On Monday night the A&T women’s basketball team lost their first game since Jan. 5, and received their first loss in MEAC play.

Hampton, the No. 2 team in the MEAC, beat the Aggies 90-80 at the HU ConvocationCenter in Hampton, VA. With a win the Aggies would have secured the top spot in theMEAC and would have been five games away from being undefeated.

The Aggies were led by Jaleesa Sams, who had an impressive night with a career-high 28points and 10 rebounds.

JaQuayla Berry added 20, and after being named MEAC Player of the Week for twoconsecutive weeks, Lamona Smalley recorded a doubledouble with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Bernadette Fortune led the Pirates of Hampton University with 30 points and 11 assists.

Choicetta McMillan scored 18 points for the Pirates and Jericka Jenkins added 17 points and 8 rebounds.

The Pirates were outrebounded by the Aggies 38-30 but shot 61.5 percent in the second half and 52.6 in the game.

They also held A&T to 45.9 percent shooting from the floor.

The first half of play was a battle, with both teams gaining and losing the lead and tying the score six times.

Hampton would go into the half with a three-point advantage at 39-36.

The second half was much different from the first, and the Aggies would find it hard to stay in the game.

During the second half the Aggies were unable to gain the lead or even tie the game with the Pirates.

The Aggies got within four but would soon find themselves staring at a 15-point deficit after the Pirates went on a 13-4 run.

A&T could not climb out their deficit and lost their first game to a MEAC opponent this season; they remain in first place in the conference at 11-1.

Two days before their tough loss to Hampton, the Aggies faced Howard University at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C.

The Aggies beat the Bison of Howard University 80-57.

Ta’Wuana Cook led the Aggies with 22 points and Lamona Smalley added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Saadia Doyle led the Bison with 20and 10 rebounds; Zykia Brown added 19 points.

The Bison led the Aggies early in the first half before the Aggies went on a 24-2 run to end the first half of pay 42-25.

The Bison would not regain the lead in the second half and the Aggies would go on to win 80-57.

• Lauren Morgan