Second-Half Comeback Send North Carolina A&T to Second Round of the WNIT
Hunter Peters
GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 22, 2024) – North Carolina A&T outscored UNCG 37-23 in the second half to erase a once 13-point deficit, defeating the Spartans (21-12) 56-51 in the first round of the WNIT on Friday night at Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C.
The Aggies (21-10) win their first postseason game since 2010 – when they became the first HBCU to win back-to-back games in the WNIT – and advance to face Old Dominion in the second round.
Jordyn Dorsey scored a game-high 17 points, including 12 after halftime, and went 10-of-16 at the charity stripe, leading the Aggies. Paris Locke joined in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Isys Grady and Nia Howard each scored 10 points to pace the Spartans, while Khalis Cain grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
After just five field goals in the first half, A&T made five in the third quarter and went 11-of-18 from the free throw line to outscore UNCG 21-12, tying the game at 40 entering the final 10 minutes. Maleia Bracone brought the Aggies even at 38 with a fastbreak layup, and Locke sank a pair of free throws with 42 seconds remaining to give A&T its first lead since the opening minute of the game; however, the Spartan responded with a pair of freebies of their own in the final 10 seconds of the period, sending us to the winner-take-all fourth quarter.
Trailing 45-44 with 5:47 remaining, A&T went on a decisive 6-0 run to regain the lead, which they would not relinquish. Chaniya Clark scored on consecutive possessions to put the Aggies in front before a pair of Dorsey free throws. UNCG cut the deficit to one (52-51) with 1:16 remaining and had a chance to go in front with under a minute remaining in regulation. Out of a Spartan timeout, Bracone made the play of the game with a steal on the right wing, throwing it ahead to Dorsey for a breakaway layup. The Aggies sank two free throws in the final 13 seconds to ice the victory.
The Spartans defense held A&T to 23.8 percent (5-21) shooting in the first half as UNCG built a 28-19 lead at the break. Clark connected on the opening shot in the game, but UNCG scored the ensuing eight points, and the Aggies went 2-for-11 from the field over the final 8:34 of the quarter. The Spartans maintained the lead in the second, and a 12-0 run extended their lead to 26-13 with 2:19 remaining. A&T knocked down four free throws in the final minute to cut the deficit to single digits at halftime.
The Aggies knocked down 27 freebies in the contest, while UNCG went 9-of-18 at the charity stripe. Additionally, A&T forced 21 Spartan miscues and scored 22 points off turnovers.
Follow #CAAHoops on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram to get up-to-date information and learn more about CAA member institutions and their basketball programs.