NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State women's basketball returns from a 15-day holiday break to face Virginia Union on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Echols Hall.

The Spartan women enter the game with a 1-7 record. They have lost six straight games since their only win of the season, a 58-44 victory on Nov. 20 against the same Lady Panthers of VUU.

NSU is coming off a pair of losses in the North Florida Holiday Classic on Dec. 18-19. The Spartans fell 66-40 to host UNF on Dec. 18 and 67-58 to Savannah State on Dec. 19. Senior forward Areya Areya Walker (Portsmouth, Va.) was named to the all-tournament team after compiling 38 points and 33 rebounds in the two games. Walker is averaging 14.3 rebounds per game in her last three games. She tallied 14 points and seven rebounds in NSU's earlier win over VUU.

Sophomore center Tiffany Gadsden (Columbia, S.C.), the MEAC's leading shot-blocker at 3.5 per game, is averaging 10.7 rebounds and 5.3 blocks in her last three contests. She pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds in the first meeting with VUU.

VUU is 0-5 on the season. The Lady Panthers last played on Dec. 13, losing 68-65 to Lincoln University. VUU is led by senior forward Katchona Johnson, who averages 18.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. She had 10 points in the Lady Panthers' loss to NSU in November. Freshman guard Dashia Chandler, who averages 9.8 points per game, led VUU with 15 points in the first meeting.

Thursday's game can be heard live on WNSB Hot 91.1 FM, with Ross Gordon calling the action. Live stats are available by clicking http://livestats.internetconsult.com/nsu/wbball?tab=basketball2.