Vickers Postgame Interview | Postgame Player Interview

NORFOLK, Va. – Khadedra Croker recorded a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double, and the Norfolk State defense allowed only 14 second-half points in the Spartans' 71-38 win over St. Augustine's inside Joseph Echols Hall on Tuesday.
 
The double-double is Croker's second while at NSU. Last season, the Suffolk, Virginia native scored 10 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a 63-53 win at Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Defensively, the Spartans (5-6) held the Lady Falcons (2-8) to opponent season lows in points (38) and field goal shooting (21.4 percent) and forced SAU into 23 turnovers. NSU's defense ratcheted up in the second half, where St. Augustine's managed only 14 points on 3-of-29 shooting (10.3 percent).
 
Norfolk State shot 47.1 percent in the first quarter, en route to a 21-12 edge after the opening frame.
 
The Spartans opened on a 12-3 run, forcing St. Augustine's to take an early timeout. Khadedra Croker scored the first four points of the contest for NSU before Alexys Long punctuated the run with back-to-back baskets.
 
Croker and Long paced NSU in the first period with seven and five points, respectively. Croker made all three of her shot attempts in the period and chipped in two blocks as well.
 
A pair of foul shots by Kendrea Dawkins gave the Spartans a 21-8 lead with 2:41 left to play, their greatest advantage in the opening period, but the Lady Falcons scored the last four points of the quarter.
 
Norfolk State's offense cooled down in the second quarter, and SAU capitalized, cutting the deficit to five points with 3:51 left in the half. The Spartans shot 31.3 percent in the second period and committed eight turnovers.
 
NSU overcame a season-high 29 turnovers on Tuesday, holding the Lady Falcons to only seven points off those giveaways.
 
The Spartans' second-quarter advantage reached 10 points at 25-15 with 5:58 to play on a transition layup by Dawkins, but SAU netted the next five to get back into the contest.
 
However, the Lady Falcons' threat lasted for a short time thanks to the 3-point shooting of Dana Echols. The Auburn, Alabama native answered a Kiana Clark trey with a long-range shot of her own. Slightly over a minute later, Echols knocked down her second trey of the game. Her binge from deep ended at the 1:50 mark of the quarter with her third trey that gave NSU a 34-22 lead.
 
Echols ended the game with season-bests in points (14) and 3-pointers (three) and chipped in a game-high eight assists.
 
As a team, Norfolk State assisted on 23 of its 27 made field goals. Those 23 assists are tied for the sixth-most in a single game in program history. Zairya West matched her career-high with three assists.
 
The Spartans clamped down on defense in the third quarter, out-scoring SAU 22-4 to take a 56-28 lead into the final period. The Lady Falcons did not hit a shot from the floor in the third period, missing all 14 of their attempts.
 
NSU scored the first 11 points of the third quarter, holding St. Augustine's scoreless for the first 3:35 of the period.
 
Back-to-back layups by Raven Russell gave Norfolk State a 49-26 advantage at the midway mark of the quarter. Russell scored 10 of her 13 points in the third quarter, making all four of her shot attempts and knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.
 
NSU shot 50 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter as the Spartans cruised to the finish line. Head coach Larry Vickers' reserves featured significantly in the final period, scoring 11 of the team's 15 points. For the game, Norfolk State's bench held a 19-6 advantage over its counterparts.
 
Armani Franklin's 3-pointer with 1:09 remaining gave the Spartans their largest lead of the night and produced the final score. Franklin netted a season-high five points off the bench in the win and grabbed three boards.
 
Jameila Barrett scored all four of her points in the fourth quarter and matched her season best with two rebounds.
 
NSU out-rebounded SAU 46-25. Nine of the 10 Spartans to see the floor grabbed multiple rebounds and three players (Croker, De'Janaire Deas and Long) had seven or more.
 
The Spartans had another dominating night in the block category, rejecting six shots. Croker accounted for four of the blocks and moved into sole possession of fifth place on NSU's all-time block ledger (106).
 
One final game awaits NSU before the holiday break. The Spartans host William & Mary on Friday at 2 p.m.