
Outside of guard Zaida Gonzalez, eight players combined for 21 points in an ugly loss for the Stony Brook women’s basketball team.
The Seawolves (8-10, 3-3 CAA) faced the first-place North Carolina A&T (N.C. A&T) Aggies (10-7, 6-0 CAA) on Sunday in North Carolina. Stony Brook’s offense apart from Gonzalez did not come to play, as it, overall, shot a measly 31.9% from the field and committed 21 turnovers en route to a blowout 79-46 loss.
Following a low-scoring first quarter that saw both teams combined to shoot 8-for-24 from the field, N.C. A&T took control of the contest in the second period. After Gonzalez hit a left-wing jumpshot to cut the Aggies’ lead to a single possession with 7:48 left in the frame, N.C. A&T quickly closed the Seawolves’ window of opportunity, as it scored seven unanswered points.
Kicking off the stretch, N.C. A&T guard Jordyn Dorsey sank two free throws after being fouled by guard Janay Brantley. Next, N.C A&T guard Maleia Bracone drove to the basket — getting past guard Breauna Ware in the process — and layed the ball in. Bracone also put the finishing touches on the run with a three-pointer to extend her team’s advantage to 25-15.
In the final three minutes of the half, the Aggies’ zone defense facilitated their offense by forcing turnovers. Initially, with 2:39 remaining in the second quarter and Stony Brook down 27-17, Bracone stole the ball from Ware as the Seawolves’ ball carrier dribbled up the court. Bracone then passed it to Dorsey for an easy, fastbreak layup.
Although Gonzalez responded by draining a shot from beyond the arch, N.C. A&T went on another 7-0 run — highlighted by threes from Bracone and guard Reiven Douglas — to close out the opening half, going up 37-20 at the break.
In the third period, Stony Brook attempted to swing the affair’s momentum back to its side, as it embarked on a 10-3 stretch in the frame’s opening 4:22 to cut its deficit to 40-30. However, the Aggies punched right back.
Great shotmaking, paired with impenetrable defense, allowed N.C. A&T to put the game out of reach, already in the third quarter. With 2:45 left in the period, Douglas stole the ball from Gonzalez and passed it ahead to center Delaney Yarborough — a former Seawolf — for the easy basket, which gave the hosts a 20-point lead at 54-34.
From there, it was cruise control for the Aggies, as they remained undefeated against conference foes while handing Stony Brook its second straight loss.
Head coach Joy McCorvey did not speak to the media after the game.
Stony Brook’s inability to solve N.C. A&T’s zone defense was reflected in its .319/.292/.818 shooting line. Conversely, the Aggies put up an impressive .537/.529/.706 slashline.
Gonzalez poured in 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting including 4-for-7 from deep. She also led the team with seven rebounds.
Dorsey matched Gonzalez’s 25, but was even more efficient. She shot 9-for-13 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arch. Bracone was N.C. A&T’s other double-digit scorer with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 3-for-8 from three-point range.
Stony Brook will return home next for a two-game stand. Its first contest will be the second round against the Northeastern Huskies on Friday at Stony Brook Arena. The Seawolves won the first matchup 72-51. Overall, Northeastern are 1-13, as well as 0-5 in Coastal Athletic Association play after a 74-66 loss to William & Mary. Opening tip-off is set for 6:31 p.m.