NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University women's basketball team returns to the road for its final three games of the regular season, including two this weekend as the Spartans visit South Carolina State on Saturday and North Carolina Central on Monday in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.
 
Norfolk State (21-5 overall, 9-2 MEAC) control its path to the regular season crown with three games remaining. The Spartans will be seeking a season sweep of South Carolina State and avenging their last loss, a 73-68 overtime setback to North Carolina Central.
 
In the first meeting between the Spartans and Bulldogs, Norfolk State scored 30 points off 24 SCSU turnovers in cruising the 64-43 win. NSU jumped out to a 22-9 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Norfolk State is 27-18 all-time against South Carolina State.
 
The Spartans could not overcome seven 3-pointers by Kimeira Burks in a 73-68 overtime loss on Feb. 6 at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall. The loss snapped a 17-game home winning streak, which dated back to the beginning of the 2021-2022 season. Despite the setback, Norfolk State is 27-10 all-time against NCCU and have won nine out of its last 12 contests against the Eagles.
 
MEAC Standings – Down the Stretch
 
The race for the regular season MEAC championship will come down to the wire. With three games remaining, Norfolk State and Morgan State are tied atop the conference standings with Howard one game back.
 
We take a look at the final stretch for the top three programs:

• Norfolk State (at South Carolina State, at North Carolina Central and at Howard)
• Morgan State (vs. Delaware State, at Maryland Eastern Shore and vs. Coppin State)
• Howard (at North Carolina Central, at South Carolina State and vs. Norfolk State)

Last Time Out – Norfolk State
 
The Spartans, riding a four-game winning streak, used a 16-3 run in between the third and fourth quarters, while also holding Coppin State to no field goals during a 10-plus minute stretch to pull away from Coppin State on Monday.
 
Kierra Wheeler led NSU with nine points and seven rebounds. Deja Francis, Niya Fields and Camille Downs and Da'naijah Williams each recorded seven points.
 
Norfolk State is averaging 61.3 points, while holding opponents to 49.4points per game. In addition, the Spartans hold a 4.3 average in rebounding margin.
 
Deja Francis leads three players in double figures, averaging 11.7 points, while Camille Downs and Kierra Wheeler are scoring 11.3 and 10.1 points per game, respectively.
 
National Rankings – Norfolk State

• The Spartans lead the nation in rebounds per game and are second in field goal percentage defense
• NSU ranks fifth nationally in steals per game and three point percentage defense
• Norfolk State is also sixth in the NCAA in turnovers forced per game
• Camille Downs ranks fourth in the NCAA, tops in the conference, in steals per game and fifth in steals

Scouting the Bulldogs
 
South Carolina State (3-23, 2-9) come into Saturday's game riding a three-game losing streak and have dropped four out its last five games.

The Bulldogs dropped a heartbreak to Delaware State, 50-49, on Monday night and will be looking to split the season series with Norfolk State with a win.
 
Against Delaware State, South Carolina State shot 57 percent from the foul line and could not overcome a sluggish third quarter.
 
Lovely Sonnier led the Bulldogs with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with a team-high five assists, one blocked shot and one steal. Janiah Hinton added 12 points, two boards, two assists and a pair of steals.
 
The Bulldogs are averaging 47.1 points per game and shooting 33.3 percent from the floor.
 
Nicole Gwynn paces the offensive attack, averaging 10.8 points, 3.5 boards, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
 
Scouting the Eagles
 
North Carolina Central (12-14, 6-5) will play host to Howard on Saturday before Norfolk State visits McDougald-McLendon Arena on Monday.
 
The Eagles, who are 8-4 at home this season, have won three out of their last five games. However, NCCU will enter the weekend off a 92-74 defeat at Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday.
 
Against UMES, the Eagles shot 37.3 percent from the field, but struggled in the second period, going 3-for-16 (18.7 percent).
 
Burks drained six 3-pointers to lead NCCU with 22 points. Aniya Finger and Kira Lowery recorded 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
The Eagles are averaging 68.0 points per game and are shooting 40.3 percent from the floor.
 
Burks leads three players in double figures, averaging 12.0 points and is shooting 39 percent from behind the 3-point line. Jerni Kiaku is scoring 11.3 points and Tianna Carter, 10.0 points per game.
 
National Rankings – North Carolina Central

• The Eagles rank seventh in the country and second in the MEAC in turnovers forced per game
• Burks is 31^st in the NCAA and tops in the conference in three points per game

Norfolk State wraps up the regular season on Thursday, March 2 with a trip to Washington, D.C. to face Howard. Tip-off against the Bison is set for 5:30 p.m. from Burr Gymnasium.
 
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.