DEPTH, YOUTH CATCHES UP WITH AGGIES AT TOURNEY

[krazykev]

RALEIGH, March 8, 2007 – Patricia Cage-Bibbs didn’t seem too disappointed, distraught or angry on Thursday afternoon despite the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team having its season come to an end with a heartbreaking 71-69 loss to Florida A&M in the 2007 MEAC Tournament from the RBC Center.

The Aggies got a career-high 27 points from Brittanie Taylor-James and Lonise Coulter earned her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. “I wish next season started tomorrow,’’ said Bibbs. “I’m excited about what this program accomplished this season, and I’m excited about where this program is going.”

Reason No. 1, for Bibbs' positive attitude probably stems from the fact that the Aggies had no seniors on a team that went 17-13 overall and 12-6 in the MEAC, good enough for a second-place tie with Delaware State.

“There were times when we showed our youth,’’ said Bibbs. “I think that happened today. This was something that was new to them. But for this team of freshmen and sophomores to come here as a three seed is truly special. Florida A&M is not a bad team. They were in second-place most of the season. There are not too many upsets in this conference.”

Reason No. 2 for Bibbs’ optimism is that she has an impressive freshman class coming that will add depth. Among those players is top 50 prep standout Jaleesa Sams. Sams was the 2006 Pittsburgh Tribune Player of the Year. The Aggies will have two more incoming freshmen besides Sams, a Division I transfer and perhaps junior college transfer Nancy Rembert.

Plus, Lamona Smalley, who was leading the MEAC in rebounding before missing the final 14 games of the season with an injured Anterior Cruciate Ligament. The Aggies were 8-6 without Smalley in the lineup.

“Losing the top rebounder in the conference was tough to overcome,’’ said Taylor-James. “But we learned a lot about one another. We stuck together, we stayed close and we now know as a unit when can get though anything.”

Taylor-James highlighted reason No. 3 for Bibbs’ positive outlook. The Aggies finished the season with only eight players. By season’s end, only six of those players were earning significant minutes. It hurt the Aggies on Thursday.

Ta’Wuana “Tweet’ Cook, the MEAC Rookie of the Year, was called for her fourth foul with 9:57 remaining in the game. It forced star shooting guard Amber Bland into the role of point guard, which takes away from the Aggies fastbreak ability with Cook on the floor. The Rattlers turned a 57-48 deficit into a 57-57 tie with a span of two-and-half minutes.

Florida A&M would eventually take a 68-65 lead after trailing most of the game. Cook, who returned at the 5:34 mark with the score tied at 60, scored on a driving layup that put the Aggies down one.

Ahmad Williams boarded a Bland miss to give the Aggies the lead 69-68 with 48 seconds remaining. Marke Freeman, who led the Rattlers with 20 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and no turnovers, hit one of two free throws to tie the game.

After Joslyne Jackson hit two free throws to give the Rattlers a two-point lead with 10 seconds remaining, Bibbs called a timeout and set a play for Bland. Bland was covered so the ball went to Cook who drove to the basket, was bumped and missed a layup that would have tied the game.

The Rattlers, who split with the Aggies during the regular season, advanced to play Delaware State.

“I knew it would catch up with us at some point,’’ said Bibbs, about having the eight players. “We had to play more zone this year than I like to play. I don’t like to play zone, but when you have eight players you can afford to get into foul trouble. We got into foul trouble tonight and it changed what we wanted to do.”

Depth shouldn’t be a problem next season. In addition, Bibbs has some big-time players returning. Bland was a first-team All-MEAC selection who led the conference in scoring and ranked 21st in the nation in scoring. Cook led the conference in assists and was fourth in the conference in scoring and was a second-team All-MEAC selection. Taylor-James was also a second-team All-MEAC selection.

[krazykev]

Does Anybody know who the Division 1 Transfer is and What is wrong with Nancy Rembert?

[B]

I have the same question. Does anybody know who the Div. I transfer is and where they came from? What about the position? Hopefully she is a center of Bland's caliber. ;D

[da heretic]

I think Rembert had an eligibility issue.

[hawkeye]

krazykev said:

Does Anybody know who the Division 1 Transfer is?

Tyronnica Wudi Alford who led Thomasville to 4 straight titles. A 122 - 4 record in 4 years. She had enough of UNCA after a semester or so.

[B]

I found some info.

UNC Asheville Signs Three in Women's Basketball
Tasha Branch, Tyronnica Alford, and Ana Baker all sign with Bulldogs


April 29, 2005

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville head women's basketball coach Betsy Blose has announced the signing of Tasha Branch, Tyronnica Alford, and Ana Baker to National Letters of Intent. Alford and Baker were both early signees in November and Branch was signed this April.

Branch is a 6-1 post player from Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas. She averaged 9.1 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 46 percent from the floor.

"We are excited Tasha has decided to join our program. She will bring athleticism and experience to our inside game. She is a great rebounder and can score with either hand," said Blose.

Alford is a 5-8 guard from Thomasville High School. She averaged 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals per game as a senior. She was the 2004 Yadkin Valley Conference Player of the Year and a first-team All-State performer in 2005.

"She is a winner. Her team has won four-straight state championships and she will bring that mentality to our program. She represents what it means to be a student-athlete by being ranked 2nd in her class. She loves the game and we're excited to sign one of the state's best players," said Blose.

Baker is a 5-6 point guard from Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland. She scored 13 points a game and added eight assists, four steals, and four rebounds per game as a senior. Her Arundel team was the 2004 Maryland State 4A Champion. She was selected as the top ranked point guard in the Baltimore Metro Area by the Baltimore Sun.

"We signed a great point guard in Ana Baker. She is a true point guard who thinks pass first and shot second. She adds sped and quickness to our perimeter games and brings a great attitude to our program," said Blose.