Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. — Senior forward Areya Walker (Portsmouth, Va.) posted team highs of 16 points and 16 rebounds for her consecutive straight double-double, helping host Norfolk State snap a six-game losing streak with a 68-59 victory over Virginia Union on Thursday night at Echols Hall.
Tiffany Gadsden (Columbia, S.C.) recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Spartans (2-7), who beat the Lady Panthers (0-6) 58-44 for their first win of the year on Nov. 20.
Tashawna Higgins (Toronto, Ontario) contributed a career-high 14 points and Ashley Compton (Houston, Tex.)added 10 for NSU.
Both teams had problems offensively in the first half. VUU shot just 11 percent (3-of-27) from the floor, but shot 74 percent (14-of-19) from the foul line and held NSU to 18 percent accuracy (6-of-34) from the field as the teams struggled to a 20-20 halftime tie.
But Walker scored two inside baskets as the Spartans opened the second half on a 7-0 run. They would not trail again. Compton hit NSU's only 3-pointer of the game to increase her team's lead to double digits for the first time at 44-34 with 10:41 remaining. The Spartans, who shot 46 percent en route to a season-high 48 second-half points, led by at least nine the rest of the way.
NSU was 21-of-29 from the free throw line, with Higgins making 8-of-9. She also pulled down five rebounds. Natasha Huntley (Greensboro, N.C.) dished out a game-high six assists to go with her eight points. Gadsden, the MEAC's leading shot-blocker, rejected three VUU shots.
Walker finished 6-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. She also had three assists, second-most on the team. Walker now has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in four consecutive games.
Samantha Traynham had 18 points and eight rebounds for VUU, which shot just 25 percent (17-of-67) for the game. Dashia Chandler added 14 points and Katchona Johnson had 10 points and 10 boards.
The Spartans return to action next Wednesday in a 6 p.m. game at North Carolina Central.
