Red Rocket Productions

Spartans Cap Non-Conference Home Slate on Friday vs. UNCG

12/14/2017 11:41:00 AM | By: Matt Wurzburger, Sports Information Intern

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team plays its final home game of the calendar year on Friday when it welcomes UNCG to Echols Hall for a 6 p.m. clash.

The Spartans (3-5) notched their first home victory on Tuesday with an 86-76 win over Towson in NSU's best offensive showing this season. Meanwhile, UNCG (4-6) enter tomorrow on a five-game losing streak.

Media Coverage
Friday's game can be heard live featuring play-by-play commentary by Ross Gordon on Hot 91.1 FM and online at http://hot91.nsu.edu:8000/128. A live stream is available through Spartan Showcase Video Streaming. In addition, live stats are available.

Series History
NSU is 2-3 all-time against UNCG in a series that dates back to the 1990-91 season. Norfolk State won the first two meetings, but UNCG has taken the past three games, including a 59-52 win last season.

Norfolk State led 42-35 at the end of the third quarter, but UNCG out-scored NSU 24-10 in the final period, including an 11-4 run that put UNCG up 52-50 with 2:32 to go. NSU was down only three points with 19 seconds left in the game, but Te'ja Twitty iced the game away with four-straight makes at the free-throw line.

Nadine Soliman led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting. As a team, UNCG shot 42.3 percent from the field, but committed 21 turnovers. NSU managed 34.4 percent shooting and was led by Kayla Roberts' 15 points and six rebounds.

The Opening Tip
Norfolk State rode a red-hot offense to victory over Towson on Tuesday night. NSU set numerous season highs in the 86-76 victory, including points, field goals (31), shooting percentage (48.4), 3-point field-goal percentage (57.1) and assists (21). The Spartans' 21 assists are tied for the 10th-most in program history and are the third-most in the Larry Vickers era.

The return of Gabrielle Swinson brought new life to Norfolk State, as the senior guard scored 18 points, grabbed six boards and dished out six assists. Swinson and Raven Russell combined for 13 of NSU's 21 assists. The duo proved lethal in the open court as well as they scored 18 fastbreak points and assisted on five fastbreak baskets. NSU's 23 fastbreak points were the most this season, blowing away the previous high of six set in the Spartans' season debut at VCU.

Norfolk State regained its bearings from beyond the 3-point line, making eight of its 14 attempts for 57.1 percent. That performance marked the first time the Spartans eclipsed 50 percent from the bonusphere since they went 12-of-24 against Howard on Feb. 6, 2016 in Vickers' first victory as then-interim head coach.

Five Spartans tallied double-digit points on Tuesday, led by Russell's 21 points -- a NSU season-high. Joining Russell were Swinson (18), Roberts (12), Alexys Long (10) and Kendrea Dawkins (10). Dawkins 10 points served as her season high.

Towson shot only 36.1 percent in the game but used rebounding and free throws to stay in the game. The Tigers owned a 19-12 edge in offensive rebounds and out-rebounded NSU 45-39. In addition, Towson made 86.4 percent (19-22) of its free throws while the Spartans went 12-27 (52.9) from the charity stripe. Two Tigers, Nukiya Mayo and Raine Bankston, had perfect nights from the line with Mayo going 8-for-8 on free throws as part of a team-high 20 points.

Scouting UNCG
The Spartans enter Friday reeling and on a five-game losing streak. UNCG last won on Nov. 21 against VCU, 74-61. Since then, the Spartans have lost to Campbell, Radford, Virginia, #14-ranked Duke and Murray State. Two of the Spartans' five losses during the drought have been by 10 points or less, and UNCG lost to Murray State by 11, 63-52.

Ije Ajemba garnered Southern Conference Player of the Week honors on Tuesday after averaging 13 points and 11.5 rebounds across two games. Ajemba turned in her third double-double against Duke with 13 points and 14 rebounds. This season, Ajemba ranks third on the team with 8.9 points per game and ranks 19th nationally with 10.8 rebounds per game.

Nadine Soliman leads UNCG in scoring at 13.3 points per game, but Brandi Fier orchestrates the attack with 4.1 assists per game. Fier's assists per game ranks 164th in Division-I and her 1.58 assists/turnover ratio ranks 194th nationally.

The Spartans average 64.1 points per game on 41 percent shooting. What they lack from 3-point range (4.2 treys per game, 25.5 percent) they make up for at the free throw line (12.3 free throws per game, 71.9 percent).

NSU vs. the Southern Conference
Norfolk State is 5-6 all-time against teams currently in the SoCon. NSU is 1-0 against Western Carolina, 2-2 against Wofford, 2-3 vs. UNCG and 0-1 against Samford. UNCG is the only SoCon team on the Spartans' 2017-18 schedule.

Those Smothering Spartans
Through eight games this season, Norfolk State has been one of the most-prolific shot-blocking teams in the nation. NSU averages 8.6 rejections per game, which is tops in D-I. The Spartans' 69 total blocks also ranks fourth nationally. NSU has recorded more blocks than its opponent in seven of its eight games and has not lost the block battle this season.

Two Spartans are averaging at least two blocks per contest, led by Khadedra Croker (3.4). Roberts averages 2.0 blocks per game, and the pair of teammates rank first and second in the conference.

NSU rejected VCU 14 times in its season opener. Those 14 blocks are tied for the most in a single game in Division-I this season. Croker accounted for seven of those blocks, and that mark is tied for the sixth-most by an individual in D-I this year.

