NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University women's basketball team returns home for a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games as the Spartans look to get back into the win column after their seven-game winning streak was snapped on Monday night at Morgan State.
 
Norfolk State (16-4 overall, 4-1 MEAC) went 1-1 last week, holding off Coppin State, 49-43, but suffered a cold-shooting night on Monday with a 57-46 loss at MSU.
 
The Spartans return to Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall for a pair of conference games as South Carolina State and North Carolina Central come to town. Tip-off against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, while the game time for Monday's game versus NCCU has been moved to 4 p.m.
 
Norfolk State enters the weekend riding a 16-game home winning streak, dating back to last season. The last time NSU lost at home was a 54-41 setback to Air Force on November 27, 2021.
 
The Spartans are 26-18 all-time against South Carolina State and have won eight straight against the Bulldogs, dating back to the 2016-2017 season. The last loss the Spartans suffered was on Jan. 23, 2016, a 60-52 defeat at home. NSU is 27-9 against North Carolina Central, including having won nine out of the last 11 contests. The lone two losses during that stretch came during the COVID season, falling in two of the three games.
 
Game Promotions
 
Saturday's game at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall will be Ladies Night and Breast Cancer Awareness Night, while Monday's contest is Housing and Residence Life Night.
 
Last Time Out – Norfolk State
 
The Spartans got out of the gate fast, racing out to a 6-3, but Morgan State closed out the opening quarter on an 11-0 run as the Bears took a 14-6 advantage into the second.
 
Norfolk State closed the gap to within one, 23-22, at the half, but the Bears outscored the Spartans, 24-11, before cruising to the 57-46 win.
 
Deja Francis led the offense with 17 points, on 6-of-9 shooting, while Da'naijah Williams tossed in 10 points. Makoye Diaware paced the defense with eight rebounds. Norfolk State shot 36.7 percent but gave up 22 points off 27 turnovers.
 
Norfolk State is averaging 60.9 points, while holding opponents to 50.2 points per game. In addition, the Spartans hold a 5.2 average margin in rebounding.
 
Deja Francis leads three players in double figures, averaging 11.8 points, while Camille Downs and Kierra Wheeler are scoring 10.8 and 10.2 points per game, respectively.
 
National Rankings – Norfolk State

• The Spartans rank second nationally in field goal percentage defense and scoring defense, while fifth in three point percentage defense
• Norfolk State is 14^th in the NCAA in steals per game and 15^th in turnovers forced per game
• Camille Downs leads the conference and is 12^th nationally in steals, while also 15^th in the country in steals per game
• Deja Francis ranks 26^th in NCAA Division I in free throws and is 30^th in steals

 
Scouting the Bulldogs
 
South Carolina State (1-17, 0-3) comes into Saturday's game riding a seven-game losing streak and have dropped the last 16 road games, including 11 straight this season.
 
The Bulldogs' last road win came on January 24, 2022, a 53-48 victory at Delaware State.
 
South Carolina State is coming off back-to-back home losses last weekend to Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State.
 
On Monday versus DSU, South Carolina State trailed 28-23 at the half, but took a 39-36 advantage into the final period. However, the Hornets outscored the Bulldogs, 22-10, during the final frame to pick up a 58-49 victory.
 
Rakyha Reid paced SCSU with 11 points and five boards. Jayah Hicks added eight points and pulled down 11 boards.
 
The Bulldogs are averaging 46.0 points and are shooting 31.6 percent from the field.
 
Nicole Gwynn paces the SCSU offense, averaging 9.8 points, along with 3.2 rebounds. Lovely Sonnier leads the defensive unit by averaging 8.1 boards.
 
Scouting the Eagles
 
North Carolina Central (9-11, 3-2) have won three straight games after suffering a 72-67 loss on January 9 at Coppin State.
 
The Eagles will visit Howard on Saturday before making the trip to Norfolk State on Monday.
 
It was a slow start for NCCU on Monday in an 82-77 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore. The Eagles trailed 21-11 after one quarter, but rebounded in the second period, taking a 41-40 lead into the break. The Hawks led by as many as five points with just under three minutes to play as the Eagles rallied for the victory.
 
Kimeira Burks led five players in double figures, scoring 20 points, including draining five 3-pointers. Jerni Kiaku added 15 points, while Kimia Carter tossed in 14. Nia Ford and Kira Lowery registered 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the Eagles shot 40 percent from the field and scored 27 points off 27 UMES turnovers.
 
The Eagles are averaging 68.8 points per game and are shooting 41.2 percent from the floor.
 
Kiaku and Burks are averaging 12.1 and 11.8 points per game, respectively, to pace the NCCU offense. Defensively, Aniya Finger leads the way with 5.5 boards and 1.3 blocks per game.
 
National Rankings – North Carolina Central

• The Eagles lead the conference and are fourth nationally in turnovers forced per game
• North Carolina Central ranks 16^th in the NCAA in steals per game
• Burks leads the MEAC in three categories (three point percentage, three pointers and three pointers per game), ranking 28^th, 30^th and 31^st nationally

Norfolk State will get a small break before returning to action on February 11 as the Spartans visit Maryland Eastern Shore. Tip-off against the Hawks is set for 2 p.m.
 
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