NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State didn't have its A-Game offensively on Saturday at Echols Hall, but it didn't need that. The Spartans made up for any offensive woes with a stellar defensive performance against Maryland Eastern Shore, coming away with a 43-34 victory in their conference opener.
The Spartans (13-3, 1-0 MEAC) won a defensive battle 42-38 at UNCW just over two weeks ago, tying the fewest combined points (80) by both teams in a Norfolk State women's basketball game ever. The Spartans and Hawks broke that record on Saturday, scoring 77 total points in 40 minutes of play.
Camille Downs fueled the Spartans to their come-from-behind triumph, scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds. The graduate guard enjoyed the best day of her career from the free throw line, making 11-of-12 attempts (91.7 percent). As a team, the Spartans knocked down all 12 of their fourth quarter attempts at the charity stripe to close out the game.
Norfolk State led by one at the end of the first quarter, but struggled to make shots in the second. Downs hit the Spartans' lone 3-pointer of the night early on, before UMES closed the quarter on a 15-2 run.
NSU entered the second half trailing by nine points, but began to chip away at the deficit with points in the paint and at the free throw line. After the Spartans cut the lead to two, UMES hit a huge 3-pointer to boost their cushion heading into the fourth quarter.
The Spartans put on a defensive clinic in the final period of regulation to come back and not only win, but win in convincing fashion. Norfolk State did not allow a single basket in the fourth quarter, as the Hawks missed all 13 of their shot attempts.
Downs and point guard
Deja Francis combined to score the Spartans' last eight points of the day, all at the free throw line, to seal the deal.
Norfolk State held UMES to 9-of-41 (22.0 percent) shooting from the floor on Saturday while forcing 29 turnovers, the Spartans' best showing of the season for the season for both categories against Division I competition. It marked just the third time in program history that NSU held a MEAC opponent to under 35 points – both other occasions occurring during the 2021-22 seasons.
Norfolk State heads to Dover, Del. for a Monday matchup against Delaware State at 5:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 91.1 FM.
