Post by Bornthrilla on Oct 16, 2008 10:36:54 GMT -5
AGGIES PICKED TO WIN THE MEAC
The Aggies are the defending regular-season champions
WINSTON-SALEM, October 15, 2008 – There was no question during the MEAC Basketball Tip-Off Press Luncheon Wednesday afternoon that the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team has the respect of the conference.
In what was no surprise to anyone, the Aggies were picked to win the 2008-09 conference title. But the Aggies also had three players – senior guard Amber Bland, senior forward Brittanie Taylor-James and junior guard Ta’Wuana Cook – named to the preseason all-conference teams. Bland was selected as the preseason Player of the Year.
“We are not going to put a lot of pressure on ourselves,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, who enters her fourth season 51-40 as the Aggies head coach. “If you enjoy what you are doing, if you’re working hard and you’re doing the right things, the expectations will take care of themselves because the wins will come.”
The Aggies garnered 18 of the possible 21 first-place votes to overwhelmingly be deemed the favorite. There is just cause for the opinion. The Aggies return all five starters from a team that went 25-8 overall and 15-1 in the MEAC.
Among those five returning starters is Bland, a two-time first-team All-MEAC selection. Bland reached 1,000 career points faster than any other player in school history. She led the MEAC in 3-point shooting and was second in 3-pointers made per game a year ago. She enters this season eighth on the Aggies all-time scoring list. For her career, she is averaging 17.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.8 assists.
“Amber is loaded with so much talent,” said Bibbs. “I think sometimes Amber doesn’t know how talented she is. She gives so much so much on the court. Sometimes she gives too much. I told her, ‘it would be a travesty for you not to take your team to the NCAA tournament.’ I know sometimes it doesn’t happen, but she is the kind of player that can make it happen.”
Fellow senior Taylor-James joined Bland on the first team. Taylor-James has been a second-team All-MEAC selection the last two seasons. She brings the Aggies instant offense when she enters the game. Over her career, she scores 0.5 points per minute played. Last season, she averaged 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She is also an excellent free throw shooter, finishing second in the conference at 79 percent.
Cook made the preseason second-team. Cook has led the Aggies in assists the past two seasons. She was the team’s second-leading scorer (13.2 ppg) in 2007-08, and she is a two-time second-team All-MEAC performer. She is on pace to become the Aggies all-time leader in assists. Cook and Taylor-James should reach 1,000 points for their career this season.
The Aggies open their season Nov. 15 against Ole Miss in the Winthrop Tournament. The defense of their regular-season MEAC title begins Dec. 6 at home against Norfolk State.
www.ncataggies.com-
The Aggies are the defending regular-season champions
WINSTON-SALEM, October 15, 2008 – There was no question during the MEAC Basketball Tip-Off Press Luncheon Wednesday afternoon that the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team has the respect of the conference.
In what was no surprise to anyone, the Aggies were picked to win the 2008-09 conference title. But the Aggies also had three players – senior guard Amber Bland, senior forward Brittanie Taylor-James and junior guard Ta’Wuana Cook – named to the preseason all-conference teams. Bland was selected as the preseason Player of the Year.
“We are not going to put a lot of pressure on ourselves,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, who enters her fourth season 51-40 as the Aggies head coach. “If you enjoy what you are doing, if you’re working hard and you’re doing the right things, the expectations will take care of themselves because the wins will come.”
The Aggies garnered 18 of the possible 21 first-place votes to overwhelmingly be deemed the favorite. There is just cause for the opinion. The Aggies return all five starters from a team that went 25-8 overall and 15-1 in the MEAC.
Among those five returning starters is Bland, a two-time first-team All-MEAC selection. Bland reached 1,000 career points faster than any other player in school history. She led the MEAC in 3-point shooting and was second in 3-pointers made per game a year ago. She enters this season eighth on the Aggies all-time scoring list. For her career, she is averaging 17.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.8 assists.
“Amber is loaded with so much talent,” said Bibbs. “I think sometimes Amber doesn’t know how talented she is. She gives so much so much on the court. Sometimes she gives too much. I told her, ‘it would be a travesty for you not to take your team to the NCAA tournament.’ I know sometimes it doesn’t happen, but she is the kind of player that can make it happen.”
Fellow senior Taylor-James joined Bland on the first team. Taylor-James has been a second-team All-MEAC selection the last two seasons. She brings the Aggies instant offense when she enters the game. Over her career, she scores 0.5 points per minute played. Last season, she averaged 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She is also an excellent free throw shooter, finishing second in the conference at 79 percent.
Cook made the preseason second-team. Cook has led the Aggies in assists the past two seasons. She was the team’s second-leading scorer (13.2 ppg) in 2007-08, and she is a two-time second-team All-MEAC performer. She is on pace to become the Aggies all-time leader in assists. Cook and Taylor-James should reach 1,000 points for their career this season.
The Aggies open their season Nov. 15 against Ole Miss in the Winthrop Tournament. The defense of their regular-season MEAC title begins Dec. 6 at home against Norfolk State.
www.ncataggies.com-