NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team defeated the Morgan State Bears 64-57 on Saturday evening in Echols Hall, taking a late lead following La'Deja James' go-ahead layup with 1:28 left in the game. With the win, the Spartans 9-1 conference record is now their best 10-game start since joining the MEAC.

Both teams entered the final quarter with the score tied 48-48. It was a back-and-forth quarter, with the Bears (12-13, 8-4 MEAC) taking a 56-54 lead following a Chelsea Mitchell jumper with 3:25 left in regulation. Following a Mikaela Jones free-throw, the Spartans (15-8, 9-1 MEAC) forced a turnover on the next MSU possession. James answered with a layup to put the Spartans up 57-56 with 1:28 left in regulation, a lead NSU would not relinquish the rest of the game. On MSU's next possession, Chanette Hicks stole the ball from Jihaya Chavis and went the other way for a layup to give the Spartans a three-point lead.

NSU forced another turnover. A technical foul on MSU, followed by a Blaire Thomas free throw, gave the Spartans a two-possession lead. James sealed the win by going 4-of-4 from the line in the the final 32 seconds.

The first quarter was tightly contested and set the tone for the rest of the game. Both teams came out shooting the ball well, and continued to do so all night. At the end of one, the Spartans held a slight 17-16 lead.

The Bears stifled the Spartans defensively in the second quarter, holding the Spartans to shoot just 4-of-12 from the field. MSU also forced eight NSU turnovers, leading to five points off turnovers for the Bears. The Bears went on a 5-0 run to close out the half, holding the Spartans scoreless for the last 4:09 of the half.

The Spartans came out on fire in the third quarter, using a 9-3 run to start the half to dig themselves out of a 31-27 hole. NSU shot 9-of-12 (75%) in the quarter, as well as outrebounding the Bears 9-3 in the third. NSU was able to build a five point lead with the score at 48-43, but the Bears answered with a 5-0 run to end the third period with the score tied at 48-48.

The Spartans had three scorers in double-figures, with James' 22 points leading the way. Hicks finished with 13 points, while adding three rebounds, six assists and five steals. Thomas scored 16 and came away with six rebounds. Mikaela Jones was just shy of a double-double, with eight points and nine rebounds.

The Spartans had more turnovers than the Bears, but had a significant 40-23 rebounding advantage. Both teams shot efficiently all game, with the Spartans shooting 22-of-52 (44.2%) and the Bears shooting 22-of-52 (42.3%). The Spartans were also attacking the paint aggressively and getting to the free-throw line, converting on 15-of-20 from the charity stripe.  

The Spartans finish up a three-game home stand with Coppin State on Monday at 5:30 p.m.