Norfolk, Va.  – The finish line draws nearer for Norfolk State women's basketball as the Spartans wrap up road play at Maryland Eastern Shore and Howard this Saturday and Monday, respectively. In all, only three games remain on the schedule for NSU, who is trying to play its way to a top-three seed and a treasured bye at the upcoming MEAC Tournament.
 
Saturday's contest with MDES will take place at 2 p.m. in William P. Hychte Arena. The Spartans square off with Howard at 4 p.m. on Monday at Burr Gymnasium.
 
Media Coverage
Both games can be heard live featuring play-by-play commentary by Ross Gordon on Hot 91.1 FM and online at http://hot91.nsu.edu:8000/128. Fans can also view a live stream of Monday's game at Howard.
 
Live stats are available for both the MDES and Howard games.
 
Series History
NSU and MDES meet for the 42nd time on Saturday with Norfolk State leading the all-time series 25-16. The Spartans took the first-ever meeting 96-55 on Feb. 8, 1982 and won 15 of the first 16 games. MDES enjoy its greatest run of success between 2003-04 and 2010-11, going 10-4 against NSU in that span. Since then, Norfolk State is 6-5 vs. the Hawks.
 
NSU led wire-to-wire in the only meeting last year, winning 74-43. The Spartans scored the first 13 points of the game and led 20-2 with 5:24 to play in the first quarter. Norfolk State made seven of its first eight shot attempts and ended the game shooting 49.2-percent from the floor.
 
All 10 Spartans that saw the floor scored at least one field goal, and Kayla Roberts set game highs in both points (14) and rebounds (10).
 
Ra'Jean Martin scored 12 points to lead the Hawks, who shot 20.9-percent from the field. No other MDES player had more than eight points.
 
The Spartans and Howard have met 45 times in a series that began on Jan. 14, 1975. The Bison own the series and are 32-13 against NSU, but the Spartans are 4-2 in the past six games.
 
HU won last season's meeting, 68-60 at Echols Hall. The Bison out-scored the Spartans 41-31 in the second half and received 30 points from Te'Shya Heslip.
 
Norfolk State shot 22.2 percent from deep and 57.1 percent at the foul line in the loss. Roberts led the Spartans with 16 points and fell one rebound shy of a double-double.
 
The Opening Tip
Norfolk State (16-9, 9-4 MEAC) clinched its first winning season in 16 seasons with a 63-49 victory over South Carolina State on Monday. The Spartans out-scored the Lady Bulldogs 23-11 in the fourth quarter to break open a theretofore close contest.
 
The victory also assures a winning mark in MEAC play for only the fourth time since joining the conference for the 1997-98 season.
 
NSU held S.C. State to 13.6-percent shooting in the fourth period, including a 0-for-4 performance from 3-point range. The Spartans made 40 percent of their shots in the final quarter and made 14 of their 17 attempts at the foul line. For the game, Norfolk State shot 80 percent (20-25) at the charity stripe.
 
The fourth quarter featured a decisive 14-2 run by NSU. The Spartans netted 10-straight points during the run and led 54-41 with 3:52 to play.
 
The Spartans once again received a balanced scoring attack with three players sharing the team high with 12 points. Roberts turned in her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 15 rebounds to go along with three assists and two steals.
 
Both teams struggled from 3-point range with the Spartans going 3-of-20 from deep. S.C. State made three of its 14 3-point attempts and were 1-of-10 in the second half.
 
NSU recorded 10 blocks in the win and now has six games with double-figure blocks this season. Khadedra Croker led all players with six rejections and has multiple blocks in 20 of her 23 games this season.
 
Bryeasha Blair led the Lady Bulldogs with 19 points on 6-of-23 shooting. Blair made just five of her 12 free throws, and S.C. State shot 50 percent (10-20) at the foul line.
 
Scouting Maryland Eastern Shore
The Hawks (9-17, 6-8) split the two games of their North Carolina road trip -- defeating N.C. Central 80-69 before giving N.C. A&T a scare in a 65-60 loss.
 
MDES relied on the 3-pointer to down NCCU, shooting 11-of-21 from beyond the arc. The trio of Ciani Byrom (four), Keyera Eaton (four) and Alexus Hicks (three) accounted for all 11 3-pointers. For the season, the Hawks rank 12th in the MEAC in 3-point percentage (25.6) and eighth in 3-pointers per game (4.7).
 
Hicks leads her team with 33 treys on 30.3-percent shooting. Eaton shoots a team-leading 33.8 percent from deep on 3.7 attempts per game.
 
The Hawks lost their touch from deep in Greensboro, N.C. shooting just 4-of-21 from deep against N.C. A&T. MDES also lost badly to the Aggies on the boards and were out-rebounded 55-36. For the season, the Hawks average 41.5 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the MEAC, and 17 offensive boards. Bairesha Gill-Miles leads her team and ranks seventh in the conference with 7.8 boards per game, including 2.8 on the offensive end.
 
