Women's Basketball News
Eagles Fall on Last-Second Shot to North Carolina A&T
January 29, 2011BALTIMORE -- Nikia Gorham scored on a putback with 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation lifting North Carolina A&T to a 75-74 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Coppin State on Saturday at the Physical Education Complex.
Gorham, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, rebounded a missed shot by Jaleesa Sams and missed on the layup attempt. But she grabbed her own miss and scored the game-winning basket to cap a furious comeback that saw the Aggies overcome a 15-point second half deficit.
Leola Spotwood converted one of two free throws with 3:03 remaining in the game giving Coppin State a 74-68 lead.
Sams converted a layup with 2:07 left, which cut the lead to 74-70.
Gorham then made three of four free throw attempts with under a minute to play, the last of which brought the Aggies to within 74-73 with :32 left.
On the ensuing trip down the floor the Eagles turned the ball over and Sams raced down the court, but missed the short jumper. Gorham then grabbed the rebound and missed the putback, but then grabbed her miss and scored the winning basket.
Gorham scored the final five points of the game for the Aggies and finished the game 5-of-7 from the floor and she also added 10 rebounds.
North Carolina A&T (9-9, 5-2 MEAC) was led by Sams who scored 19 points.
Coppin State (6-12, 3-4 MEAC) was led by Larrisa Carter who had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Ashle Craig and Shawntae Payne each had 12 points, while Crystal Whittington and Leola Spotwood each added 11 points.
The game was marred by a postgame fight when the teams went to exchange handshakes.
The Eagles, who shot 54.5 percent from the floor in the first half, built a 44-35 lead at the half behind 14 points from Carter and 10 from Craig.
Coppin State took its largest lead of the game by opening the second half on a 6-0 run to take a 50-35 lead with 17:12 to play.
The Eagles still led by 65-57 when Mikala Scott and Sams hit back-to-back three-pointers cutting the lead to 65-62 with 8:31 remaining.
Coppin State outscored North Carolina A&T 9-5 over the next four minutes to increase the lead to 74-68.
The Eagles will next host Norfolk State at 5:30 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 31) in the Physical Education Complex.