FARMVILLE, Va. - The Norfolk State University women's basketball team will ring in the New Year with a 10-4 record after picking up a 76-59 win over the Lancers of Longwood University on Sunday, Dec. 31. Kierra Wheeler picked up her fifth double-double with a 30-point, 16 rebound performance.  

NSU took a 7-2 lead in the first quarter following a pair of free throws from Makoye Diawara. The Lancers pulled within two points, 13-11, but the Spartans closed out the first quarter on a 9-2 run to lead 21-13 heading into the second quarter. 

Longwood came back to even the score at 21 all as Norfolk State was held scoreless for the first six minutes of the second quarter. The teams tied the score twice more before the Lancers took a 29-26 lead but a basket by Kierra Wheeler put the Spartans within one point, 29-28, heading into halftime.  

Longwood held the lead for the first five minutes of the third quarter and held a 36-32 lead, but a pair of free throws from Wheeler and a three pointer from Diamond Johnson put Norfolk State in the lead 37-36. In the last five minutes, NSU went on a 21-5 run that put the Green and Gold ahead 53-39 heading into the final 10 minutes of action.  

The Lancers tried to rally against the Spartans and scored 20 points in the fourth quarter but Norfolk State kept Longwood at bay by putting 25 points on the board to claim the 76-59 victory.  

Checking The Box Score 

• Kierra Wheeler led the Spartans with 30 points, 16 rebounds, and four steals 

• Diamond Johnson tallied 21 points including four three-point shots, six rebounds, and seven steals  

• Norfolk State forced 29 turnovers from Longwood 

• The Spartans outscored Longwood 30-24 in the paint 

• NSU recorded 29 second chance points and 28 points off turnovers 

• The Spartans stole the ball 17 times while only giving up eight to the Lancers 

• Norfolk State outrebounded Longwood 44-38 

News & Notes 

• Norfolk State improved to 10-4 with the victory 

• Longwood falls to 2-10 with their sixth consecutive loss 

• NSU increases its lead in the all-time series against Longwood to 12-5, winning the last four matchups 

• Longwood turned the ball over 29 times on Sunday, the most Norfolk State has forced this season 

• Diamond Johnson was five points shy of tying her career-high (26) as she contributed 21 points to go along with seven steals and six rebounds 

• Kierra Wheeler collected her fifth double-double and second 30-point game of the season after leading the Spartans with 30 points and 16 rebounds 

  
UP NEXT 
Norfolk State heads into the New Years with the best record in the MEAC at 10-4 as teams head into conference action beginning on January 6. The Spartans will start their conference schedule on the road in Orangeburg, S.C. when they face the Bulldogs of South Carolina State. They will follow with a game on Monday, Jan. 8, in Durham, N.C. when they face the Eagles of North Carolina Central.  

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.