NORFOLK, Va. – With its first conference loss now behind it, Norfolk State women's basketball takes to the road for a stern test against the high-powered offense of Howard on Saturday at 2 p.m. Having seen their six-game winning streak to open conference play end last Saturday, the Spartans (11-9, 6-1 MEAC) look to begin a new winning streak while maintaining their position in the upper echelon of the conference standings.
 
The Opening Tip
Visiting Maryland Eastern Shore took full advantage of an out-of-sync Norfolk State, ending the Spartans' unbeaten run to start MEAC play with a 59-43 decision inside Joseph Echols Hall last time out. NSU shot a conference-game worst 29.8 percent from the floor in the loss and committed 25 turnovers – its most in nine games.
 
Kendrea Dawkins turned in a team-best nine points along with six rebounds. The loss marked the first time in nearly three years that the Spartans failed to produce an individual double-figure scoring performance. Norfolk State last did so against Coppin State on Feb. 22, 2016.
 
The Spartans entered the half down 29-14 after shooting 27.3 percent and giving the ball away 15 times in the first 20 minutes. Maryland Eastern Shore capitalized on NSU's first-half miscues. The Hawks netted 18 points off turnovers in the half, which exceeded the Spartans' total points during that same time. For the game, MDES parlayed NSU's 25 turnovers into 26 points.
 
After splitting the first 10 points in the second quarter, MDES ran away with the frame. The Hawks closed out the half on a prolonged 13-2 run over the final 7:04 of action.
 
Norfolk State tightened up in the second half, but it would not be enough as the Hawks tacked on another point to the final margin. The Spartans cut their turnovers to 10 in the second half and shot 32-percent from the field but could not slow down MDES defensively.
 
Norfolk State looked ready for a comeback in the early stages of the fourth quarter, scoring the first five points to cut the deficit to 46-34, but the Hawks were able to keep NSU at bay throughout the period.
 
NSU tallied seven blocks in the loss for its 10th game with five or more rejections this season. Khadedra Croker turned away four shot attempts, and Long was responsible for the three other blocks.
 
Croker also shared the game high in rebounds (nine) with Bairesha Gill-Miles. As a team, the Spartans outrebounded MDES 40-37.
 
Sizing up Howard
The Bison (11-9) sit at 4-3 in the MEAC and are in a two-way tie with Bethune-Cookman for fourth in the standings. HU split two home games last time out, topping Delaware State 78-62 last Saturday before falling to Maryland Eastern Shore for the second time this season by the score of 80-73 on Monday.
 
Against the Lady Hornets, the Bison saw four players break double figures in scoring, led by Sarah Edmond's 20-point performance. A Second Team Preseason All-MEAC selection, Edmond ranks sixth in the conference in scoring (16.3 points per game) and is the third-leading assister in the MEAC at 3.9 per game.
 
Howard racked up a sizable 52-35 edge in the rebounding department against DSU and had 18 offensive rebounds. Two players notched 10 or more rebounds, and Imani Bryant posted an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. On the season, HU has been ferocious on the glass, topping the MEAC in rebounding (42.8), rebounding margin (plus-5.4) and offensive rebounds (17.1). Since conference action began, the Bison have upped their total rebounding to 45.4 per game and are grabbing 18.3 offensive boards per contest.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore locked up the season sweep over the Bison on Monday. HU shot 43.9 percent from the floor, nearly seven points better than the Hawks, but MDES won on the strength of its 11-of-26 performance from 3-point range and a plus-nine turnover margin.
 
Ayonna Williams, a preseason all-conference third teamer, turned in a game-high 25 points against the Hawks along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. A do-everything player, Williams ranks in the top 20 in the MEAC in scoring (10.2), rebounding (5.4), assists (3.3) and steals (2.2).  
 
The owner of the MEAC's most-potent offense, Howard has topped 70 points in five of its seven conference tilts. On the season, the Bison are averaging 71.5 points per game and are third in the MEAC in shooting percentage (37.9) and 3-point field goal percentage (29.6).
 
The Spartans and Bison share three common non-conference opponents. HU opened its season with a 57-54 win at La Salle, lost 88-75 on the road to William & Mary and topped Campbell 69-64 in overtime.
 
All-Time Series vs. Howard
The two sides meet for the 47th time on Saturday. Norfolk State trails the Bison 32-14 in the all-time series but is 5-2 in the past seven games.
 
Prolonged periods of HU dominance have characterized the series. Starting with the 1997-98 season, the Bison won 28 of 32 meetings over 16 seasons. During that stretch, Howard owned winning streaks of 11, seven, five and four games, and the Spartans never pieced together consecutive victories.
 
Of recent, additional time has often been needed to declare a winner with two of the last four games going into overtime. NSU topped the Bison 110-108 in double overtime on Feb. 6, 2016 for then-interim head coach Larry Vickers' first-career win. Last season, the Spartans won 59-53 in overtime. 
 
