Vickers Postgame | West Postgame

BALTIMORE, Md. – Norfolk State women's basketball put in its work early, outscoring Morgan State 36-11 in the first half, before weathering a second-half surge by the Lady Bears (8-18, 6-6 MEAC) in Saturday's 64-49 win inside Hill Field House.
 
The win clinches a winning record in MEAC play for the Spartans (14-12, 9-4), marking the third-consecutive season that NSU will finish conference play above .500. The Spartans had never before posted a winning record in three-straight MEAC seasons and have not strung together three or more winning conference seasons in a row since a run of seven-straight between 1990 and 1997.
 
Norfolk State received contributions from all eight Spartans it played, and each player scored at least four points. NSU's bench provided it a large lift as it outscored MSU's bench 24-4. Zairya West led all reserves with a career-high 13 points and did not miss a shot, going 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from 3-point range. The sophomore guard set or matched career highs in made field goals, made 3-pointers, rebounds (three) and assists (three).
 
Joining West in double figures for NSU was Raven Russell, who chipped in 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting with six rebounds.
 
The Spartans shot 51.1 percent (24-of-47) for the game, were 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from long range and made 12 of their 16 free throws. NSU's otherwise efficient attack was hampered by 24 turnovers.
 
Defensively, Norfolk State limited Morgan State to 35.1 percent (20-of-57) from the floor and 0-of-9 from long-range. The Lady Bears also gave the ball away 18 times.
 
An extremely slow start to the game saw only one point scored in the first five minutes. Kendrea Dawkins gave NSU the lead with a free throw at the 7:56 mark, and her team never trailed.
 
The Spartans woke up at the five-minute mark and jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Morgan State missed its first eight shot attempts and turned the ball over six times before scoring its first points with 2:28 left on the clock. After the Lady Bears made the score 10-4, NSU closed out the period on an 8-0 run with treys from Russell and West sandwiching a Dawkins layup.
 
NSU made seven of its 11 shot attempts (63.6 percent) in the first quarter and connected on both of its tries from deep. MSU missed 10 of its 12 shot attempts (16.7 percent).
 
The second quarter featured more of the same, and Norfolk State threatened to put the game away by halftime. Offensively, the Spartans cooled down some in the second frame – shooting 46.7 percent – but held the Lady Bears to 18.8-percent shooting and a 0-for-4 showing from 3-point range.
 
A 7-0 run to start the quarter gave the Spartans their first 20-point edge of the game at 25-4 with 8:47 remaining. Naomi Bolasingh halted the run and a scoring drought of four minutes and 41 seconds dating back to the previous quarter with a jumper at the 6:49 mark.
 
Another extend run, this one 6-0, game NSU its largest lead of the game late in the half. Dawkins began the run with a layup, then Russell took over with four unanswered to make the score 35-8 with 2:28 to play.
 
Trailing 36-9, Adre'onia Coleman pushed the Lady Bears into double figures on a jumper with 30 seconds remaining. MSU's leading scorer on the season, Coleman was held to two points and two rebounds on 1-of-9 shooting in the first half.
 
Norfolk State shot nearly 36 points better than Morgan State in the first – shooting 53.8 percent and limiting the Lady Bears to 17.9 percent. The Spartans were also 3-of-6 from long range and 5-of-7 from the foul line.
 
MSU made an about-face in the second half, shooting 51.7 percent (15-of-29) and outscoring NSU 38-28. Coleman played a major role in the Lady Bears' resurgence and scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the second.
 
Morgan State opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run over 5:28 of action and nearly halved the deficit.  The Spartans did not score until Khadedra Croker converted a layup with 4:08 remaining. That layup stopped the bleeding and made the score 38-22.
 
Croker missed only one shot in the game, finishing with eight points, five rebounds and a block on 4-of-5 shooting.
 
Both sides traded points until Dana Echols pieced together back-to-back baskets to push NSU ahead 44-26 with 2:08 to play. Coleman scored the last points of the quarter to cut the deficit to 46-30.
 
The Spartans and Lady Bears nearly played level in the final quarter with MSU shaving a single point of the final margin. Both sides shot 50 percent from the field in the quarter.
 
Coleman and Kayla Horn combined for all 19 of MSU's fourth-quarter points. Coleman scored 13 and missed only one of her seven shot attempts, and Horn was 4-for-4 from the foul line.
 
West finished the game strong with seven points in the fourth. She made both of her field goal attempts and drained a 3-pointer.
 
Two foul shots from Horn made the score 59-49 with 2:13 to go, but the Spartans scored the last five points to ensure their lead never dipped into single figures.
 
NSU outrebounded the Lady Bears 36-26 and turned nine offensive boards into nine second-chance points. Every Spartan that saw the floor grabbed at least three rebounds, and Russell led her team with six.
 
Coleman posted game highs in points (20) and rebounds (seven) and had three steals as well. Jihaya Chavis added 10 points and a game-high six steals for MSU.
 
The scramble for one of four first-round byes in the fast-approaching MEAC Tournament intensifies with only three games remaining on the Spartans' schedule. NSU hosts Coppin State on March 2 before traveling to Delaware State two days later. The Spartans then host Howard on March 7 in the regular season finale.