NORFOLK, Va. – The three-game homestand for Norfolk State women's basketball continues this Sunday as the Spartans (1-2) host the Midshipmen of Navy for a 4 p.m. contest.
 
NSU will look to continue the momentum from their 93-40 win over Cheyney on Tuesday and even its record four games into the young season.
 
The Opening Tip
Norfolk State halted its two-game skid to start the 2018-19 season with a 93-40 win over Cheyney in its home opener on Tuesday. The Spartans put up the most points in a game since their 99-59 win over St. Augustine's on Nov. 15, 2016.
 
A total of five NSU players registered double-digit points in the game, led by La'Deja James' 20-point outing. The Virginia Beach native made eight of her 14 shots, including four of her nine 3-pointers, and chipped in three assists and two blocks. De'Janaire Deas also contributed a career-high 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. In total, nine Spartans scored five or more points.
 
Generosity was the theme of the night on offense as NSU assisted on 27 of its 40 field goals, matching the fourth-most assists in a single game in program history. Dana Echols led all players with 12 assists to go alongside 11 points in her first double-double of the season.
 
However, the Spartans were less-than-generous on defense, limiting the Lady Wolves to 26.4 percent shooting and registering 15 steals. Those live-ball takeaways gave NSU ample opportunities to run, and the Spartans capitalized with 26 points on the fast break.
 
NSU's two freshmen impressed in their first-ever home game. Jameila Barrett scored the first points of her collegiate career and finished with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. Shekinah Howard contributed five points and five rebounds, both season-high marks.
 
Sizing up Navy
The Midshipmen are looking to return to the postseason for the third year in a row after making appearances in the last two WNITs. Over that two-year span, Navy posted a 49-18 record and has begun the 2018-19 campaign with a mark of 1-1.
 
The Mids opened their season at home with an 81-36 win over Catholic. In that game, Navy shot over 40 percent from the field, made 12 3-pointers and forced 30 turnovers. Freshman Kolbi Green began her collegiate career with 17 points and four treys.
 
Navy's offense cooled off significantly in its second game, a 72-48 loss to Marist. Against the Red Foxes, the Mids shot 26.1 percent and made only three of their 18 tries from deep. Already leading 20-12, Marist broke the game open with a 20-5 run to close out the first half.
 
Head coach Stefanie Pemper has been tasked with replacing her top-three scorers from last season's 25-win team. Gone are Taylor Dunham, Hannah Fenske and Kaila Clark and their combined 33.4 points per game. Dunham and Fenske were also the top-two assist leaders on the team, with Fenske's 127 assists ranking second in the Patriot League.
 
All-Time Series vs. Navy
Sunday marks the second meeting all-time between the Spartans and the Midshipmen. Navy got the best of NSU in last season's meeting, winning 70-51 in Annapolis on Nov. 17.
 
Norfolk State made half of its shots in the first quarter and led 19-18 after the first 10 minutes.
However, the offense stalled out in the second, scoring just five points and giving the ball away 10 times, as Navy built a 36-24 halftime lead.
 
Fenske led all players with 15 points on five 3-pointers. Alexys Long was the lone Spartan to break double digits in scoring, finishing the game with 12 points and seven rebounds.
 
NSU blocked 11 shots in last year's meeting. Khadedra Croker and Kendrea Dawkins had three blocks apiece.
 
NSU vs. the Patriot League
The Spartans hold a 4-5 record all-time against teams currently in the Patriot League. NSU is 3-0 against American and has another win against Lehigh. Head coach Larry Vickers is 1-2 all-time against the Patriot League, having defeated Lehigh 81-57 on Nov. 26, 2016.
 
Last season, NSU went 0-2 against the Patriot League, losing to Navy and to Loyola (Md.), 61-58 in the Spartans' season opener. After Navy, one final Patriot League team remains on the 2018-19 schedule as NSU faces Lehigh on Nov. 24 on the first day of the Christmas City Classic.
 
What's Ahead?
Norfolk State wraps up its three-game homestand on Tuesday, when it hosts Campbell at 11 a.m. on Hampton Roads Youth Day. For the second year in a row, middle school students from across the region will come to Joseph Echols Hall to watch the women's basketball team compete.