NORFOLK, Va. – Deja Francis scored 24 points and Camille Downs added 20 points and 10 steals to lead Norfolk State to its third straight win, 64-52, over Morgan State on Monday night at Echols Hall.

The Spartans (7-7, 3-0 MEAC) remained perfect in the MEAC by forcing the Bears (7-6, 1-2) into 30 turnovers. NSU jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first half and weathered a second-half rally, pulling away to sweep its weekend home set against the conference's Baltimore schools.

NSU's stifling defense held the Bears to just three field goals and 23 percent shooting in the first quarter. Two early Niya Fields 3-pointers put NSU on top, and Mahoganie Williams poured in seven first-quarter points as NSU built its lead. Downs hit a triple at the 2:41 mark to give NSU a 19-4 advantage.

The Spartans turned the heat up in the second quarter, forcing 10 more MSU turnovers and stretching its lead to 37-17 at halftime on a jumper by Francis at the second-quarter buzzer.

The Bears started to whittle down their deficit in the third quarter, closing the period on a 15-1 run and holding the Spartans without a field goal for the final 6:37 of the stanza.

Leading 45-41 after three, the Spartans regained control in the fourth. NSU scored the first seven points of the quarter, as Francis and Downs both hit field goals and Williams (2-of-2) and Fields (1-of-2) cashed in three more points from the line to push NSU's lead back to double figures. The Bears could not get closer than seven the rest of the way.

NSU made 9-of-14 from the free-throw line and 5-of-8 from the floor in the fourth while holding the Bears to 19 percent shooting (4-of-21).

For the game, Morgan State was limited to 33 percent shooting (20-of-61) from the floor while NSU shot 43 percent (22-of-51).

Francis was 10-of-14 from the field, topping 20 points for the second straight game. She had a career-high 32 on Saturday against Coppin State. Francis added three rebounds, three steals and two assists. Downs just missed a triple-double, finishing with a team-high eight rebounds. Her 10 steals are the most by a Spartan since Chanette Hicks also had 10 at Jacksonville on Nov. 30, 2019.

Williams blocked four shots.

Dahnye Redd scored 15 points to lead Morgan State.

The Spartans hit the road to face South Carolina State at 2 p.m. Saturday.