Brittanie Taylor-James scored the go-ahead basket, Jalessa Sams added an insurance free throw and North Carolina A&T State held Hampton scoreless over the last 2:41 of overtime as the Lady Aggies edged the Lady Pirates, 74-71 in a thrilling and emotional MEAC women’s semifinal at the RBC Center.
North Carolina A&T (25-6) advances to Saturday’s championship against the winner of the other semifinal between the number two seed, Coppin State and the number three seed, Delaware State.
The Lady Aggies, who had their best season in school history, barely made it to the extra period as they trailed 63-61 with 12 seconds remaining in regulation after Rachel Butler’s three pointer. It took a short jumper in the lane by Lamona Smalley with five seconds left to send the game into an extra session.
Hampton (18-13) took control early, getting baskets from Artavia Burns, Chinyere Ukoh and Rachel Butler in the first 1:21 to take a 69-63 lead. Following a timeout, North Carolina A&T responded as Nancy Rembert scored a basket to cut the margin to 69-65. Hampton would add what would prove to their last score on a short turnaround by Quanneisha Perry (8 points, 6 rebounds) to make it 71-65 at the 2:41 mark.
First Rembert made one of two free throws. Then Amber Bland nailed a three pointer to make it 71-69 with 1:40 on the clock. Smalley tied the score at 71 and after a Hampton turnover, the Lady Aggies cashed in with a jumper by Taylor-James that broke the tie and proved to be the deciding basket with 28 seconds remaining. Sams’ free throw closed out the scoring.
“Even though they went up six points, we had never lost our composure,” explained NC A&T head Coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “We played a tough schedule this season to prepare for situations like this. I told the team this game belonged to us.”
The game had many plots and sub plots: Hampton head coach Walter Mebane served as an assistant under Coach Cage-Bibbs before she left to later become head coach of the Lady Aggies; Hampton assistant coach LaShondra Dixon was a standout for Cage-Bibbs and the Lady Pirates spoiled the Lady Aggies’ unbeaten conference with slate with a thrilling 85-84 win at Hampton late in the season.
“This was a tough team and we knew it,” said Cage-Bibbs. “It’s a mirror image of the Lady Aggie program.”
She continued on her relationship with Hampton. “I’ve always loved these kids. I didn’t want to leave, but I really needed to be with my family. I had some great times at Hampton.”
Mebane offered his thoughts, “I spent eight years with Coach (Cage-Bibbs) and learned a lot from her. It was a game with no surprises because we knew what they would do, but you still have to play. It makes for an interesting game. They didn’t stop us and we didn’t stop them. It felt like a championship game.”
Mebane’s point is well taken. After a rocky start that featured more turnovers and missed shots than made baskets, the game settled into a well played contest. There were 12 lead changes and nine ties with outstanding individual performances from players on both sides.
For Hampton, junior forward Chinyere Ukoh had the finest game of her career with 26 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes of play. Butler, playing in her last game at Hampton almost single-handedly willed her team to victory, scoring 18 of her 25 points after intermission.
“Rachel played like a senior today,” said Mebane. “She kept us strong and together. She hit big shots and kept us in it.”
North Carolina A&T relied on team balance and contributions from several players all season and this game was no different. When Bland, a first team All-MEAC selection, was saddled with her fourth foul, Smalley (12 points, 12 rebounds), Taylor-James (16 points), Ta”Wuana Cook (9 points, 5 rebounds) and Sams (9 points) all came up big.
“I had my teammates behind me,” said Bland, who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. “That is how we have played all year. This is a very unselfish team as you saw today.”
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