NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State University women's basketball team (2-6, 1-3 MEAC) plays its first games in 27 days when the Spartans welcome North Carolina A&T (9-1, 6-0) to Echols Hall this Saturday and Sunday for a pair of 2 p.m. tipoffs. 

These are the final two home games scheduled for NSU this year, and Sunday's matchup represents Senior Day for the Spartans. Both games will be broadcast on WNSB Blazin' Hot 91.1 FM and Spartan Showcase video streaming.

Last Time Out
The Norfolk State women's basketball team split its two conference games against North Carolina Central on Jan. 23-24 at Echols Hall. In the first matchup, the Spartans overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to earn their first MEAC win of the year, 69-64. Jalynn Holmes scored 18 points to lead four Spartans in double figures. Jaiden Morris added 14, E'Lexus Davis 13 and Mangela Ngandjui 12 for NSU.

In the second matchup, the Eagles returned the favor, rallying back from a nine-point first-half deficit to win 57-44. Anissa Rivera had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles.

Scouting NCAT
North Carolina A&T sits atop the MEAC Southern Division with a 6-0 conference ledger. The Aggies swept N.C. Central, 87-57 and 72-62 last weekend in Durham. The Aggies have now won nine straight games since a season-opening loss at UNC Greensboro.

Deja Winters leads a balanced Aggie attack by averaging 14.4 points per game.  Chanin Scott averages 13.2, Sean Kelly Darks chips in at 12.6 and D'Mya Tucker 11.1.  A&T is holding opponents to 49.9 points per game.

Senior Salute
NSU will honor two seniors prior to Sunday's final home game: guard Armani Franklin and forward Mangela Ngandjui.
• A native of Hampton, Franklin is a four-year letterwinner who was selected to the MEAC All-Rookie Team after her freshman year in 2017-18. She averaged 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game that year. She ranked sixth in the MEAC in steals per game as a junior last season. A regular member of the NSU AD Honor Roll and MEAC All-Academic Team member, Franklin earned her bachelor's degree in political science in just three years. She is currently enrolled in graduate school for urban affairs.
• A native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Ngandjui is in her first season playing for the Spartans after transferring from UNC Greensboro. Though she has played just six games for NSU, she has made her presence felt, averaging 10 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season. She ranks in the MEAC's top 10 in six categories: total rebounds (second), offensive rebounds (third), 3-point percentage (third), defensive rebounds (four), steals (tied for eighth) and blocks (10th). She earned her bachelor's degree in management information systems in December and is taking graduate courses in computer science.

Schedule Carousel
Change has been the only constant for the NSU women's basketball team this year. NSU lost four games in December due to COVID-19 protocols for one of the two teams involved, and the MEAC schedule has been constantly in flux since the New Year. As it stands this week, NSU has just four regular-season games remaining - two this weekend vs. North Carolina A&T, and two at N.C. Central on March 3-4. The latter two games were originally scheduled for Feb. 6-7, but were postponed by the Eagles' protocols.

NSU also lost four games when South Carolina State announced in early February that it was opting out of the remainder of its schedule.

Davis Wins MEAC Weekly Honor
E'Lexus Davis was named MEAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for Jan. 26 after NSU's last two games. Davis averaged 4.5 steals per game in NSU's two games against North Carolina Central. She tied her collegiate high with five steals in the win over the Eagles. She added four more in Sunday's defeat. Davis now ranks second in the MEAC in steals, at 2.4 per game.

Series/Last Meetings vs. NCAT
North Carolina A&T leads the all-time series with NSU, 22-18. The Aggies have won five of the last six meetings between the two, including a pair of wins in January in Greensboro. The Spartans struggled offensively in the two games, shooting 32 and 20 percent, respectively, during the two contests while committing a total of 42 turnovers.

The Spartans' last win in the series was a 60-43 victory in the semifinals of the 2019 MEAC Tournament.