Norfolk, Va. – When Norfolk State (14-10, 10-3 MEAC) squares off with Howard (17-8, 11-2) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, it will have a chance for revenge and an opportunity to make history at Echols Hall.
 
The first meeting between the teams this season left a bad taste in NSU's mouth. The Spartans, after coming back from a first-half deficit with a strong third quarter, couldn't close out Howard, who sent NSU home with a 71-67 loss. The team's first conference loss of the season, that result ended the Spartan's six game winning streak.
 
While Thursday will bring the highly anticipated rematch between the schools, it also presents the chance for the Spartans to achieve a huge milestone. Currently tied for second in the conference, a win on Thursday would give NSU a share of the MEAC regular season title for the first time in program history.
 
Thursday's game will be live streamed on the Spartan Showcase service, and broadcast on 91.1 FM.
 
Senior Spotlight
 
NSU will honor four seniors prior to Thursday's game: Armani Franklin, Deja Francis, Camille Downs, and Lacee Savage.

• Armani Franklin – The only senior who has spent her entire career at Norfolk State, Franklin has impacted the women's basketball program since she arrived on campus. Franklin was selected to the MEAC All-Rookie team her freshman year and made her first appearance in the starting lineup as a junior. Over the last five years she has played in 107 games, starting 33 of them, and amassed 516 points, 278 rebounds, and 136 assists. She has shined off the court as well, earning a spot in the Athletics Director's Honor Roll eight times and the MEAC All-Academic Team twice. She also serves as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president. Franklin earned her bachelor's degree in political science in May 2020 and is currently enrolled in the graduate school program for urban affairs.
• Deja Francis – After spending three years at St. Bonaventure, Francis has played all 24 games for the Spartans this year, starting all but one. She's averaging 13.4 points (team-high), 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game this year, scoring a career-high 32 points in a win over Coppin State. Francis earned MEAC Player of the Week honors twice, taking the award for back-to-back weeks in January. Francis is a mass communications major with an emphasis in journalism.
• Camille Downs – Downs joined the NSU roster this season after spending her previous year at UNC Wilmington. She's also played in all 24 games for the Spartans this season, starting 18 of them. Downs has put up impressive numbers across the board while wearing green and gold, averaging 12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Her 3.5 steals per game ranks first in the MEAC, fifth in the nation. Downs recorded a career-high 28 points at N.C. Central and set career-bests in rebounds against South Carolina State (12) and steals against Morgan State (10). She has received seven weekly MEAC basketball honors this season, three for Player of the Week and four for Defensive Player of the Week. Downs is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
• Lacee Savage – After spending three years at Northwestern State, Savage has become a key contributor off the bench since transferring to NSU in 2021.  She has appeared in 23 of the Spartans' 24 games, starting twice. Savage scored five points and grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds in a win over South Carolina State, her fourth game of the season with 5+ rebounds.  She recorded five points and set a career-high of four steals against Campbell earlier in the year. Savage is majoring in electronic engineering.

 
Last Time Out
 
Norfolk State picked up its second straight win on Monday, beating North Carolina Central 71-63. The Spartans trailed by seven at halftime but surged ahead in the third quarter and never looked back.
 
Downs paced the Spartans across the board, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals. Deja Francis added 20 points and five assists, while Makoye Diawara set a career-high with 10 points off the bench, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.
 
Scouting the Bison
 
Howard currently has the outright lead in the MEAC, and a robust offense has gotten it there. The Bison's 65.1 points per game ranks first in the conference, with Destiny Howell (12.2 ppg) and Anzhane Hutton have led the way (11.7)
 
Hutton leads the MEAC with 7.8 rebounds per game, and Iyanna Warren is one of the conference's pristine passers, posting a league-best 4.4 assists per game.
 
All-Time Series / Last Meeting
Downs led the Spartans with 19 points when the team's squared off earlier this season, while Mahoganie Williams added 14 points and six rebounds. Hutton helped put the game away for the Bison, scoring 11 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Howard leads the all-time series between the schools 34-19, but NSU has won five of the last seven meetings.
 
Downs Collects Multiple MEAC Weekly Honors
 
The MEAC named Downs conference Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, the first women's basketball player this season to win both awards in the same week.
 
The recognition comes after two dominant performances by the senior guard in wins against South Carolina State and N.C. Central. Across the two games, Downs averaged 18.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 7.5 steals, and 3.5 assists per game. She came up one steal short of a triple-double on Saturday, coming away with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and nine steals.
 
The awards marked the sixth and seventh time in the 16-week season Downs has received MEAC honors. She was POTW in Weeks 6, 9, and 16, and DPOTW in Weeks 5, 11, 13, and 16.
 
NSU vs. Howard Tip-Ins
 

• Francis has taken the MEAC by storm this year. She's averaging a 16.8 points per game in conference play and shooting 78.9% from the free throw line this season.
• Niya Fields and Francis have facilitated the Spartans' offensive with 3.2 and 2.8 assists per game, respectively. The pair rank second and fifth in the conference in that category, respectively, with the Spartans averaging 10.73 assists per game as a team.
• Williams, standing at 6-1, has thwarted opponents at the rim all season. Her 2.5 blocks per game lead the MEAC by a wide margin, with South Carolina State's Trinity Klock next in line at 1.6.
• With Williams locking down the paint, Downs has controlled the passing lanes. She's averaging a conference-best 3.5 steals per game, fifth most in the nation.
• NSU has buried opponents from deep all season, shooting a conference-best 27.1 percent on 3-pointers. Downs and Turner lead the team from beyond the arc, shooting at a 30.5 and 28.8 percent clip, respectively.
• Norfolk State was picked to finish third in the MEAC preseason poll. Howard was projected first.
• Armani Franklin was the sole Spartan to earn MEAC preseason honors, voted onto the second team. Howard's Hutton was selected first team, with Warren and Kaiya Creek on the second team.