NORFOLK, Va. – Grace Abercrombie scored 25 points off the College of Charleston bench to help the Cougars rally past Norfolk State 66-62 on Friday night at Echols Hall.

The Cougars, who trailed by as many as 11 in the first half, outscored NSU 26-15 in the third quarter to rally. Abercrombie scored 11 in the third stanza and 20 in the second half, then the Cougars had to hold off a late charge from NSU.

NSU held a 38-28 edge after a putback by Mahoganie Williams at the 6:14 mark of the third period. But the Cougars went on an 18-2 run thereafter, getting nine points from Abercrombie, to surge in front. She hit two 3-pointers and Chelsea Wooten another to push CofC into the lead. Abercrombie added two free throws to give CofC its largest lead of the game at 48-41 right before the end of the third period.

The Spartans began the fourth quarter by scoring the first six points to retake the lead. Danaijah Williams, Makoye Diawara and Camille Downs all scored close to the basket to put NSU in front 49-48.

That was the first of seven lead-changes in the final quarter. Peyton Martin's three-point play put the Cougars in the lead for good and started a 9-0 run that was capped by two more treys by Abercrombie, who was 5-of-11 from long distance.

NSU made one last push. Deja Francis scored on a layup, Downs hit two free throws and then scored on a layup with 55 seconds left to cut NSU's deficit to 64-62. The Spartans forced a turnover at the other end and had a chance to tie or take the lead in the closing seconds. But NSU turned the ball back over to the Cougars, and Arynn Eady made two foul shots to seal the win for the visitors.

Downs had 13 of her team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter to aid NSU's comeback attempt. Francis had 10 points and nine rebounds, while Tatiana Jones recorded 10 points, seven boards and four steals for the Spartans. Mahoganie Williams added nine points and seven rebounds, Diawara had six and five, and Niya Fields handed out five assists.

NSU held the Cougars to 4-of-16 shooting (25 percent) and got eight points from Jones in the opening quarter to take control early. A 3-pointer by Armani Franklin on the first possession of the second quarter gave the Spartans their largest lead of the game, at 20-9.

Martin added 19 points for the Cougars (3-0).

NSU has a week off before hosting the Air Force Academy at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 27.