NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State closed out the regular season with a 63-53 loss to North Carolina Central on Thursday night at Joseph Echols Hall. NSU's loss coupled with Bethune-Cookman's loss to Florida A&M gives the Spartans the No.6 seed in the 2014 MEAC tournament.

The Spartans (12-15, 8-8) shot only 32.8 percent (21-of-64) from the field, but was 91.7 percent (11-of-12) from the free throw line on the night. Freshman Logan Powell was the only Spartan to score in double figures, finishing the game with 16 points and eight rebounds. Junior Jazamine Gray added nine points on 7-of-8 shooting from the free throw line. Freshman Koryn Lawrence recorded eight points and four steals, while junior Rae Corbo and senior Rachel Gordon added six points each. Gordon also posted eight boards.

N.C. Central (11-18, 6-10) enjoyed its double digit halftime lead after it shot 48.1 percent in the first half. The Lady Eagles led by 14 at 33-19 when after Jessica Freeman made a pair of free throws with three seconds left in the first half. The last time the Spartans scored less than 20 points in a half this was in the first half at Savannah State on Jan. 27.

NSU started the second half with four unanswered points as Gordon and Lawrence both scored on layup in the paint to keep the Spartans within 10, at 33-23, with 18:30 left in the game. For the game, the Spartans outscored N.C. Central 36-28 in the paint.

The Lady Eagles answered on the other end with a basket by Raquel Davis that sparked a 13-6 run. Davis totaled 13 points and rebounds on the night. Khyra Conerly closed out the run for N.C. Central with a pair of free throws at the 14:01 mark to make the score 46-29 . The Lady Eagles shot 66.7 percent (18-of-27) from the line.

N.C. Central led by as many 19 points in the second half, 58-39, after another free throw from Freeman with 5:43 remaining in the game. Freeman led all scorers with 22 points. She also posted three assists.

The Spartans outscored the Lady Eagles, 14-5, to close the game. Powell scored the last field goal of the game with 17 seconds left to give NSU its final points for the night.

NSU will face the No. 11 seed, Maryland Eastern Shore, on Monday in the opening round of the 2014 MEAC Tournament. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.