North Carolina A&T takes on rival UNCG in WNIT

NORTH CAROLINA A&T ATHLETICS

Tarrell Robinson, who has coached North Carolina to six 20-win seasons, will lead the Aggies into the first round of the Women's NIT against crosstown rival UNC Greensboro Friday at Corbett Sports Center.

North Carolina A&T women’s basketball will make school history Friday at Corbett Sports Center.

The Aggies will play at home for the first time in an NCAA-sanctioned postseason game when crosstown rival UNC Greensboro comes to campus for the first round of the Women's NIT. Tip time is 7 p.m. A&T has hosted NCAA-sanctioned postseason events in track and field, including the 2020 NCAA Division III championships as well as Division I East regionals in 2006, 2009, and 2010.

"I spoke to our players in practice [Tuesday] about what being able to host a national tournament game means," Aggies coach Tarrell Robinson said. "It means the university, athletics department, and community are committed to women's basketball here at North Carolina A&T State University. We are an investment, and this investment gives us a chance to play in front of our families, friends, and alumni in a national tournament. It also gives us a shot at being very successful in a national tournament."

A&T (20-11, 13-5 Coastal Athletic Association), which reached the 20-win mark for the 12th time in school history, advanced to the conference tournament semifinals, where they lost to top seed Stony Brook. Robinson’s teams have half of those 20-win campaigns. Among the Aggies’ non-conference wins were against Wake Forest, Liberty and Stetson, which also earned a WNIT berth.

The Aggies, who spent a week in the CollegeInsider.com mid-major top 25, tied for third in the CAA with College of Charleston, which is also in the 2024 WNIT field and were at one point tied with Stony Brook atop the CAA standings.

Hosting UNCG is the latest first for the Aggies, who won their first postseason game since leaving the MEAC in 2021 when they beat Hofstra in the CAA quarterfinals.

A&T has tasted success in the WNIT before. The Aggies, who have played in five previous showcases (four under Robinson), became the first historically Black college to win two straight WNIT games when they beat Wake Forest and Charlotte on the road in 2010. Friday’s game is the Aggies’ first WNIT appearance since 2019 when the lost at James Madison. Their last postseason berth was in 2021 when they lost to top seed North Carolina State in San Marcos, Texas.

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