NSU overcame a 10-point third-quarter deficit to force the extra period in that game, highlighted by a quarter-ending 9-0 run. The Spartans powered the run with eight offensive rebounds and were a force on the glass throughout the game. Norfolk State finished with 64 rebounds, the fourth-most in program history, and grabbed a season-best 20 offensive boards.
 
The heavy dose of rebounding was necessary on a night when neither team could buy a basket. The Spartans shot 23.6 percent from the floor and were 1-for-21 (4.8 percent) from 3-point range. HU shot five points better from the floor but missed all 14 of its 3-point attempts.
 
Ayonna Williams sent the game to overtime with a layup with 0.6 seconds left on the clock, but the Spartans led wire-to-wire in the extra period. NSU's defense held the Bison without a field goal in overtime (0-of-9).
 
Three Spartans recorded double-doubles in the victory. Alexys Long contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds for her first-career double-double. Kayla Roberts posted a game-high 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Gabrielle Swinson finished with 10 points and 10 boards.
 
Vickers is 2-2 all-time against the Bison. HU's Ty Grace is also 2-2 versus NSU.
 
NSU vs. the MEAC
Norfolk State is in the midst of its 22nd season of competition in the MEAC. The Spartans joined the conference for the 1997-98 season after spending their first 24 seasons in Division II as a member of the CIAA.
 
In its 21-plus seasons of MEAC play, NSU is 141-216 (.395) in conference tilts. The Spartans posted consecutive winning seasons in the MEAC for the first time last season, going 11-5 after a 9-7 mark in 2016-17. Norfolk State has not turned in three-straight winning conference records since its run of seven-straight from 1991 to 1997.
 
The Spartans are 185-207 (.472) all-time against current members of the MEAC. NSU holds winning marks against Maryland Eastern Shore (26-17), Morgan State (21-16), North Carolina Central (20-7), Savannah State (9-7) and South Carolina State (23-18).
 
Vickers owns a 29-20 (.592) record in MEAC play and is 25-13 (.658) since his first full season in 2016-17. Vickers has a winning record against Delaware State (4-1), South Carolina State (5-1), Savannah State (4-3), Maryland Eastern Shore (3-1), Coppin State (3-2) and North Carolina Central (2-0).
 
Defensive Titans
An unyielding defense has become a trademark for the Spartans under Vickers, who have turned in a top-40 scoring defense and a top-three field goal percentage defense in each of the last two seasons. In 2016-17, Norfolk State ranked 39th in D-I after allowing only 57.8 points per game and owned the nation's third-stingiest field goal percentage defense (33.4).
 
This season, NSU ranks 19th in scoring defense (55.7), 37th in field goal percentage defense (36.1) and 12th in opponent 3-point percentage (25.8).
 
At the conference level, the Spartans rank first in scoring defense since the 2016-17 season, allowing 56.7 points per game in that span. During the same time period, Norfolk State tops all MEAC teams in field goal percentage defense (33.8), blocks per game (6.0) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.5).
 
Record Watching
The 2018-19 edition of the Spartans figure to leave their marks on the record books.
 
As a team, NSU is on pace to set single-season Division I marks in scoring defense (55.7) field goal percentage (39.6), defensive 3-point field goal percentage (25.8) and assists per game (14.1) The records for scoring defense, field goal percentage and defensive 3-point field goal percentage were set just one year ago.
 
In addition, the Spartans rank second in program history in free throw percentage (68.3), third in defensive field goal percentage (36.1), fifth in blocks per game (4.3), sixth in total blocks (86) and are seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (29.4).
 
Several Spartans are on track to enter into the D-I single-season record book as well. Raven Russell's field goal percentage of 45.9 is 14th best in NSU's D-I history, and Long is seventh in 3-point percentage (34.3). Dana Echols' mark of 5.1 assists per game ranks third, and she is ninth in single-season assists (102). Lastly, Croker is fifth in blocks per game (2.0) and is 11th in total blocks (34).
 
At the career level, Croker continues to climb the total blocks ledger and is third with 127. She also ranks first in blocks per game with 2.9.
 
Long's 3-point shooting percentage of 37.9 is currently second all-time in NSU history, and her 117 made treys rank sixth. The senior sharpshooter is also eighth in all-time 3-point attempts with 309.
 
Russell currently ranks 20th in all-time scoring average at 11.1 points per game. She also ranks 12th in field goal percentage (45.7).
 
What's Next?
Norfolk State enjoys its second-consecutive Monday without a conference game while preparing for its upcoming trip south to face Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 9 and Florida A&M on Feb. 11. The Spartans then return home for dates with North Carolina Central on Feb. 16 and MEAC-leading N.C. A&T on Feb. 18.