Women's Basketball 1/26/2008 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

Cook Leads Lady Aggies In Win Over WSSU

Ta’Wuana Cook led the Lady Aggies with 27 points and eight steals as North Carolina A&T defeated Winston-Salem State 71-51 at Irvin Corbett Court.

With the win the Lady Aggies won their sixth straight game. Hampton’s loss to Coppin State on Saturday gives the Lady Aggies a full-game lead at the top of the MEAC standings at 5-0. Their six-game winning streak is their longest in 12 seasons, and their Pack the House night drew more than 3,800 fans.

The win over the Rams came with 23 turnovers attached. It fortunately also came with a nice performance from Ta’Wuana Cook, who had struggled in her previous two games before coming through with 27 points and eight steals on Saturday ? both career highs.

Cook helped the Lady Aggies build a lead late in the first half after the 1-14 Rams remained competitive with the Lady Aggies throughout the first half. A Corbin Bradford 3-pointer pulled the Rams to within three, 29-26. Bland drove to the basket after Bradford’s shot and scored. Cook then intercepted the ensuing in-bound pass and scored on a layup to give the Lady Aggies a 33-26 halftime lead.

Cook then opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Lady Aggies their biggest lead of the night at 39-27. Bland followed with another three to give the Lady Aggies the cushion they would need the rest of the way. The Lady Aggies would go on to lead by as many as 24 in the second half, but Bibbs didn’t like the way her team executed.

Bland added 15 points for the Lady Aggies who improved to 12-6. Bradford led the Rams with 20 points. The Lady Aggies return to conference play Monday night at 6 p.m. when they face S.C. State at Irvin-Corbett Court.