NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team improved to 2-0 in MEAC play for the first time since 2006-07 with a 61-55 win over Savannah State 61-55 on Wednesday evening at Echols Hall.
 
Senior guard Dominique Harper tallied 16 points to register her sixth consecutive game in double figures. Senior guard Jordan Strode added 13 points, while junior guard Kayla Roberts blocked a career-high five shots to pace NSU.
 
Norfolk State (7-7, 2-0), which led the MEAC in scoring defense coming in, held the Lady Tigers (2-13, 0-3) to five points in the first quarter on 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) from the floor.
 
Leading by 11 entering the second quarter, the Spartans gradually stretched their lead. A 10-3 run late in the period, capped by a free throw by Strode, increased NSU's lead to 23, at 36-13, with 1:11 left in the half.
 
Norfolk State maintained most of its halftime lead as the two teams traded baskets. Savannah State was able to cut the lead to 14 points on three different occasions, but the Spartans answered each time and held a comfortable 51-35 lead heading into the final stanza.
 
But the Lady Tigers outscored Norfolk State 18-3 in the first 5:43 of the fourth quarter to cut the Spartans lead to 56-53 with 4:17 left. But Norfolk State's defense stiffened and limited to Savannah State two free throws the rest of the way. The Lady Tigers went 0-of-5 from the floor, including 0-of-4 from 3-point range, and committed two turnovers in the final four minutes of the game as the Spartans held on.
 
Roberts grabbed 11 rebounds and added four points to go along with her five blocks. Khalilah Ali notched the other two Norfolk State blocks and dropped in seven points. Kiara Phillips totaled nine points, while her three assists and two steals led the Spartans.
 
Norfolk State outrebounded Savannah State 38-35. The Spartans went 24-of-60 (40 percent) from the floor, including 3-of-18 (16.7 percent) from deep, while the Lady Tigers made just 16-of-54 (29.6 percent) and 6-of-18 (33.3 percent) from downtown.
 
The Spartans tallied seven blocks and five steals. Norfolk State turned 20 Lady Tiger turnovers into 20 points. Norfolk State also outscored Savannah State 34-18 in the paint and 12-7 in second-chance points.
 
Kenyata Hendrix let the Lady Tigers with 20 points. Rhianna Warren added 11 points, while Tiyonda Davis grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked five shots.
 
The Spartans will conclude their two-game home stand on Saturday, when they host North Carolina Central at 4 p.m.