NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University women's basketball team concludes its home campaign with a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games as the Spartans face off against Morgan State in a conference showdown on Saturday, followed by Senior Night on Monday against Coppin State at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.
 
Norfolk State (19-5 overall, 7-2 MEAC) held off Maryland Eastern Shore last Saturday, before concluding the perfect two-game stretch with a dominating victory over Delaware State on Monday.
 
The Spartans remain two-games back in the MEAC standings and are looking to avoid the season sweep by Morgan State on Saturday. Meanwhile, NSU will be looking to complete the sweep of Coppin State on Monday.
 
Norfolk State fell behind in the first meeting this season at Morgan State, before falling, 57-46, on January 23. In the first meeting and just two days before the MSU loss, the Spartans held off a late charge by Coppin State to pick up the 49-43 victory.
 
The Spartans are 25-19 all-time against Morgan State but have not lost at home against the Bears since the 2017-18 season (55-53). Against Coppin State, NSU is 14-30 and have not lost at home since a 57-55 defeat during the 2019-20 season.
 
Game Promotions
 
Saturday's game at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall will be Alumni Weekend/Greek Night, while Monday's contest is Senior Night.
 
Last Time Out – Norfolk State
 
The Spartans not only got out of the gate strong on Monday night against Delaware State, but NSU didn't allow a field goal in the first period and it took nearly 13 minutes before the Hornets scored from the field.
 
By the time DSU got its first bucket, Norfolk State had built a 22-2 lead.
 
Camille Downs, the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, went 8-for-13 shooting, including draining three 3-pointers in registering 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
 
Norfolk State is averaging 61.3 points, while holding opponents to 50.5 points per game. In addition, the Spartans hold a 4.7 average in rebounding margin.
 
Deja Francis leads three players in double figures, averaging 11.7 points, while Camille Downs and Kierra Wheeler are scoring 11.4 and 10.2 points per game, respectively.
 
National Rankings – Norfolk State

• The Spartans rank second nationally in field goal percentage defense and third in scoring defense
• Norfolk State is sixth in the country in three point percentage defense and seventh in steals per game
• NSU ranks eighth in the NCAA in turnovers forced per game
• Camille Downs ranks fifth and sixth, respectively, in the country in steals per game and steals 

Scouting the Bears
 
Morgan State (16-6, 9-0) enters the weekend in the driver's seat atop the MEAC standings.
 
The Bears are riding a nine-game winning streak and have yet to lose in 2023. In fact, the last loss Morgan State suffered came on December 28, 2022, a 65-62 setback at Davidson.
 
After Saturday's showdown at NSU, Morgan State will have Howard, Delaware State, Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State remaining on its schedule.
 
Morgan State is coming off a 69-48 victory on Monday night at South Carolina State. The Bears shot 50 percent from the floor and knocked down five 3-pointers in cruising to the conference win.
 
Ja'Niah Henson led the way with 15 points, while Jael Butler and Charlene Shepherd each added 14 points.
 
Morgan State capitalized on the turnovers, scoring 29 points.
 
The Bears are averaging 61.9 points per game and shooting 37.8 percent from the floor.
 
Henson paces the MSU attack with 14.9 points, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals. Shepherd is right behind her at 14.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals
 
National Rankings – Morgan State
 
The Bears rank seventh in the country in turnovers forced per game
Morgan State is 10^th nationally in steals per game and turnover margin
MSU is 17^th in the NCAA three point percentage defense
 
Scouting the Eagles
 
Coppin State (5-18, 2-6) will play host to Howard for its Homecoming game on Saturday before making the trip to Norfolk State on Monday.
 
The Eagles are riding a two-game losing streak and have lost six out of their last seven games.
CSU is coming off a 67-54 road loss to North Carolina Central on Monday. The Eagles shot 27.0 percent from the floor and were a combined 6-of-28 shooting in the first half.
 
Jewel Watkins led Coppin State with 18 points, five boards and a pair of steals, while Mossi Staples chipped in 16 points, a team-high eight rebounds, along with two steals.
 
The Eagles are averaging 57.7 points per game and are shooting 33.7 percent from the floor.
 
Watkins leads the way on the offensive side by averaging 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals. Staples is also recording double figures at 14.2 points, 4.0 boards, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals.
 
National Rankings – Coppin State

• Jewel Watkins ranks sixth in the country in three point attempts

After the home finale against Coppin State, Norfolk State finishes the regular season with three consecutive road games, starting on February 25 at South Carolina State. Tip-off against the Bulldogs is set for 2 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.