NORFOLK, Va. – The undefeated Norfolk State women's basketball team opens the 2023 Miami Thanksgiving Tournament against East Tennessee State on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
 
The matchup marks the first test of the four-team in-season tournament, hosted by the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. All four competing schools bring winning records to the table, with just one loss amongst the group: Norfolk State (5-0), East Tennessee State (3-1), Colate (3-0), and Miami (3-0).
 
Norfolk State earned its first 5-0 start since the 1995-96 season with a 59-45 victory over Hampton on Sunday afternoon, led by 15 points and nine rebounds from Kierra Wheeler. The junior forward picked up MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Wednesday.
 
East Tennessee State dropped a season-opening matchup at Kentucky by a single-digit margin, earning victories in its three matchups since. The Buccaneers earned narrow wins over Lafayette and Radford, before cruising past Presbyterian on Sunday.
 
Norfolk State left Savannah, Ga. with hardware during the Thanksgiving holiday last year, winning the Hostilo Hoops Community Classic with victories over Purdue Fort Waye, UT-Martin, and Marshall.
 
The winner of Friday's matchup will play the winner of Miami/Colgate on Sunday afternoon.
 
Quick Hits

• Norfolk State improved to 5-0 this season with a 59-45 victory at Hampton
• The Spartans are 5-0 for the first time since the 1995-96 season
• Kierra Wheeler led the Spartans with 15 points and nine rebounds against the Pirates
• Wheeler was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday
• The Spartans have held their opponents to 51.4 points per game, ranking No. 24 in all of Division I for the category 

All-Time Series

• Friday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Norfolk State and East Tennessee State women's basketball programs
• Norfolk State is 0-1 all-time against Miami, the teams' only meeting in 2008
• Norfolk State is 0-1 all-time against Colgate, the teams' only meeting in 2008 

Buccaneer Scout

• East Tennessee State improved to 3-1 this season with a 72-56 victory at Presbyterian on Sunday
• ETSU has won its last three games after dropping the team's season opener 74-66 at Kentucky
• The Buccaneers compete in the Southern Conference
• Kendall Folley leads the team with 13.8 points per game, adding 5.0 rebounds as well
• Courtney Moore follows closely behind with 13.7 points per contest

Hurricane Scout

• Miami improved to 3-0 this season with a 61-57 victory over Southern last Friday
• The Hurricanes went to the Elite 8 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, falling 54-42 to the eventual national champion LSU
• Lemyah Hylton leads the Hurricanes with 15.5 points per game, while Jasmyne Roberts averages 6.0 rebounds per game
• Miami averages 73.3 points per game

Raider Scout

• Colgate improved to 3-0 this season with a 61-55 overtime victory over Canisius last Thursday
• Colgate defeated Cornell 71-60 to open the season, before besting UMBC 57-51 on the road
• Taylor Golembiewski leads the Raiders with 17.3 points per game, while recording 5.3 rebounds per contest
• The Raiders have only made three 3-pointers this season, doing the majority of their damage in the paint