proved too much for B-CU, with 40 Lady Aggie points coming in the paint, and outrebounding B-CU 41-32. NCAT was led Jaleesa Sams with 17 points and Nikia Gorham with 11 rebounds.
An unexpected performance came from freshman forward Jasmine Bugg also picked up five steals and four assists.
The Lady Wildcats return to Daytona Beach now 7-7 and 1-2 in MEAC play, ready to go back out on the road, with a matchup next week in Dover, Del. against Delaware State on Jan. 15.
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