On Saturday night the North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies team defeated Yale 80-79 in a buzzer beater tip despite being shorthanded without Ta’Wuana Cook, Jaleesa Sams and Nakia DeBlanc.

Freshman Amber Calvin and sophomore Tierra Thomas led the Aggies (2-3,0-0) with 14 points apiece. Senior Lamona Smalley added 13 points and seven rebounds. Five Aggies scored in double fiqures. Melissa Colborne led the Bull Dogs of Yale with 17 points, and Mady Gobrecht finished with 12 points and a game-best 10 rebounds. 

Yale out-rebounded the Aggies 46-35 but a key rebound by Smalley would win the game for the Aggies. The game was close from the beginning. Within the first 20 minutes their were six ties. In the first half of the game the Bulldogs pulled away and at one point leading the Aggies by nine but by half their lead was cut to three at 43-40.

Yale pulled away again at the start of the second half. With just over 10 minutes left in the game the Aggies were down 63-55. But the Aggies answered going on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 65 with just over 6 minutes left in the game. A layup from Melissa Colborne gave Yale the lead at 71-70 and they would go on to take a 77-72 lead with a little over three minutes left to play.

With 16 seconds left in the game the Aggies were down 78-79. The defense from Yale caused a tough shot from Crystal Murdaugh but Smalley saved the Aggies with a critical rebound and a put back to beat the buzzer.

“The play was called for Murdaugh to pop out and hit the jump shot,” said Coach Bibbs. “But Lamona always seems to be in the right place.”

• Lauren Morgan