NORFOLK, Va. -- The Spartans have started MEAC play on a hot streak, winning their last three games since conference play has started. The Spartans (9-7, 3-0 MEAC) look to have a 4-0 MEAC start for the third straight year against Maryland Eastern Shore (4-12, 1-2 MEAC) on Saturday at 4 p.m in Echols Hall. 
 
Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon and Woube Gebre on the call. The audio feed is available through www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB").

Fans can also watch live on NSUSpartans.com/watch and follow the live stats here.
 
Series History vs. MDES
This will be the 43rd meeting between the two teams, and the fifth meeting during coach Vickers' tenure.
 
NSU holds a 26-17 series advantage over the MDES, with much success early in the rivalry and as of late. The only period that the Hawks have won more than three straight against the Spartans was from 2007-08 to 2010-11, when they won six straight against NSU.
 
The Hawks defeated the Spartans 59-43 in the last matchup between these two teams on January 6, 2019.
 
Scouting the Hawks
The Hawks are coming off a two-point win against N.C. Central on Monday, following a 67-31 loss to N.C. A&T in the game prior.
 
The Hawks are led by Amanda Carney, with 11.1 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game.  Brooklyn Bailey is second on the team with 9.9 points per game, followed by Bairesha Gill Miles with 9.3 points per game. Porsha Sydnor leads the Hawks with 4.3 assists per game.
 
The Hawks went 17-14 last year overall, and 12-4 in the MEAC. They lost to eventual champion Bethune-Cookman 58-47 in the conference tournament semifinal game.
 
A Win over the Hawks Would...
Be four wins in a row for the Spartans.
 
With a win against MDES, the Spartans will have won their first four conference games in each of the last three years.
 
Last Time Out
The Spartans defeated the Howard Bison 83-80, in a high-scoring and fast-paced game at the Burr Gymnasium in Washington D.C. on Saturday afternoon.

Chanette Hicks led the Spartans with 30 points, her third 30-point game of the season. Hicks also finished the game with five rebounds, seven assists, nine steals and two blocks in a stat-stuffing performance for the Spartans. La'Deja James scored 24 points in the contest, providing a three-point threat for the Spartans by shooting 4-7 from behind the arc. James also had three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the game. Blaire Thomas was the third leading scorer for NSU, finishing with 10 points along with three rebounds. Armani Franklin provided lots of energy off the bench on both sides of the floor for NSU, scoring eight points and snagging two steals.

The Starters
 
Chanette Hicks keeps piling up the accolades this season. On top of all the conference awards she has won so far, Hicks was named the National Player of the Week by BOXTOROW this past weekend. Hicks was given the award after averaging 27 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 7.0 steals in two wins for the Spartans last week. Against Howard (1/12), Hicks scored 30 points to go along with seven assists, nine steals, and five rebounds
 
La'Deja James is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.9 points per game. After being held to just two points in the Spartans' last loss against Richmond, James has averaged 17.3 points in the last three contests. James is 30 points shy of 500 points with 470 points in 37 games at NSU.
 
Blaire Thomas had her fifth double-figure game of the season against Coppin State, and her first 20-point game of the season. Thomas finishing with 20 and 12 rebounds, making it her second double-double on the season. She leads the team with 6.0 rebounds per game.
 
Dana Echols returned to the starting lineup for the Spartans against Coppin State, scoring a season-high eight points to go along with another season-high eight rebounds.
 
Mikaela Jones rounds out the Spartan starting five, averaging 6.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She had a career-high 15 points against Richmond.
 
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in steals per game (12.9), turnover margin (+7.69) and assist to turnover ratio (0.8). The Spartans rank third in scoring offense (68.1) and scoring margin (4.2), and also rank third in assists (12.5) and blocks per game (3.9)
 
NSU By the Numbers
 
3 - The Spartans winning streak since the start of MEAC play.
 
22.8 - average number of points off turnovers the Spartans have scored per game.
 
12.9 - The number of steals the Spartans are averaging per game, which ranks first in the MEAC and sixth in DI.
 
+7.69 - NSU's turnover margin so far this season, which ranks second in the MEAC and 10th in the country.
 
5.44 - The number of steals Chanette Hicks averages per game, which ranks second in the country. Hicks is currently second on the active career leader board. 
 

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