Monday was a day of hope for the Lady Hornets basketball team as they tried to avenge last season losses at the hands of North Carolina A&T (MEAC Regular Season Champions 2008) in the first of their two meetings of the season on Martin Luther King Day and on the eve of Inauguration.
In the first half, the lady hornets got off to a hot start shooting 48 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line. The lady aggies started the game well with a 7-2 lead but the lady hornets catch up quickly to gain their first lead with 11:57 left. Lady Hornets aggressive defense forced the lady aggies to shot just 36 percent and and only 44 percent from the free throw line. Coach Ed Davis must be proud of his lady hornets heading into the locker room 32-24 at halftime.
The second half was a fast start for the lady hornets as they went on a 13-6 run to maintain their big lead. It looked liked the lady hornets was going to win their fifth win in a row. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worst as the lady hornets could not buy a bucket by missing shots, turning over the basketball, and worst than that their defensive shield went from a brick wall to a door of opportunities resulting in a 14-2 run lady aggie run.
Ed Davis and the lady hornets were scratching their heads about the lead they once held evaporate so quickly.
Suddenly the lady aggies proved to the lady hornets why they were the defending MEAC regular season champions by making key buckets down the stretch, forcing the lady hornets turnovers, making lady hornets shoot bad shots (32 percent in the 2nd Half), and hitting throws when it counts.
The lady hornets still could not find a good three point shooter during the second half as they shot a dismantle 1 for 10 from downtown.
Even though they couldn't get into first place in the standings, the lady hornets are still on impressive start in the MEAC 7-10 overall 4-1 in conference play.
The lady hornets have the defense to stop their opponents but what about the offense. The lady hornets can't rely on Sonia Johnson every game for offensive. They need Jamkea Smith, Keyanna Wakefield, Selena Galloway, and others to pick up the offense to score points or they will be stuck in a offensive crisis.
The lady hornets needs to work harder on offense when they play four straight home games starting with Bethune-Cookman (Saturday), Florida A&M (Monday), Coppin State (January 31), and Morgan State (February 2).
