NORFOLK, Va. – For the first time in two years, the women's basketball teams from Norfolk State and Hampton face off in the Battle of the Bay. The 98th version of the rivalry tips off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hampton University Convocation Center. The game will be broadcast on 91.1 FM.

The teams did not meet last year during the shortened COVID-19 season.

The Spartans enter the contest 2-4 on the year after a 54-41 loss to Air Force last Saturday. The Spartans were held to 26 percent shooting in the game and 17 points in the second half. Camille Downs led NSU with 13 points and Deja Francis chipped in with 11.

 The Lady Pirates are 1-6 following a 68-48 loss to Liberty on Wednesday night at home. Nas Nigatu paced Hampton with 15 points.

Hampton's lone win this season came against another MEAC foe, Delaware State, by a 51-36 score on Nov. 11 in Dover.

NSU-Hampton Tip-Ins

• At 98 all-time meetings, Hampton is by far NSU's longest rivalry, not surprising considering the teams' long histories in the CIAA and MEAC. Hampton is 58-39 all-time against the Spartans.
• NSU has won two of the last three meeting, including a 77-56 win on Dec. 7, 2019 at HU. That game marked NSU's widest winning margin during the teams' Division I series history. MEAC Player of the Year Chanette Hicks had 22 points and Blaire Thomas 19 for NSU.
• Downs has scored in double figures in her last two games and now averages 10.2 points per game, second only to Deja Francis' 11.0 mark. Downs earned her first start of the year against Air Force, notching four rebounds and two steals to go with her 13 points.
• NSU has played its characteristically strong defense this year, allowing just 63 points, 39 percent field goal shooting and 31 percent 3-point shooting thus far. That, despite two of the team's first six games coming against nationally ranked teams (Ohio State and Indiana). NSU ranks 44th nationally in turnovers forced per game (21.0) and 42nd in steals per game (11.0).
• NSU has been getting it done at the charity stripe this season. NSU is shooting 79.2 percent as a team, good for 16th nationally. Tatiana Jones (90.0), Francis (83.3) and Downs (81.3) lead the team in that category.
• The Pirates are being led thus far by Madison Buford's 13.3 points per game average. Nylah Young, who was a preseason second-team All-Big South Conference, is second at 12.0 ppg.
• Hampton was picked to finish ninth in the Big South preseason poll.
• NSU is already 1-0 against the Big South this year, with a 65-49 win over Campbell on Nov. 11. The Camels were picked to finish second in the Big South this year.
• The Hampton game starts a stretch were NSU plays four in-state opponents in a five-game stretch prior to Christmas. The Spartans play at George Mason (Dec. 6), ODU (Dec. 12) and William & Mary (Dec. 19) with a home game against UNCW (Dec. 16) sandwiched in between.