Gill-Miles is a nightly double-double threat, averaging 10.5 points per game on 45.4-percent shooting. The freshman also averages over one assist and steal per game but shoots only 41.5 percent from the foul line.
 
Scouting Howard
The Bison (10-16, 6-7) enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak, having fallen to MDES 83-79, N.C. A&T 91-53 and N.C. Central 78-77, and host Delaware State on Saturday.
 
NCCU shot 41.3 percent from the floor and 8-of-17 (47.1) from 3-point range in its one-point win on Monday. HU could not match their production from behind the arc, going 6-of-20 on 3-pointers, and made only 15 of 26 free throws. For the year, the Bison rank first in the MEAC in both free throw attempts and makes but rank 11th in free-throw percentage (61.2).
 
N.C. Central out-rebounded Howard 46-43 behind Paulina Afriyie's 19-point, 15-rebound double-double. HU is the second-best rebounding team in the conference, averaging 42.2 boards per game.
 
NSU vs. the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Norfolk State enters its 21st season of competition in the MEAC. In those 20-plus seasons the Spartans have accrued a 133-214 mark in conference games.
 
NSU clinched a winning MEAC record with a 63-49 win over South Carolina State on Feb. 19. The Spartans have just three other seasons with winning conference records: 1999-00 (12-6), 2001-02 (13-5), 2014-15 (11-5) and 2016-17 (9-7).
 
NSU is still searching for its first regular-season MEAC title and has just one tournament title to show, having won the 2002 MEAC Tournament.
 
Many MEAC teams are former CIAA rivals of the Spartans, and NSU is 215-263 all-time against teams currently in the MEAC with winning records over Maryland Eastern Shore (25-16), Morgan State (21-15), North Carolina Central (20-7), South Carolina State (22-18) and Savannah State (8-6).
 
Head Coach Larry Vickers is in his second full season of MEAC play and is 21-18 in conference action. Vickers has a winning record against five MEAC opponents and is .500 against two other teams.
 
Those Smothering Spartans
Through 25 games this season, Norfolk State has been one of the most-prolific shot-blocking teams in the nation. NSU averages 7.3 rejections per game, which is second in D-I. The Spartans' 183 total blocks also rank second nationally. NSU has recorded more blocks than its opponent in 16 of its 25 games and has lost the block battle only twice.
 
NSU rejected VCU 14 times in its season opener. Those 14 blocks are tied for the fifth-most in a single game in Division-I this season. Croker accounted for seven of those blocks.
 
Croker has been an intimidating force in the paint and leads the MEAC while ranking third in D-I with 3.5 blocks per game. The redshirt junior has recorded a block in 22 of 23 games this season with multiple rejections in 20 contests.
 
Through 25 games this year, NSU is second in the MEAC in scoring defense (56.1 points per game), first in defensive field goal percentage (32.6 percent) and second in 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.6).
 
On the national level, the Spartans rank third in defensive field goal percentage, 22nd in 3-point field goal percentage defense and 28th in scoring defense.
 
Norfolk State set the program's Division-I record for fewest points allowed in a game in its 53-27 win over Campbell on Dec. 18 while limiting the Fighting Camels to 14.6 percent shooting. This season, the Spartans have held 21 of their 25 opponents below their season average in scoring.
 
NSU has held opponents to single-digit points in a quarter 15 times this season, including a season-high three times against Campbell. Additionally, Spartan opponents have shot less than 20 percent from the field in a quarter on 13 occasions.
 
The Spartans finish off possessions with hard work on the glass. NSU is third in the MEAC in total rebounding (41.1) and is third in defensive rebounds per contest (28.2). The Spartans are also third in the conference in defensive rebounding percentage, grabbing 66.7 percent of their opponent's misses.
 
Last season, 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. The Spartans also 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.
 
Spartan Spotlight
Kayla Roberts

• Scored her 1,000th-career point against Florida A&M in the 2017 MEAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
• First all-time in blocked shots (141). Ranks in the top-10 in seven career categories and is top-20 in four other categories.
• Is eighth in all-time (1,342) points and ranks 18th in per-game (12.1) scoring at NSU.
• 2x MEAC Defensive Player of the Week selection in 2017-18 (Nov. 21, Nov. 28). Also named MEAC Player of the Week on Dec. 19.
• Recorded three double-doubles this season and has 29 in her career.
• Has 71-career double-digit scoring games (15-career 20-point games) and 41 10-rebound games.
• Has led NSU in scoring 41 times, in rebounds 60 times, in blocks 39 times and in steals 33 times in her career (ties included).
• Is seventh in the MEAC in per-game scoring (14.3).
• Ranks ninth in the conference in rebounds per game (7.5).
• Is eighth in the conference and 154th in the nation in blocks per game (1.3).
• Second in the MEAC in defensive rebounds per game (5.8).
• Ranks 13th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (31.3).
• Is 15th in the conference and is 220th in D-I in steals per game (1.8).
• Ranks 125th among active Division-I players in career points, 19th in rebounding averag and is 22nd in rebounds in D-I.
• Has the 37th-most double-doubles among active D-I players.