NSU ranks in the MEAC in scoring defense (59.9 points per game) and first in defensive field goal percentage (34.4 percent).

The Spartans finish off possessions with hard work on the glass. NSU is fourth in the MEAC in total rebounding (40.8 rebounds per game) and second in defensive rebounds per contest (28.0). The Spartans are also fourth in the conference in defensive rebounding percentage, grabbing 64.6 percent of their opponent's misses.

Last season, the Spartans ranked third in the MEAC in scoring defense, allowing only 57.8 points per game. Opponents shot just 33.4 percent from the field against NSU, which ranked third nationally. NSU blocked nearly six shots per game last season -- a mark that topped the MEAC and ranked sixth in Division I. The Spartans set the DI program record in total blocks (178) and trailed only the 1991-1992 team for the most rejections (211) in team history.

Spartan Spotlight
Kayla Roberts

Scored her 1,000th-career point against Florida A&M in the 2017 MEAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
Second all-time in blocked shots (126). Ranks in the top-10 in four career categories and is top-20 in seven other categories.
Ranks 18 in all-time and per-game scoring at NSU.
2x MEAC Defensive Player of the Week selection in 2017-18 (Nov. 21, Nov. 28).
Recorded first double-double of the season (14 points, 11 rebounds) against Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 21, 2017 and has 27 in her career.
Has 57-career double-digit scoring games (11-career 20-point games).
Has led NSU in scoring 31 times, in rebounds 52 times, in blocks 38 times and in steals 25 times.
Ranks 14th in the MEAC in per-game scoring (12.3).
Is 13th in the conference in rebounds per game (7.0).
Has the 75th-most blocks in the nation (16) and is second in the conference in blocks per game (2.0).
Ranks fifth in the MEAC in defensive rebounds per game (5.8).

Raven Russell

Broke the 20-point barrier for the first time with 21 points against Towson on Dec. 12, 2017.
Set season highs in field goals made (eight) and attempted (12) vs. Towson.
Had seven assists vs. Towson to match the individual season high for NSU.
Scored 13 points in her Spartan debut against VCU on Nov. 12, 2017.
Shared the game high in steals (four) vs. VCU.
Set a career best with six field goals vs. High Point on Nov. 29, 2017
Went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line against St. Francis Brooklyn on Nov. 25, 2017.
Has six games with double-figure points this year.
Ranks 13th in the MEAC in per-game scoring (12.4).
Ranks fifth in the conference with a 53.5 field goal percentage.
Tied for 14^th in the MEAC with 1.3 made treys per game.

Khadedra Croker

Blocked seven shots at VCU in season opener on Nov. 12, 2017.
Her seven blocks against VCU are tied for the fifth-most by a Spartan in a single game and are tied for the sixth-most by a player in D-I this year.
Recorded a block in each game this season and blocked multiple shots in seven games.
Reached double figures in scoring (10) for the first time vs. St. Francis Brooklyn on Nov. 25, 2017 and has done so in three games.
Ranks fourth nationally in blocks per game (3.4) and 12th in total blocks (27). Also tops the MEAC in total blocks.
Is tied for 14th in the EMAC defensive rebounding (4.3).
Has the nineth-highest field goal percentage (43.6) in the conference.

Yazmen Hannah

Redshirted last season for medical reasons.
Named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team in 2015-16.
Is tied for 19th in career 3-point field goal percentage (27.1 percent -- minimum 100 attempts).

Made season debut vs. Navy.
Scored a season-high seven points against Loyola (Md.).
Started first game of the season against High Point and set a season high with seven rebounds.

Alexys Long

Set career bests in points (17), 3-pt. field goals made (5) and attempted (7) against VCU on Nov. 12, 2017.
Had her first 10-rebound game against Bowling Green on Nov. 24, 2017.
Matched a career-high with three assists vs. Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 21, 2017.
Has scored in double-figures in four games this season.
Is tied for fourth in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (46.4) and is tied for seventh in 3-point field goals made per game (1.6).
Ranks 14th in the conference in total rebounding (6.6) and is tied for 15th in offensive rebounding (4.3).
Plays the 10th-most minutes in the MEAC (32.5).

De'Janaire Deas

Set a season high with six points an matched a season high with four rebounds vs. East Carolina on Dec. 2
Went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field at ECU.

Armani Franklin

Led all bench scorers with 10 points at VCU on Nov. 12, 2017.
Led all players with seven assists and shared the game high in steals (4) vs. VCU.
Started first career game vs. Bowling Green on Nov. 24, 2017.
Made 6-of-8 free throws vs. St. Francis Brooklyn on Nov. 25, 2017, matching a season-high 10 points.
Made her first-career 3-pointer vs. Towson on Dec. 12, 2017.
Shared the team high and set a career high with six rebounds vs. Towson.

Shayla Tanner

Scored a season-high three points in nine minutes at VCU on Nov. 12, 2017.
Appeared in six games this season.
Appeared in 30 games last season and started one.
Ranked fifth on the team in blocks (12) last season.

Kendrea Dawkins

Blocked four shots and grabbed four rebounds against VCU.
Scored her first points as a Spartan against Navy.
Grabbed a season-high five rebounds twice. Has four or more rebounds in six games this year.
Scored a season-best 10 points and made her first trey of the year vs. Towson on Dec. 12, 2017.

Alexis Sparkman