The trio of Amber Bland, Ta’Wuana Cook, and Brittany Taylor-James provided the spark for a huge finish, leading the Aggies to a 90-59 victory over Norfolk State in Corbett Sports Center.

The trio combined for 60 points to easily overcome the absence of Jalessa Sams, Raisha Bullock and Nakia DeBlanc, whom sat out due to injuries.

After being held to seven field goals in the first half, the Aggies exploded for a 30-7 run to open the second half, which erased a 29-28 deficit. It took just 5:29 for the hosts to make their seventh field goal of the second half, a layup by Cook, which resulted in a 3-point play and a 44-35 lead. Cook then added a pair of free throws and another layup to build a 50-37 lead.

The Aggie bench also got into the act, as Tyronnica Alford made two quick steals which led to a layup and two free throws. Lamona Smalley then found a cutting Tierra Thomas for another layup which gave the Aggies a 59-37 lead with 10:31 remaining. Shantar Waddell converted a 3-point play on the ensuing possession to push the lead to 62-39.

Bland put the finishing touches on the performance, as she went on a personal 8-4 run that gave the Aggies a 70-43 edge with 8:29 left. The lead would grow to as many as 34, 79-44, on a Taylor-James layup with 5:30 remaining.

N.C. A&T (5-3, 1-0 MEAC) used an aggressive trapping defense to force 19 second half turnovers which led to 23 points. The Aggies pounded the glass in the pivotal half, with 16 offensive boards which led to 15 second chance points. Six players had at least five rebounds to give N.C. A&T a whopping 62-32 edge on the glass. The aggressive play led to a season high 47 free throw attempts, of which the Aggies canned 36.

Taylor-James, who entered the contest averaging a career best 7.3 rebounds per game this season, grabbed 13 en route to go with 22 points for the third double-double of her career.

Cook finished with 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting at the foul line, while Bland added 18 points. Thomas added eight points and six rebounds off the bench, while Waddell chipped in nine points.

Danelle Tate led Norfolk State (0-5, 0-1) with 13 points.