Aggies cruise past Hampton in O.T. thriller

Aggies battle back from six-point overtime deficit

RALEIGH, N.C. – One day soon Patricia Cage-Bibbs will no longer have to describe Lamona Smalley as if she is someone who just stepped on campus. Those who know N.C. A&T women’s basketball, realize Smalley has been the spark plug in a number of the Aggies wins this season.

Count Friday afternoon’s 74-71 overtime victory over Hampton in the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament at the RBC Center as one of those games. Smalley hit the game-tying shot to send the game into overtime. She then hit a crucial game-tying overtime shot and made the assists on the game-winning basket in overtime.

In addition, she made several key defensive stops down the stretch and her line was reflective her performance. She scored 12 points, had 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals to help the Aggies advance to their first MEAC Championship game in 14 years. It was Smalley’s seventh career double-double and her sixth of the season.

The Aggies will play Coppin State Saturday afternoon at 1 from the RBC Center.

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Hampton University Lady Pirates topped North Carolina A&T

Photo: Rachel Butler led the Lady Pirates in scoring with 19 points over the previously undefeated conference leaders, Lady Aggies.

Artavia Burns hit a pair of free throws with 5 seconds left Monday night, lifting Hampton to an 85-84 victory over visiting North Carolina A&T. It was the first MEAC loss of the season for the Aggies (22-6, 14-1), who are coached by former HU coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs.

"This is my first time beating Coach Bibbs and obviously from a personal standpoint it means a lot,'' said fourth-year HU coach Walter Mebane, who was an assistant under Bibbs. "it was one of the most hard-fought games I've even coached in my life and beating her is something that this team wanted to do."

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