NC A&T
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NCCU Unable to Overcome Strong Shooting by NC A&T

@SpectacularMag

DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team pulled to within one possession of visiting NC A&T State University on four occasions in the second half of Wednesday’s matinee (Dec. 21) in McDougald-McLendon Arena, but the Aggies kept making shots to hold on for an 86-79 non-conference victory.

NC A&T
#11 Tippy Robertson attempts a free throw during the NCCU vs NC A&T game. (Photo: Lawrence Davis @lawdavis13)

NC A&T moved to over .500 on the season after having its best shooting performance against a fellow DI program this season. The Aggies shot 56.1 percent from the field, including 60 percent in the fourth quarter, to improve its overall ledger to 6-5.

Junior guard Kimeira Burks, who is the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, drained five 3-pointers for a second straight game to pace the Eagles with 21 points. Freshman guard Jerni Kiaku followed with 18 points while junior guard Tippy Robertson matched her season-best scoring output with 12 points.

Robertson filled up the box score with four assists, three steals, and three rebounds.

NCCU only held a one-point edge twice early in the first quarter before the Aggies construct a game-high, 15-point advantage in the second quarter. The Eagles made strong rallies numerous times, but NC A&T never relinquished its lead from that point. NCCU finished the half on an 11-2 run that featured scoring from six different Eagles to close the deficit to six points, 42-36, at halftime.

Kiaku, a three-time MEAC Rookie of the Week award winner this season, came off the bench to score 10 of her 18 points before the midway break.

Burks drilled one of her five treys at the 1:16 mark of the third quarter to inch the Eagles within one point at 59-58, which would be the closest NCCU would get in the second half. NC A&T scored the contest’s next eight points spanning into the early stages of the fourth quarter and the Aggies’ strong shooting in the final stanza kept the visitors remaining ahead to the final horn.

Four Aggies scored in double digits with junior Maleia Bracone scoring a game-high 23 points. Sophomore Jordyn Dorsey netted 19 points, graduate student Jazmin Harris bucketed 16 points and junior D’Mya Tucker swished 10 points.

NC A&T entered the contest ranked in the top 25 of the nation with a +11.2 rebounding margin and the Aggies once again controlled the battle of the backboards, outrebounding NCCU by 14 (41-27). Harris pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for the victors to complete her third double-double of the season.

Kiaku and junior Taylor Williams led the Eagles with five rebounds apiece. Williams also had eight points.

NC Central (5-8) will next travel to the Pacific coast to play at Oregon State University on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 9 pm EST (6 p.m. PST). 

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.