Khadedra Croker

• Set the D-I era record for most blocks in a single-season against North Carolina A&T and the all-time single-season record at Hampton, has 80 this season.
• Ranks 14th in career rejections.
• Blocked seven shots at VCU in season opener, those are tied for the fifth-most by a Spartan in a single game.
• Recorded a block in 22 of 23 games this season and blocked multiple shots in 20 games.
• Earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Dec. 19, Dec. 26, Jan. 30, Feb. 13 and Feb. 20.
• Scored the game-winning bucket 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 for six times.
• Set career highs with 19 points at William & Mary.
• Assisted on a career-high four baskets vs. Morgan State.
• Grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds vs. Delaware State.
• Ranks third nationally in blocks per game (3.5) and 12th in total blocks.
• Is 13th in the MEAC in defensive boards (4.4).

Alexys Long

• Is shooting 46.7 percent from deep this season, the best mark in D-I program history and the second-best mark all-time.
• Ranks ninth nationally in 3-point percentage.
• Ranks second in NSU in career 3-point field goal percentage (41.3). Also ninth in career 3-point field goals made (78).
• Set career bests in points (29) and field goals (eight) while matching career highs in 3-point field goals made (five) at Savannah State. Has two 20-point games this season.
• Had her first 10-rebound game against Bowling Green.
• Has scored in double-figures in 13 games this season.
• Is first in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage and is fourth in 3-point field goals made per game (2.0). Ranks 184th nationally in made 3-pointers.
• Is 17th in scoring in the MEAC (11.0).

Raven Russell

• Broke the 20-point barrier for the first time with 21 points against Towson on Dec. 12, 2017.
• Made all 12 of her free throws at S.C. State. Tied for the sixth-most free throws in a single game by a NSU player. Also tied for the most made free throws by a MEAC player this season.
• Owns the ninth-best single-season field goal percentage (47.3) in NSU's D-I era.
• Notched first double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds at Savannah State.
• Had a season-high seven assists vs. Towson.
• Scored 13 points in her Spartan debut against VCU. Shot 2-for-5 from deep and shared the game high in steals (4).
• Has 15 games with double-figure points this year.
• Is 20th in the MEAC in per-game scoring (10.7).
• Ranks fourth in the conference with a 47.3 field goal percentage. Also sixth in the conference in free throw percentage (74.3).

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.
• Scored a season-high 14 points to lead NSU vs. UNCG on while also going 6-of-7 from the field.
• Grabbed a season-high seven rebounds at Hampton.

Yazmen Hannah

• Redshirted last season for medical reasons.
• Named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team in 2015-16.
• Scored a season-high 13 points at Savannah State.
• Started first game of the season against High Point, set a season high with seven rebounds and matched a career high with four steals.
• Has the 12th-highest career 3-point field goal percentage in NSU history (30.8). Also tied for 20th in career 3-point field goals.

Gabrielle Swinson

• Made season debut vs. Towson and scored 18 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists.
• Notched a career-high 11 assists at William & Mary -- the second most in the MEAC this season.
• Has led NSU in assists 10 times this season and 21 times in her career (ties included).
• Registered a season-high four steals vs. Coppin State. Also blocked a career-best two shots vs. Coppin State.
• Set a career high with eight made free throws vs. Savannah State.

Kendrea Dawkins

• Blocked four shots and grabbed four rebounds against VCU.
• Scored her first points as a Spartan against Navy.
• Grabbed a season-high eight rebounds against North Carolina A&T. Has four or more rebounds in 11 games this year.
• Made first start of the season at South Carolina State.
• Matched a season-high with 10 points at North Carolina A&T.
• Made a season-best two 3-pointers vs. Savannah State.

De'Janaire Deas

• Set a season high with six points and matched a season high with four rebounds vs. ECU.
• Went a perfect 3-of-3 from the field at ECU, setting a career-high in field goals.
• Set a career high in steals with two vs. UNCG.
• Made a career-best three free throws at N.C. Central.
• Grabbed a career-high 10 boards at S.C. State.

Shayla Tanner

• Scored a season-high three points in nine minutes at VCU.
• Ranked fifth on the team in blocks (12) last season.
• Grabbed a season-best seven rebounds at N.C. Central.
• Scored a career-best 11 points against Florida A&M in the MEAC Tournament Quarterfinals on March 9, 2017.

Zairya West

• Started first-career game against VCU.
• Recorded three points and two assists in 21 minutes vs. VCU.
• Matched season highs in points (six) and field goals made (three) at Hampton.
• Matched a season best with three assists vs. Delaware State.

Alexis Sparkman

• Made her first-career 3-pointer as a Spartan against VCU.
• Made a 3-point field goal in each of her first three games this season.
• Recorded a season-high two steals at Longwood.

What's Next?
The Spartans close out the 2017-18 regular season at home against Hampton on March 1 at 5:30 p.m.