Vickers Postgame Interview
Postgame Player Interview

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State women's basketball led by 18 with 8:51 to go in the game and withstood a game-closing 17-6 run by Navy to prevail, 65-58, on Sunday evening at Joseph Echols Hall.
 
The Spartans (2-2) had a stellar game from the floor, making 27 of its 48 field goal tries (56.3 percent). NSU's effort from the field is the seventh-highest mark in program history.
 
Four NSU players broke double digits in scoring on Sunday, led by La'Deja James' 16 points. The Virginia Beach native was responsible for both of Norfolk State's made treys and shared game highs in rebounds (seven) and steals (four).
 
For the second game in a row, De'Janaire Deas set a new career high in points, finishing the contest with 14 on 7-of-9 shooting as NSU looked to exploit its size advantage down low.
 
Jennifer Coleman finished with a game-high 22 points for the Mids (1-2) and scored nine-unanswered points in the fourth quarter to will her team back into the game. The freshman from Richmond set career highs in points and steals (three) and also contributed three assists.
 
Norfolk State connected on 46.2-percent of its shots in the first quarter en route to a 15-10 edge.
 
Sophie Gatzounas opened the scoring on a layup 29 seconds into the contest. Ten seconds later, Alexys Long found Deas in the paint, and the Midshipmen did not hold the lead again for the remainder of the contest.
 
James pushed the Spartans ahead 5-2 on a 3-pointer just inside the nine-minute mark. That represented the only trey made by either team in the half as the two sides combined to shoot 1-of-14 from deep.
 
Long-range shots did not fall for either team in the contest as the two sides combined to shoot 4-for-31 from range.
 
NSU led 14-6 with 1:44 remaining in the first on the strength of a 9-2 run. Raven Russell bookended the run with a pair of layups and ended the quarter with four points and three assists.
 
The Spartans' hot shooting carried over into the second period, and NSU appeared poised to break the game open. After the first three minutes of the quarter, Norfolk State built its largest lead of the half, 23-14. As was the case in the first quarter, the Spartans looked inside to Deas early, and the junior scored a pair of baskets within the first two minutes.
 
NSU simply could not miss in the second quarter, making eight of its 12 shot attempts (66.7 percent) but turned the ball over seven times. Both teams struggled with ball security throughout the afternoon, and the game featured a combined 52 giveaways.
 
Coleman's efforts helped the Mids chip away in the second quarter as NSU's deficit shrunk to 31-27 with under a minute left in the half. After a missed free throw by Laurel Jaunich, Coleman grabbed the offensive board and put the ball back in to cut the lead to 29-24.
 
After Dana Echols pushed the Spartans ahead by six, 31-25, Coleman scored Navy's final basket of the half to make the score 31-27 with 56 seconds to play. Armani Franklin sent NSU to the locker room ahead by six on a layup with 20 seconds remaining.
 
Both sides put on an offensive exhibition in the third quarter, making shots at will. Norfolk State made nine of its 13 attempts (69.2 percent) in the period. Likewise, Navy shot 50 percent on its 12 attempts.
 
The Mids opened the half with two-straight layups by Kolbi Green and narrowed the gap to 33-31, but the Spartans responded with a 12-1 run to build a 45-32 edge with 5:12 remaining in the quarter.
 
Russell ignited the run with a layup, then Deas scored the next eight points for NSU. The Albany, New York native did not miss a shot in the period, going 4-for-4.
 
Cayla Hannibal's 3-pointer brought the deficit to eight, 47-39, with 1:46 to go in the third, but Norfolk State netted the final six of the period and led 54-41.
 
The rout appeared to be in full affect after a James' 3-pointer and Russell layup put the Spartans ahead 59-41 with 8:51 left in the game. However, Coleman and the rest of her Midshipmen teammates had other ideas, going on a 14-0 run to put the final result in question.
 
Coleman brought Navy back to life with nine-straight points over two minutes of action. Her layup at the 6:13 mark brought the Mids to within nine, 59-50. From there, Green netted five straight on a pair of free throws and a trey, and Navy was down 59-55.
 
Echols ended a scoring drought of over seven minutes with an elbow jumper, but Bianca Roach made it a one-possession game at 61-58 with an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:08 remaining.
 
NSU missed six-straight free throws in the final minute, but the Mids could not capitalize. Russell ended the Spartans' woes at the line with a pair of foul shots with 20 seconds remaining to produce the final score.
 
The Spartans out-rebounded Navy 35-27 but allowed 19 points off 15 offensive rebounds. The Mids' opportunistic nature on the offensive glass allowed them to compensate for their 24 turnovers and 12-of-24 showing at the charity stripe.
 
NSU closes out a three-game homestand against Campbell on Tuesday at 11 a.m. That contest serves as Hampton Roads Youth Day, when middle school students from around the region will  fill Echols Hall and cheer on the Spartans.