GREENSBORO (Interstat) — Paris Locke recorded a double-double and North Carolina A&T used a dominant opening quarter to defeat visiting Wingate 70-59 in a women’s NCAA Division I game Monday at Corbett Sports Center. Attendance was 855, and the Aggies moved to 1-0 on the season. Wingate was a non-divisional opponent.

North Carolina A&T scored 70 points from 74 possessions, an offensive rating of 94.3, and posted 14 offensive rebounds, 11 assists and 20 turnovers. The Aggies set the tone with 13 unanswered points to open the game. Anaya Karriem made back-to-back tip-in layups, Drew Alexander hit a 3-pointer and a layup, and Locke added a driving layup during the run. Wingate’s first points came on Senali Moss’s driving layup with 4:42 remaining in the first quarter. A&T kept Wingate off balance with pressure defense and offensive rebounding and led 23-5 after the opening period. Darrionna Howard’s tip-in at the end of the quarter capped the early advantage. The Aggies also got first-quarter baskets from Rania Curry on a pullup jumper and Crystal Hardy on a transition jumper, while Yves Cox made two free throws.

Wingate settled in during the second quarter and began to chip into the margin. Kyleigh Bacon made a pair of layups, Ch’Nya Isaac connected on a 3-pointer, Riley Black hit a 3-pointer, and Moss converted a three-point play as part of the response. A&T answered with Alexander’s outside shooting and Honor Hall’s free throws and layup. Karriem added a stepback jump shot in the lane. The Aggies took a 35-23 lead into halftime after a first half in which their defense and early rebounding set the tone. A&T pushed the lead back to 54-38 after three quarters. Alexander hit another 3-pointer, Locke made a 3-pointer and a driving layup, and Karriem added a jump shot in the third. Wingate stayed within reach as Laura Montiel scored on consecutive layups and Aya Kamli hit a 3-pointer, but the Aggies maintained a double-digit cushion entering the fourth.

Wingate made its strongest push in the final period. Bacon converted a layup, Moss scored on a drive, Isaac made a layup and two free throws, and Montiel added a 3-pointer. Isaac’s 3-pointer with 4:06 remaining cut the A&T lead to 59-52 and forced the Aggies to execute late. The decisive response came at the free-throw line and through Pass’s shot creation. Curry made two free throws, Pass made a floating jumper and several late free throws, and Karriem and Locke also converted at the line. A&T closed the game with enough poise to keep Wingate from completing the comeback. Wingate’s late scoring included Bacon’s free throws and Moss’s tip-in, but the Aggies answered each time and secured the home win. Pass’s free throws in the final seconds sealed the outcome.

Locke, A&T’s top overall performer, finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes. The 6-foot forward from Randallstown, Md., who previously attended McDonough, helped the Aggies control the glass and played a key role in the late response. Alexander scored 17 points and added three rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes. The 5-foot-10 guard who previously attended Shabach Christian Academy made several timely outside shots. Pass had 10 points, two rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes. Karriem contributed 12 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes. Curry chipped in four points, two rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes. Cox had four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes. Hall scored four points and added two assists in three minutes. Howard had five points and four rebounds in 23 minutes. Bates finished with one point, two rebounds and one block in 24 minutes. Hardy scored two points in 11 minutes.

A&T’s next 10 games are scheduled against Marshall on Nov. 6, at Nebraska on Nov. 10, against Guilford on Nov. 13, against Liberty on Nov. 17, at Navy on Nov. 20, against Abilene Christian on Nov. 27 in Jacksonville, Fla., at North Florida on Nov. 28, against Bowling Green on Dec. 1, against Kennesaw State on Dec. 12 and at North Carolina Central on Dec. 16.