NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team went 2-0 at home the past week and puts its two-game winning streak on the line when it travels to Campbell for a 7 p.m. clash on Monday night.
 
Media Coverage
A live video stream of Monday's contest is available through the Big South Network. Live stats are also available.
 
Series History
NSU is 3-0 all-time against Campbell in series that dates back to the 2000-01 season. NSU took the series opener 87-83 then won 77-64 in the following season. The Spartans and Fighting Camels last clashed on Nov. 18, 2005 in the Carolina First Classic.
 
NSU won the last meeting 70-57 behind 24 points by Toia Johnson, who made six of her 11 tries from 3-point range. The Spartans led for the majority of the game and were up 19 with 8:11 remaining in the second half. Campbell shot just 37.3 percent in that game while going 4-of-18 from deep.
 
The Opening Tip
Norfolk State (4-5) defeated UNCG in dramatic fashion on Thursday, 64-63. NSU trailed by one in the closing stages of the game until Khadedra Croker's game-winning jumper from the elbow with 4.2 seconds remaining.
 
The fourth quarter featured seven lead changes, and neither team ever held more than a three-point advantage in the period.
 
NSU led by as many as 17 in the second quarter and was on top 37-25 at the half before a third-quarter surge by UNCG, who out-scored NSU 24-11 in the third period. Alexus Willey scored 10 of her 16 points in the third quarter for UNCG, and NSU went 2-of-12 from the field with five turnovers in the period.
 
Norfolk State shot better than 40 percent from the floor for the third time this season and for the second time in as many games. The Spartans shot 42.1 percent against UNCG and are 2-1 when breaking the 40-percent threshold.
 
UNCG managed just 38 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from 3-point range but stayed in the game thanks to a 22-for-29 performance from the free-throw line. Over the past three games, NSU opponents are averaging 25.7 trips to the line and are shooting 72.7 percent, including a season-high 86.4 percent by Towson on Tuesday. Nadine Soliman single-handedly went 9-of-9 from the line for UNCG and became the second opposing player in as many games to shoot at least eight free throws without a miss.
 
Armani Franklin led three Spartans in double figures with a season-high 14 points. The freshman went 6-of-7 from the field and grabbed four rebounds. Kayla Roberts led her team with nine boards and three blocks. Four NSU players tallied two assists, and Roberts shared the game-high in steals with De'Janaire Deas and UNCG's Mangela Ngandjui.
 
Scouting Campbell
The Fighting Camels enter Monday night with a 6-2 record. Campbell dropped its season opener at Kansas, 66-48, and stumbled at home against Mercer, 58-57. CU has won its last two and most-recently dispatched NCCAA-member Columbia International 78-39 on Thursday.
 
The Camels are 1-0 against common opponents this year, having defeated UNCG 72-61 on Nov. 25.  In that game, Campbell led by as many as 18 late in the fourth quarter and held a lead for 38 minutes of game time. Summer Price poured in a career-high 28 points for the Camels and shot 64.7 percent from the floor (11-of-17). As a team, Campbell 52.9 percent against UNCG.
 
This year, Campbell has out-scored the competition by 14.7 points per game. The Fighting Camels make their hay from the 3-point arc and average 7.6 made treys per game on 32.4 percent shooting. Defensively, Campbell holds opponents to 21.2 percent shooting from deep.
 
Price is the only Campbell player to average more than eight points per game and accounts for over a quarter of her team's scoring production at 17.4 per game. The senior from Beaverdam, Virginia is shooting 46.4 percent from the field this year and 32.7 percent from range. She also ranks first on the team with 11 steals.
 
Campbell out-rebounds its opponents by over 11 boards per game thanks in large part to the efforts of Taya Bolden, who leads the team with 9.5 rebounds per game.
 
NSU vs. the Big South Conference
Norfolk State is 20-25 all-time against teams currently in the Big South. NSU is 3-0 against both Campbell and Gardner-Webb and also holds a winning record against Longwood (8-5). The Spartans are 2-2 against High Point and have losing records against Liberty (0-7), Radford (4-9) and Winthrop (0-2).
 
NSU already tussled with the Big South's High Point and lost 59-56 at home on Nov. 29. The Spartans conclude their non-conference schedule at Longwood on Dec. 30.
 
