NORFOLK, Va. -- Following two wins in just as many games at the JU Thanksgiving Classic, the Spartan women's basketball team returns from Thanksgiving break to host Longwood on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Echols Hall. 
 
NSU Leaders
After averaging 10 points per game in her first two outings, La'Deja James has averaged 15 ppg in her last five contests. James is second on the team in scoring and ranks seventh in the MEAC averaging 13.9 points per game, giving the Spartans two of the top 10 scorers in the MEAC so far this season.
 
Blaire Thomas has been raking in on the glass for NSU, leading the team with 6.4 rebounds per game. She ranks eighth in the conference in rebounds per game. Mikaeala Jones is second on the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. 
 
Pick Your Pocket Hicks
Chanette Hicks now leads the nation in steals with 5.6 steals per game. She padded on her stats with 17 steals in the last two games. As a team, the Spartans rank third nationally averaging 14.9 steals per game.

Hicks continues to pace the Spartans in scoring, with a career-high 30 points in her last outing against Jacksonville. Hicks leads the team averaging 21.1 points per game, also leading the MEAC in that category. Hicks is now ranked 11th nationally in points per game.

Hicks is one of four players in the country to have more than 10 steals in a game, and she's done it twice already this season. She is also one of seven players to record a triple-double this season, with 20 points, 14 assists and 11 steals against Va. Lynchburg on Nov. 14.

Hicks is currently second in the NCAA active career leaders, with  327 career steals.
 
Series History vs. Longwood
This will be the 16th overall matchup against UNF, and the fourth time during head coach Larry Vicker's tenure. NSU is 10-5 all time versus the Lancers, and 3-0 under Vickers.
 
Last Meeting vs. Longwood
The last meeting between these two teams was last season, when the Lancers visited Echols Hall in a 74-42 NSU victory.
 
A Win over Longwood Would...
Give the Spartans a four-game winning streak against the Lancers, dating back to Coach Vickers' first full season.
 
Would be the first time the Spartans have won the first five out of eight games since the 2011-12 season.
 
Scouting The Lancers
Longwood are led by senior Dayna Rouse and freshman Kyla McMakin. McMakin is a Virginia Beach native from Ocean Lakes that averages 14.8 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Lancers. Rouse also averages 14.8 points per game, while leading the team with seven rebounds per game.
 
Anne Hamilton Leroy is the third Lancer to average double-digits in scoring with 10.5 points per game, while also leading the team with 1.3 assists per game.
 
NSU By the Numbers
 
60.1 - Number of points the Spartans have allowed to opposing teams, ranking second in the MEAC.
 
2 - NSU has two players currently ranked in the top 10 of the MEAC in points per game.
(Chanette Hicks - 21.1 ppg & La'Deja James - 13.9)
 
14.9 - The number of steals the Spartans are averaging per game, which ranks first in the MEAC and third in DI.
 
+10.86 - NSU's turnover margin so far this season, which ranks first in the MEAC.
 
6.4 - The number of rebounds Blaire Thomas averages per game, first on the team and eighth in the MEAC.

Media Coverage
Fans can watch the game here, or follow the live stats here. 
 

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