NORFOLK, Va. –Junior Kashay Barnes had a team high 16 points and sophomore Quineshia Leonard added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Norfolk State women's basketball team over Penn, 60-51, in the season opener on Friday night at Joseph Echols Hall.

Both teams started off slowly on the offensive end.  The Spartan defense held Penn without a field goal for nearly 3:30 minutes.  The Spartans, who never trailed, gradually stretched their lead out to nine after a layup by Barnes with 1:46 left in the first half.  Barnes had nine of her 16 points in the first half, which ended with the Spartans leading 26-17.  NSU held the Quakers to 17 percent shooting (5-of-29).

The Spartans led by as many as 11 in the second half after two Leonard free throws with 18:32 to go in the second half.  Penn went on a 14-4 run over the next five minutes to come within one, 34-33, after an Alyssa Barron 3-pointer with 13:45 left.  Penn got within one on one more occasion, but could never overcome the Spartans.

The Spartans went on a 7-0 run to increase their lead to 10 and they led by at least three from thereafter.  Barnes hit a 3-pointer in the spurt and Leonard capped it off with a basket inside.

Penn came within three, 52-49, after a layup by Kara Bonenburger with 1:45 left to play, but the Spartans sealed the game at the free throw line making 8-of-10 at the line in the final 1:23.

Leonard had all 11 of her points and all 11 of her rebounds in the second half.  She was limited to one minute of playing time in the first half due to foul trouble.  Sophomore Ebony Brown had nine points off the bench and junior Rachel Gordon chipped in with a game-high 15 rebounds for NSU.

The Spartans shot 76 percent (19-of-25).  NSU out-rebounded Penn 46-35 and limited the Quakers to 31.7 percent shooting.

Barron led Penn with 22 points and seven rebounds.  Keiera Ray added 14 points off the bench.
 
The Spartans will return to action on Thursday when they host USC Upstate at 6 p.m.