ORANGEBURG, S.C. | Makoye Diawara led four Norfolk State University women's basketball players in double figures as the Spartans used a strong start and never trailed in rolling to a 69-41 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory over South Carolina State on Saturday afternoon at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. 

Norfolk State (22-5 overall, 10-2 MEAC) raced out to a 13-0 lead and never looked back in completing the season sweep of South Carolina State. The victory, along with losses by Morgan State and Howard have the Spartans on the verge of a second consecutive MEAC regular season crown.

RACE FOR MEAC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 
The day began with three teams vying for a shot at the MEAC regular season championship. Norfolk State and Morgan State sat tied atop the conference standings with Howard one game back. 

Here's a look at Saturday's results: 

Norfolk State (beat South Carolina State, 69-41) - With the win, can clinch at least a share of the conference title on Monday with a victory at NCCU 
Morgan State (lost to Delaware State, 55-54) - With the loss, now one game back with two to play
Howard (lost to North Carolina Central, 56-51) - With the loss, now two games back with two to play

Games Remaining
Norfolk State (at North Carolina Central on Monday; at Howard on Thursday)
Morgan State (at Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday; vs. Coppin State on Thursday)
Howard (at South Carolina State on Monday; vs. Norfolk State on Thursday)

ON SATURDAY AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 
Diawara led the way with 16 points, on 6-of-11 shooting, along with three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Kierra Wheeler finished with 11 points, eight boards and one assist, while Danielle Robinson tallied 11 points and four rebounds. Deja Francis chipped in 10 points, three steals, three asissts and one board. 

Nicole Gwynn paced SCSU with 13 points, including 6-of-8 from the foul line, and three rebounds. 

Norfolk State got out to a great start, capitalizing off five South Carolina State turnovers. Buckets by Niya Fields, Diawara and Wheeler gave the Spartans a 13-0 lead just three-plus minutes into the game. 

South Carolina State (3-24, 2-10) answered with an 8-2 run, capped by a a 3-pointer by Gwynn and free throws by Janiah Hinton with 4:16 left in the opening period. 

A layup by Diawara and free throw by Skye Robinson pushed the advantage back to double digits, 18-8, with 1:21 remaining as the Spartans took an 18-9 lead into the second period. 

The Bulldogs closed the gap to 20-14 after an Ajia Smith triple with just over seven minutes left in the half, but the Spartans caught fire over the next five minutes, using a 10-2 run, capped by a Wheeler layup, extending NSU's lead to 30-16, with 2:25 remaining. 

Neither team could knock down shots during the final two minutes as Norfolk State took a 33-21 advantage into the break. 

Norfolk State began the second half strong, holding the Bulldogs to just one field goal during the first four minutes of the third as the Spartans pulled away and pushed the lead to 46-23 after a Francis three-point play with 6:18 left. 

South Carolina State used a 7-1 run over a four-minute stretch, cutting the deficit to 47-30 after a Gwynn jumper with 3:19 remaining. 

However, Norfolk State answered in the final minute, getting buckets by Crystal White and Francis, to extend the lead to 54-32 after three quarters. 

The Spartans opened the final period on a 9-2 run, capped by a Danielle Robinson triple, as Norfolk State increased its lead to 63-34 with just over four minutes to play. 

South Carolina State could not recover from NSU strong start to the game as the Spartans completed the season sweep of the Bulldogs. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS   

• Norfolk State shot 38.8 percent (26-of-67) from the floor and 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from the free-throw line 
• Makoye Diawara registered 16 points, on 6-of-11 shooting, along with three rebounds, one assist and one steal 
• Kierra Wheeler finished with 11 points, eight boards and one assist 
• Danielle Robinson tallied 11 points and four rebounds 
• Deja Francis chipped in 10 points, three steals, three asissts and one board 
• The Spartans finished with 34 points in the paint, 30 points off 27 South Carolina State turnovers, 19 bench points, 10 second-chance points and six fast break points 
• South Carolina State went 9-of-41 shooting (22.0 percent) and 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe 
• Nicole Gwynn paced SCSU with 13 points, including 6-of-8 from the foul line, and three rebounds 
• The Bulldogs finished with 12 bench points, 12 points in the paint, 11 second-chance points and two points off 10 Norfolk State turnovers 

UP NEXT  
Norfolk State looks to avenge its last loss on Monday as the Spartans visit North Carolina Central. Tip-off against the Eagles is set for 5:30 p.m. from McDougald-McLendon Arena. 
  
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