NORFOLK, Va. | Kierra Wheeler scored 21 points to lead three Norfolk State University women's basketball players in double figures as the Spartans started slow, but used a big first-half run to pull away from Howard, 64-37, on Saturday in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.
 
The Spartans (15-3 overall, 3-0 MEAC) surrendered the first five points of the game, but responded with a 12-5 run to close out the opening quarter and outscored the Bison, 21-5, in the second period before taking a 33-15 advantage into the break.
 
Wheeler finished with a double-double, with a game-high 21 points, on 7-of-12 shooting, along with 13 rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot. Camille Downs added 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, eight boards, three assists and a pair of steals, while Makoye Diawara tallied 10 points, three boards and one steal.
 
Brooklyn Fort-Davis paced Howard (6-10, 2-1) with 10 points, two rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot.
 
Howard opened the game with a free throw by Fort-Davis and buckets by Aziah Hudson and Destiny Howell as the Bison led 5-0 just 4:10 into the game.
 
However, the Spartans responded after the media timeout with seven straight points, taking a 7-5 advantage after a Wheeler layup with 3:13 left in the period.
 
A 3-pointer by Howell gave Howard the brief 8-7 lead as Norfolk State closed the first period on a 5-2 run.
 
The Spartans' defense clamped down in the second period, holding Howard to just two field goals.
 
Norfolk State, which remained perfect this season at home, opened the second on a 13-0 run, capped by free throws by Wheeler and Downs, extending the lead to 25-10 with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
 
After a layup by Jenesis Perrin, the Spartans got a bucket by Wheeler and free throws by Diawara to push the margin to 29-12 with 1:57 left.
 
Howard closed the gap to 29-15 after a 3-pointer by Hudson, but Wheeler and Downs sank buckets down the stretch as the Spartans took a commanding 33-15 lead into the break.
 
The Bison cut the deficit to 12, 34-22, but that would be as close as they would get.
 
Norfolk State scored the next 11 points to push the lead to 43-22 after a Deja Franics jumper with 3:32 remaining in the third.
 
The Spartans took a 50-27 advantage into the final quarter and cruised to the 64-37 victory.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Norfolk State shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) from the floor and 75.0 percent (18-of-24) from the free-throw line
• Kierra Wheeler finished with a double-double 21 points and 13 rebounds, with three steals and one blocked shot
• Camille Downs added 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, eight boards, three assists and a pair of steals
• Makoye Diawara tallied 10 points, three boards and one steal.
• The Spartans finished with 28 points in the paint, 26 points off 20 Howard turnovers, 18 second-chance points, 14 bench points and five fast break points
• Howard went 13-of-37 (27.7 percent) shooting and 6-of-12 (50.0 percent) from the charity stripe
• Brooklyn Fort-Davis registered 10 points, two rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot
• The Bison finished with 16 points off 22 Norfolk State turnovers, 12 bench points, 12 points in the paint and five second-chance points

UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns to action on Saturday, January 21 as the Spartans visit Coppin State. Tip-off against the Eagles is set for 2 p.m. from the Physical Education Complex Arena.
 
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