Those Smothering Spartans
Through nine games this season, Norfolk State has been one of the most-prolific shot-blocking teams in the nation. NSU averages 8.3 rejections per game, which is tops in D-I. The Spartans' 75 total blocks also ranks third nationally. NSU has recorded more blocks than its opponent in eight of its nine games and has not lost the block battle this season.
 
Two Spartans are averaging at least two blocks per contest, led by Croker (3.0). Roberts averages 2.1 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 is third in the MEAC in scoring defense (60.2 points per game) and first in defensive field goal percentage (34.7 percent).
 
The Spartans finish off possessions with hard work on the glass. NSU is fourth in the MEAC in total rebounding (39.9 rebounds per game) and second in defensive rebounds per contest (27.4). The Spartans are also fifth in the conference in defensive rebounding percentage, grabbing 65 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. In addition, NSU blocked nearly six shots per game -- 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 (129). 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 and has 27 in her career.
• Has 58-career double-digit scoring games (11-career 20-point games).
• Has led NSU in scoring 31 times, in rebounds 53 times, in blocks 39 times and in steals 26 times.
• Is tied for 12th in the MEAC in per-game scoring (12.3).
• Ranks 10th in the conference in rebounds per game (7.2).
• Has the 56th-most blocks in the nation (19) and is second in the conference in blocks per game (2.1).
• Ranks fifth in the MEAC in defensive rebounds per game (5.8).
• Ranks 114th among active Division-I players in career points and is 14th in both career rebounding average and rebounds in D-I.
• Has the 25th most double-doubles among active D-I players. 

Raven Russell

• Broke the 20-point barrier for the first time with 21 points against Towson.
• 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.
• Shared the game high in steals (four) vs. VCU.
• Set a career best with six field goals vs. High Point.
• Went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line against St. Francis Brooklyn.
• Has seven games with double-figure points this year.
• Ranks tied for 12th in the MEAC in per-game scoring (12.3).
• Ranks sixth in the conference with a 51.9 field goal percentage. 

Khadedra Croker

• Blocked seven shots at VCU in season opener.
• 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.
• Scored the game-winning basket with 4.2 seconds remaining against UNCG.
• Reached double figures in scoring (10) for the first time vs. St. Francis Brooklyn and has done so in three games.
• Ranks ninth nationally in blocks per game (3.0) and 27th in total blocks (27). Also tops the MEAC in total blocks.
• Is tied for 13th in the MEAC defensive rebounding (4.0). 

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.
• Had her first 10-rebound game against Bowling Green.
• Matched a career-high with three assists vs. Loyola (Md.).
• Has scored in double-figures in four games this season.
• Ranks 30th in the conference in scoring (9.2)
• Is fourth in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (46.7) and is ninth in 3-point field goals made per game (1.6).
• Ranks 18th in the conference in total rebounding (6.0) and is tied for 15th in defensive rebounding (3.9).
• Plays the 10th-most minutes in the MEAC (32.4). 

De'Janaire Deas

• Set a season high with six points an matched a season high with four rebounds vs. East Carolina.
• Went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field at ECU.
• Set a career high in steals with two vs. UNCG. 

Armani Franklin

• Led all bench scorers with 10 points at VCU.
• Led all players with seven assists and shared the game high in steals (4) vs. VCU.
• Started first career game vs. Bowling Green.
• Made 6-of-8 free throws vs. St. Francis Brooklyn, matching a season-high 10 points.
• Made her first-career 3-pointer vs. Towson.
• Shared the team high and set a career high with six rebounds vs. Towson.
• Scored a season-high 14 points to lead NSU vs. UNCG while also going 6-of-7 from the field. 

Shayla Tanner

• Scored a season-high three points in nine minutes at VCU.
• 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. 

Alexis Sparkman

• Made her first-career 3-pointer as a Spartan against VCU.
• Played a season-high 18 minutes vs. High Point.
• Made a 3-point field goal in each of her first three games this season. 

Zairya West

• Started first-career game against VCU.
• Recorded three points and two assists in 21 minutes vs. VCU.
• Scored a season-high five points vs. UNCG. 

Gabrielle Swinson

• Made season debut vs. Towson and scored 18 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists.
• Averaged 10 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season.