With the Lady Rattlers going into the game against North Carolina A&T, they needed a win to improve their record. Although the Lady Rattlers put up a good effort, they fell short to their competitors. The final score was 53-69.
The Rattlers won the tip-off possession but both teams struggled in the beginning. Neither team had scored until senior guard Q’Vaunda Curry converted on a layup with 16:16 left in the first half. That shot set the pace for the rest of the half.
Both teams got second chance points. By half time, three lead changes had occurred and both of the team’s benches had contributed. The Rattlers went into the locker room at half time down by one point (27-28). After half time, junior guard and forward Stephanie Foster scored two points putting them in the lead.
That shot lead the team on a 6-0 run within four minutes against A&T. North Carolina responded with their own 6-0 run.
Coach Debra Clark had seen enough and called a timeout with an eight-point lead in favor of North Carolina. Because of hustling and rebounding the Rattlers knocked the 10-point lead down to one with a little more than eight minutes left in the game.
North Carolina responded by outscoring the Rattlers and increased the lead by five, 10 and then a game high 15 with a little fewer than 2 minutes left in the game.
Evette Young, junior and guard for the Rattlers, said she would always be proud of her team.
“I’m proud of my team’s effort,” said Young, 22, a criminal justice student. “Our defense was good. We just lost it within the last four minutes of the game.”
Clark acknowledged her team’s mistakes.
“There were numerous opportunities where we could have performed,” she said.
The coach said performing on defense and not offense can hurt the team.
“We have to make plays on both sides of the court,” Clark said.
Still, she too ended the game with a positive light.
The Lady Rattlers play Norfolk State Monday at 4 p.m. at Gaither’s gym. With Norfolk State having a record of 4-14, a possible win could be quite promising for the Lady Rattlers.