Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 8, 2010 15:03:24 GMT -5
GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team won its third straight MEAC regular-season title and was rewarded for it. Five Aggies earned postseason honors headed by senior Ta’Wuana “Tweet” Cook’s first selection to the first-team all-MEAC squad.
Senior Lamona Smalley and junior Jaleesa Sams were second-team selections, while Amber Calvin and JaQuayla Berry made the All-MEAC rookie team.
“I’m very happy for Tweet,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “She has certainly been a great representative for our program over the last four years, and she really set in her sights to keep us at the top of the MEAC after we lost two great players.”
Cook posted career-highs in points scored and 3-pointers made. Cook has also surpassed her career in single-game points twice this season. She had 29 points against Howard on Jan. 16. She bettered that with 33 points against Coppin State on Feb. 27. She leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage and 3-pointers made, and she ranks in the top 10 in six different statistical categories.
Only one other player in school history has scored more points than Cook over a career. She will end her career among the top 5 in school history in nine different statistical categories.
Smalley has also had an impressive. Her charge toward earning her first all-conference recognition started in February. During an eight-game stretch from February 1 thru February 20, Smalley had a tremendous run.
She averaged 13.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shot 66.7 percent from the floor. Smalley also posted five double-doubles during that stretch. Smalley leads the conference in field goal shooting and ranks second in blocked shots.
Sams also does a lot of different things for the Aggies. Sams is averaging 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals. There was a point this season where the versatile forward led the Aggies in assists. Sams scored a career-high 25 points against Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 11.
She eclipsed that with a 28-point, 10-rebound performance against Hampton on Feb. 15.Sams earns her second postseason honor. She was named to the All-Rookie team as a freshman.
Calvin was a candidate for MEAC Rookie of the Year for much of the season. The freshman added some excitement to N.C. A&T home games with no-look and pinpoint passes along with spectacular layups. Calvin averaged 11.1 points, 4.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds at Corbett Sports Center this season.
Calvin leads the team in assists with 2.8 per game. She is also second in the conference behind Cook in 3-point field goal percentage (.373).
As a freshman, Berry has scored in double figures 12 times. She is averaging 8.1 points per game and has knocked down 32 3-pointers during her rookie campaign. She recorded a double-double against Norfolk State and had 16 points and eight rebounds in a win over Florida A&M.
The Aggies open up tournament play 12:30 p.m., Wednesday from Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
