Campbell Camels Defeat A&T Aggies

In a finish that did not allow anyone to catch their breath, North Carolina A&T graduate guard Maleia Bracone missed a 3-pointer in the waning seconds as the Campbell Fighting Camels held on for a 56-52 upset win over the Aggies in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) women’s basketball action Sunday afternoon at Corbett Sports Center. 

Campbell’s win tightens the race for the CAA regular-season title. The Aggies remain in first place, dropping to 13-9 overall and 9-2 in league play. But the Drexel Dragons are now a game behind the Aggies at 8-3, followed by William & Mary (7-3), and three teams at 7-4, including Campbell, who improved to 14-9 overall.

“They are still the hottest team in the CAA,” said A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson after the Camels won their fourth straight. “What we displayed out there was more of them than us. Hats off to the Campbell Fighting Camels.”

In a matchup that featured two of the conference’s best point guards – A&T’s Jordyn Dorsey and Campbell’s Gemma Nunez – neither left the floor often.

Nunez played all 40 minutes, and Dorsey played 38 minutes and 40 seconds. Nunez had the better numbers, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals on 7-for-12 shooting. Meanwhile, Dorsey had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists but was only 3-for-18 from the floor.

“She always gives us all she has, and I didn’t do a good job of getting her a breather,” said Robinson. “It became a possession/possession game, and Jordyn is one of our best playmakers and thinkers on the court, so I really didn’t take the time to sub her out. I certainly think that attested to her 3-for-18 shooting.”

Despite an off night from one of the best players in the CAA, the Aggies still trailed by only two, 48-46, after junior center Chaniya Clark’s putback with 3:48 remaining in the game. But with 2 ½ minutes remaining, Nunez found Jasmine Felton open in the corner for a 3-pointer near the Campbell sideline.

Felton netted the three to give the Camels a five-point lead. But graduate guard Ajia James quickly returned the favor, spotting up in the corner near the A&T bench. Sophomore Paris Locke dribbled into the lane and spotted James open. Locke’s pass resulted in James hitting the three from the corner to bring the Aggies to within two at 51-49.

Locke would then get the first of two noteworthy steals in the final 1:45 of the contest. The first came on a bad pass from Gianni Boone. That resulted in Dorsey finding Bracone open for a 3-pointer to give A&T a 52-51 lead with 80 seconds to play. But Nunez, as she did throughout the entire game, responded by dribbling her way to the rim and scoring on a layup to give Campbell a one-point advantage with 44 seconds remaining.

“By far one of the best guards in this conference,” Robinson said of Nunez. “She’s the engine. She’s the head of the snake. We have a tough environment, a tough crowd, and if you come in here and perform the way she performed and the way they performed, you have to give your hats off to them.”

Seconds after Nunez’s layup, Locke secured the second of those two noteworthy steals, intercepting a pass from Nunez. As Locke dribbled past midcourt, she did not see Audrey Fuller coming from behind her. Fuller stole the ball back for Campbell, leading to a Locke foul.

Fuller made one of two free throws as the Aggies called timeout, trailing 54-52 with 13 seconds remaining. That led to Bracone’s misfire as the Camels hit two free throws to seal the win.

“I thought Maleia got a decent look, but we know we can get her a better look than that,” said Robinson.

Bracone connected on four 3-pointers during the game, finishing with a team-high 14 points. Clark added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Up next, A&T will travel to Northeastern on Friday, February 14 at 7 p.m.