Friday, March 11, 2016

A&T women battle their way into MEAC title game

NORFOLK, Virginia — Failure in the semifinal round of the MEAC basketball tournament has hung over the N.C. A&T women like an albatross. Three consecutive seasons have ended in futility and frustration.

Scratch one albatross.

The Aggies got 25 points from Aprill McRae and 20 from Dana Brown in a 63-54 win Friday that sent them into today’s final against Coppin State. The Eagles beat South Carolina State 81-62 in Friday’s other semifinal for their ninth straight win.

A&T beat Hampton for the first time in their last seven meetings by making free throws when it counted, pulling away from a 52-50 edge with 2:23 to play by hitting 11 of their last 12.

The Aggies struggled at the start, closed to within 27-26 at halftime, then faltered again in a third quarter in which they were 1-of-9 from the field.

“I thought Hampton was the better team for three quarters,” A&T coach Tarrell Robinson said. “I thought we found a way in the fourth.”

CONTINUE READING

No comments: