Box Score NORFOLK, Va. – Cam Platt-Morris sank a clutch game-tying three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation, propelling the Norfolk State women's basketball team to a 65-57 overtime victory over Delaware State at Echols Hall on Saturday evening. The win kept the Spartans tied with Bethune-Cookman at the top of the MEAC standings.
The Spartans (14-8, 8-1 MEAC) were in the midst of an 8-2 run before Platt-Morris' game-tying shot, digging themselves out of a 51-42 hole with 4:39 left in the game. Platt-Morris went 3-of-4 in the final quarter and 1-of-2 from deep, scoring seven of her career-high 14 points.
The Spartans utilized the momentum from Platt-Morris' game-tying shot, and went on to outscore the Hornets (9-12, 5-3 MEAC) 12-4 in the overtime period by holding them to shoot 0-of-5 from the field. Platt-Morris hit another triple for the first basket of overtime and NSU never looked back. The Spartans were also great from the free-throw line in OT, going 9-of-10 (90%) to ice the game.
At the end of three, the Spartans found themselves down 42-36. Trailing 24-20 at the half, the Hornets started the second half strong with a 12-2 run up until the 3:07 mark of the third quarter. The Spartans had some difficulty against the Hornets' press defense throughout the game, turning the ball over seven times in the third period.
The first quarter set the tone for the rest of the game, with early indications that it was going to be a hard-fought and close contest. The Hornets held a 16-12 lead at the end of one, after three lead changes and three ties in the quarter. NSU turned up the defensive intensity in the second quarter, holding the Hornets to just 2-of-13 (15.4%) from the field for four points. The Spartans closed out the second on an 8-0 run that sent NSU into halftime with a 24-20 lead.
La'Deja James led the Spartans with 27 points, while also adding four rebounds, five assists and four steals. Platt-Morris scored 14 points and had the biggest basket of the game, but she also added five rebounds and a steal.
Mikaela Jones was one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 11 points and snagging nine rebounds.
Blaire Thomas was strong on the glass, snatching a season-high 13 rebounds.
The Spartans dominated the Hornets in most facets of the game, but DSU was able to stay in it by not turning the ball over and converting at the free-throw line. The Hornets went 19-of-26 (73.1%) from the charity stripe compared to the Spartans 15-of-23 (65.2%), and had eight fewer turnovers than the Spartans. NSU had a 53-33 rebound advantage, with 13 offensive rebounds.
The Spartans return to Echols Hall next Saturday for a 4 p.m. tipoff against Morgan State.
