Wiley Hits Game Winner In Upset Win Over North Carolina A&T

Wiley Hits Game Winner In Upset Win Over North Carolina A&T
Sahar Abdur-Rashid 03/10/10

Winston-Salem, NC—March 10--Whitney Wiley nailed a three point shot with 1.0 seconds remaining to lift South Carolina State to a 61-60 upset win over North Carolina A&T in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at the Joel Coliseum. The Lady Bulldogs (13-18), the Number eight seed, advance to the semifinal round against the winner of the quarterfinal round match-up between Howard and Florida A&M on Friday at Noon.

The game had the usual ebbs and flows of tournament play, particularly in the second half. North Carolina A&T (21-10), the Number 1 seed and defending tournament champion, extended a 29-21 halftime deficit to 35-23 during the first three minutes of the second half and appeared to take control. But the Lady Bulldogs refused to fold and responded with a 22-3 run over the next eight minutes to take their biggest lead at 45-38.

The proud Lady Aggies responded with a 9-2 run of their own and tie the game at 47-all at the 4:36 mark. From there, it became a tug-of-war affair with 8 lead changes and three ties.

Paris Alston, who scored 12 of her game-high 16 points in the second half and Wiley, who added 8 of her 11 after intermission, kept it close for the Lady Bulldogs. NC A&T countered with scoring from Amber Calvin, All-MEAC selection Ta’Wuana Cook, Tyronnica Alford and Jaleesa Sams, who teamed for 27 of the Lady Aggies’ 31 points in the final 20 minutes.

NC A&T took a 59-56 lead on a Lamona Smalley basket with 50 seconds remaining. Alston scored on the Lady Bulldogs’ next possession to get within 59-58. Alford made the second of two free throws to give North Carolina A&T a 60-58 lead with 13 seconds remaining.

SC State had two opportunities in what seemed like an eternity for NC A&T, but each time, they regained possession after missed shots. The Lady Bulldogs were forced to call back-to-back timeouts when they had problems getting the ball inbounds. Then Wiley, a junior guard, took a dribble to the right of the three-point line and launched an off-balance hook shot that went in and set off a wild, but premature celebration.

“I drew up a set play but that was not what we ended up running,”admitted SC State head coach Doug Robertson. “The thing about it is that that was not the first time that she has been in that situation this season.”

Wiley, who finished with 11 points, says that she felt no pressure.

“That is actually the fifth time that I have been in that situation this season,” said Wiley. “I was successful on some and some I was not. I am just happy that I made it in a game that meant so much.”

The Lady Aggies, who swept SC State this season, had a final shot attempt by Cook go wide as the buzzer went off.

“It is a very tough loss, but it happens in this game,” said NC A&T head Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “South Carolina State did a great job. They played hard. We work on that situation all the time in practice but it is just one of those things that happens in tournament play.”

Another key to the win may have been the Lady Bulldogs ability to close the statistical gap. NC A&T dominated the boards in the first half with a 27-11 bulge and an 18-4 advantage in the paint area. SC State reversed that trend it in the second half, winning the battle in rebounding, 23-8 while holding a 21-3 difference in second half points.

“I was a little hard on the players in the first half, but my coaches told me to relax a little,” said Robertson. “I think that it helped because they did a much better job.”