NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team welcomes Loyola (Md.) to Joseph Echols Hall for its home opener on Tuesday at 11 a.m. on Future Leaders Day
 
Future Leaders Day will welcome public school children from the greater Norfolk area to Echols Hall for a unique opportunity to witness the Spartans in action.
 
Media Coverage
Tuesday's game will feature a live video feed featuring play-by-play commentary from Ross Gordon. Live stats will also be available.
 
Series History
NSU is 0-1 all-time against the Greyhounds. Loyola (Md.) won the only meeting 75-67 in Baltimore on Nov. 21, 2015. Kayla Roberts recorded a double-double in that game with 24 points and 11 rebounds on 10-of-23 shooting. Three other Spartans joined Roberts in double-figures, including Yazmen Hannah, who made two 3-pointers.
 
Both teams shot nearly identically from the field, but the Greyhounds eight made 3-pointers, compared to just two by the Spartans, proved to be the distance. Both teams made 13 free throws, but NSU missed nine attempts from the charity stripe, compared to only two by Loyola (Md.).
 
Although the game was tightly contested, Loyola (Md.) never led by more than 10 points, the Spartans never held a lead. The Greyhounds led for 39:31, and the game was tied for 29 seconds.
 
The Opening Tip
Norfolk State dropped to 1-1 on the season with a 70-51 road loss to Navy on Friday night. The Spartans committed a season-high 20 turnovers in the contest, which led to 19 points for the Midshipmen.
 
Friday's turning point came in the second quarter, where NSU was out-scored 18-5. The Spartans led 19-18 after one period, but went 7:30 without scoring a point in the second. During that same span, Navy went on an 11-0 run to build a 33-21. Norfolk State went 0-for-4 from the floor and committed eight turnovers during the extended dry spell. In all, the Spartans turned the ball over 10 times in the second quarter.
 
At halftime, Norfolk State was out-shooting Navy 40.9 to 33.3 percent, but the Spartans were minus-12 in the turnover battle. Of the Midshipmen's 36 first-half points, 17 came off NSU turnovers.
 
The Spartans out-rebounded Navy 47-44, but the Mids held a 17-14 edge in offensive rebounds. In all, Navy hoisted 14 more shot attempts than NSU.
 
Alexys Long led NSU in scoring for the second-straight game with 12 points, but did so on 4-of-13 shooting. No other Spartan had more than nine points.
 
The Spartans blocked 11 shots on Friday, giving them double-digit rejections in two-straight games to start the season. Khadedra Croker and Kendrea Dawkins blocked three shots apiece. Roberts chipped in with two swats.
 
Hannah Fenske went 5-of-8 from 3-point range to lead the Midshipmen with 15 points. As a team, Navy shot 8-of-27 from beyond the arc.
 
Scouting Loyola (Md.)
The Greyhounds are 1-3 to start the season and enter Tuesday on a three-game losing streak. Loyola (Md.) won its season opener over Cornell 78-63 then dropped contests to George Mason, Georgetown and Marquette.
 
The Greyhounds began a five-game road trip with an 83-63 loss to No. 16-ranked Marquette on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Stephanie Karcz led all players with a career-best 27 points for Loyola (Md.) and grabbed nine rebounds. This season, Karcz is averaging 20.3 points per game on 32-of-49 (65.3 percent) shooting to pace the Greyhounds.
 
Three others average double digits in scoring, including Izzy Therien at 17 points per contest. A freshman, Therien is connecting on 60 percent of her shot attempts and is 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
 
NSU vs. the Patriot League: Norfolk State is 4-4 against teams currently in the Patriot League. The Spartans are 3-0 against American and 1-0 against Lehigh. NSU has 0-1 records against Colgate, Holy Cross, Loyola (Md.) and Navy. Head coach Larry Vickers is 1-1 against the Patriot League.
 
Roberts Climbing Through Record Book: Roberts currently ranks in the top-20 in program history in 10 statistical categories. Roberts is fourth in total blocks (113) and needs only two more to enter into a three-way tie for second. She is 24 blocks away from joining Beverly Davis at the top of the career blocks ledger.
 
Roberts also ranks ninth in total rebounds (784) and rebounding average (8.8). She is top-15 in 3-pointers attempted and made and made free throw. The Miami, Fla. native ranks 17th in career free throws attempted.
 
Roberts is 18th all-time in per-game scoring average (11.5) and is 19th in field goals attempted
(1,059). She entered into sole possession of 20th place on the all-time scoring ledger after her eight-point performance against Navy on Friday. Roberts now has 1,020 points and is four points away from joining Jewel Stewart in 19th place.
 
What's Next?
Norfolk State flies south for the Thanksgiving holiday to compete in the Florida Atlantic Thanksgiving Tournament. The Spartans face Bowling Green on Friday at 2:30 p.m. then either St. Francis Brooklyn or host FAU on Saturday.