RALEIGH, N.C. – Norfolk State freshman guard Raychele Payne (Newport News, Va.) was named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All-Rookie team, as announced Monday night at the conference's award banquet.

Despite missing the first nine games of the season because of a knee injury, Payne currently leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg), 3-pointers made (40) and 3-point percentage (.370). She is shooting 35.9 percent (103-of-287) from the field and 70.3 percent (26-of-37) from free-throw line.

Payne tied the NSU record for made 3-pointers in a game with seven and scored a career-high 27 points against Winston-Salem State on Jan. 28. She is averaging 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 34.4 minutes per game. Additionally, she has scored in double figures in 13 games this year and has recorded 20 or more points seven times.

Payne is just the second Spartan to be named to the MEAC All-Rookie team. The last player to earn the honor was Shenae Johnson in 2003.

The 11th-seeded Spartans open play in the 2008 MEAC Basketball Tournament against No. 6 Morgan State at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the RBC Center.