AUBURN, Ala. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team lost a road matchup 67-39 at Auburn on Saturday afternoon, dropping to 7-4 on the season.
 
Kierra Wheeler posted a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, her third double-double of the season. She also recorded both of Norfolk State's blocks on Saturday.
 
Making her highly-anticipated debut in a Spartan uniform, junior guard Diamond Johnson recorded 15 points, six rebounds, and four steals. During the first quarter, she recorded her 1,000^th career point with a running floater in the lane.
 
JaMya Mingo-Young led Auburn (9-2) with 16 points and five rebounds, shooting 12-of-12 from the free throw line.
 
The Tigers started fast, knocking down a 3-pointer on the game's first possession. An and-one finish helped Auburn jump out to an 8-0 lead a couple of minutes later.
 
But the Spartans fought right back, scoring back-to-back baskets on putback layups from Wheeler. Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer from a Niya Fields pass to pull the Spartans within one.
 
Johnson came up with a steal and scored at the other end – her 1000^th career point – to tie the game at 9-9 later in the first quarter. Auburn tagged on two late scores to head into the second period with a 13-9 advantage.
 
Wheeler continued to dominate the paint for the Spartans, scoring the team's first seven points of the second quarter. The boost pulled NSU within one, before Fields knocked down a mid-range jumper to give Norfolk State its lone lead of the afternoon.
 
Auburn retook control with a 3-pointer from Kaitlin Duhon, eventually expanding the gap 26-18 in the final minutes of the period. Johnson knocked down another paint jumper to pull Norfolk State within six before halftime.
 
Wheeler made a contested layup to start the third quarter, and Skye Robinson finished a layup through a foul for a three-point play soon after. Auburn went on a 23-2 run to finish the third quarter, though, forcing turnovers in bunches and converting at the other end.
 
The stretch gave the Tigers control on the scoreboard, as the Spartans struggled to regain momentum. Johnson contributed eight points in the fourth quarter, but Auburn responded with inside scores of its own to close out the team's sixth consecutive victory.
 
 
Checking The Box Score

• Kierra Wheeler recorded a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double, her third double-double this season
• Making her debut in a Spartan uniform, junior guard Diamond Johnson tallied 15 points, six rebounds, and four steals
• JaMya Mingo-Young led Auburn with 16 points and five rebounds
• Norfolk State only attempted seven free throws on Saturday, tying its season-low
• The Spartans committed 27 turnovers, the team's highest total since recording 27 turnovers at Morgan State last season

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State dropped to 7-4 with the loss
• Auburn improved to 9-2 with the win
• The Tigers have now won six consecutive games
• Saturday marked the first-ever meeting between the Norfolk State and Auburn women's basketball programs
• Diamond Johnson, who transferred to Norfolk State from North Carolina State, made her debut in a Sparrtan uniform on Saturday
• Johnson recorded her 1,000^th career point during the first quarter
• Dropping matchups to ACC (Wake Forest) and SEC (Auburn) competition, the Spartans have lost two consecutive games for the first time in nearly an entire year, dropping back-to-back bouts with Old Dominion (Dec. 11, 2022) and Alabama (Dec. 18, 2022) last season

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State remains on the road for another nonconference showdown, going head-to-head with High Point on Monday, Dec. 18. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.