NORFOLK, Va. --- The duo of Kierra Wheeler and Diamond Johnson combined for 40 points to lead the Norfolk State women's basketball team past Maryland Eastern Shore 72-54 to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play Saturday afternoon.
 
Wheeler posted her 30th career double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, adding six steals in the win. Johnson scored in double-figures with 21 points, while adding seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals to her totals.
 
The Spartans jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, following a jumper from Wheeler. She continued her hot start, scoring the next six points for NSU. UMES controlled the last couple minutes of the first quarter, finishing the period with a 6-2 run capped off with a layup from Zamara Haynes.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore gained its first lead of the contest on its second possession of the second quarter.  The Hawks extended their advantage to five with a layup from Ce'Nara Skanes with 7:04 to play before halftime. Sophomore guard Anjanae Richardson stopped the Spartans scoring drought, nailing a 3-pointer.
 
Senior forward Makoye Diawara helped gain the lead back for NSU on the next possession with a 3-pointer of her own. The two teams traded one-point advantages heading into the break. A pair of Wheeler free throws gave Norfolk State the 29-28 edge at the half.
 
Wheeler got the Spartans going in the second half, draining an early second-half jumper. A basket from Johnson and a pair of Da'Brya Clark free-throws gave NSU its largest lead of the third quarter with 1:13 left to play. Skanes gained a pair of points back before the end of the third quarter, with NSU taking the 45-38 advantage into the fourth quarter.
 
Johnson had the hot hand for the Spartans early in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 of the 20 points through the first six and a half minutes of the fourth quarter, giving NSU the 65-46 lead with 3:40 left to play.
 
Diawara drained her second 3-pointer of the game, extending the lead to 20. NSU led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter, before going on to win the game by 18 points.
 
 
Checking The Box Score

• Diamond Johnson led NSU with 21 points
• Kierra Wheeler posted her 30th career double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She also added six steals to her totals
• The Spartans shot 71.43 percent in the fourth quarter (10-of-14)
• NSU capitalized on the offensive boards, picking up 17 to Maryland Eastern Shore's 8
• Norfolk State forced 25 turnovers in the win with 16 steals

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State improves to 13-4 with the win
• Maryland Eastern Shore falls to 5-11 with the loss
• NSU opens MEAC play with a win for the fourth straight season
• The Spartans now lead the all-time series 34-17
• Norfolk State extended its home winning streak to 19 games

 
Up Next
Norfolk State travels to Delaware State on Monday, Jan. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in Dover, Del.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.