NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State women's basketball looks to improve to 5-1 inside Joseph Echols Hall this season when the Spartans (5-6) host William & Mary on Friday at 2 p.m. in NSU's final nonconference home game.
 
The Spartans impressed in their last home game, a 71-38 win over St. Augustine's on Tuesday.
 
The Opening Tip
Khadedra Croker recorded a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double, and the Norfolk State defense allowed only 14 second-half points in the Spartans' win over SAU.
 
Defensively, the Spartans held the Lady Falcons 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).
 
NSU's offense cooled off in the second quarter, which allowed SAU to cut the deficit to five points with 3:51 left in the half. However, the Lady Falcons' threat lasted for a short time thanks to the dead-eye shooting of Dana Echols. The Auburn, Alabama native made three-straight 3-pointers for the Spartans in less than two minutes, giving Norfolk State a comfortable 34-22 edge.
 
Echols ended the game with season-bests in points (14) and 3-pointers (three) and chipped in a game-high eight assists. For the season, the Spartans are 5-0 when Echols scores in double figures and are 4-1 when she records five or more 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 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.
 
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. The Spartans have assisted on 20 or more field goals three times this season and are 3-0 in those games. Additionally, NSU is 4-1 when hitting the 15-assist plateau this season.
 
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 Alexys 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).
 
Long hit two 3-pointers on Tuesday to become the sixth Spartan with 100 or more treys in a career. The Clinton, Maryland native now has 102 3-pointers in her career.
 
Sizing up William & Mary
The Tribe (5-4) return to the hardwood following a 13-day break for exams. W&M last competed on Dec. 8, losing 83-69 at Old Dominion. In that game, the Tribe made only three of their 23 shots from beyond the arc, shooting 13.0 percent from deep.
 
The loss at ODU also broke a string of four-straight games of holding the opposition below 60 points. After allowing 70-plus points in three of its first four games, W&M has lowered its season scoring defense to 61.9 points per game, which is fourth-best in the CAA.
 
Harper Birdsong paced the Tribe in scoring against ODU, coming off the bench to net 18 points with four assists. Since moving to the bench five games ago, Birdsong has scored in double figures four times and is averaging 12.0 points per game.
 
2018 First Team Preseason All-CAA honoree Bianca Boggs is the do-everything player for W&M. Boggs ranks among the 10-best players in her conference in terms of assists per game (4.2, second), steals per game (2.7, second), free throw percentage (86.2, fourth), field goal percentage (41.8, sixth) and scoring (15.7, sixth).
 
In its last four games, William & Mary has forced 24.3 turnovers per game, including 32 at Hartford. For the season, Tribe opponents are committing 19.9 turnovers per game.
 
All-Time Series vs. William & Mary
The Tribe have gotten the better of their regional rivals more often than not, holding a 13-8 edge in the all-time series.
 
The series has been one of prolonged streaks. NSU won its first six games against W&M and seven of the first eight. However, the Tribe rallied off 12 straight victories over the Spartans from the 2000-01 season until 2016-17. Norfolk State broke that streak last season, prevailing over the Tribe in overtime, 80-74.
 
Kayla Roberts scored nine of NSU's 12 overtime points in that game, and the Spartans led wire-to-wire in the overtime period. Roberts ended the game with 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
Roberts dueled with Boggs all game with the latter scoring a game-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting with five rebounds, four assists and three 3-pointers.
 
Both teams shot over 40 percent for the game, but the Spartans' 7-of-13 mark from downtown helped carry the day. Roberts hit three 3-pointers in the game, and Long and Yazmen Hannah both had two treys.
 
NSU vs. the CAA
The Spartans are 16-33 all-time against current members of the Colonial Athletic Association. NSU does not hold a winning mark against any current CAA squads but is 2-2 against Elon.
 
Vickers is 2-3 against the CAA, having split two games each with Towson and William & Mary and losing once to UNCW.
 
What's Next?
The Spartans break for the holidays before their final non-conference game of the year. NSU travels to Wake Forest on Sunday, Dec. 30 for a 1 p.m. tilt. The Spartans begin their 16-game MEAC campaign against Delaware State on Saturday, Jan. 5.