Norfolk State [23-5, 9-2 MEAC] vs. Howard [13-13, 9-4 MEAC]
Date/Time	Thursday, March 2, 2023 | 6:00 P.M.
Location	Washington, D.C. | Burr Gymnasium
Tickets	Purchase Tickets Here
TV/Streaming	Bison Live
Radio	WNSB (HOT) 91.1 FM
Live Stats	nsuspartans.com or click here
Norfolk State Game Notes	Game Notes
Howard Game Notes	N/A
All-Time Series	Howard leads series, 36-21
First Meeting	Norfolk State 63, Howard 43 [1975-1976]
Last Meeting	Norfolk State 64, Howard 47 [January 14, 2023]
Longest Series Winning Streak	Howard - 11
Current Winning Streak	Norfolk State - 1
Social Media	Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University women's basketball team concludes the regular season on Thursday night as the Spartans visit Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest at Burr Gymnasium. Tip-off against the Bison is set for 6 p.m.
 
Norfolk State (23-5 overall, 11-2 MEAC) has already locked in the top spot in next week's MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament, sealing the No. 1 seed with wins over South Carolina State and North Carolina Central last week. Howard (13-13, 9-4) currently sits tied for second in the conference standings with Morgan State.
 
The Spartans are seeking the season sweep of the Bison after defeating Howard, 64-37, on January 14 at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall. During that contest, NSU had three players in doubles, led by a double-double performance by Kierra Wheeler (21 points and 13 rebounds).
 
Both teams enter Thursday night's regular season finale by picking up MEAC weekly honors. NSU's Camille Downs was named the conference player of the week, while Brooklynn Fort-Davis, of Howard, was selected the defensive player of the week.
 
Last Time Out – Norfolk State
 
The Spartans, riding a six-game winning streak, led from start to finish on Monday night in a 79-67 victory at North Carolina Central. Norfolk State avenged its last loss and captured the outright regular season MEAC crown with the win.
 
Downs led NSU in scoring, shooting 9-of-11 from the field to finish with a season-high 25 points, along with five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot. Kierra Wheeler posted her seventh double-double of the season, 19 points and 14 boards, while Deja Francis added 10 points. The Spartans scored 46 points in the paint and 37 points off 28 NCCU turnovers.
 
Norfolk State is averaging 62.2 points, while holding opponents to 49.8 points per game. In addition, the Spartans hold a 3.9 average in rebounding margin and forcing 22.3 turnovers per game.
 
Downs leads three players in double figures, averaging 11.6 points, while Francis and Wheeler are scoring 11.5 and 10.4 points per game, respectively.
 
National Rankings – Norfolk State

• The Spartans lead the nation in two categories, field goal percentage defense and scoring defense
• Norfolk State is third in the NCAA in three point percentage defense
• NSU is fifth nationally in two categories, steals per game and turnovers forced per game
• The Spartans are also 26^th in NCAA Division I in winning percentage
• Camille Downs ranks fifth in the country in two categories, steals and steals per game

Scouting the Bison
 
Howard, which is 7-4 at home this season, comes into the game having won two out of its last three games, including holding off South Carolina State, 60-55, on Monday night.

The Bison led 35-18 at the half and took a 53-30 advantage into the final period. However, Howard was held to just 2-of-10 shooting in the fourth as the Bulldogs nearly climbed all the way back. Howard shot 38.6 percent from the floor and 52.6 percent from the foul line in the conference win.
 
Aziah Hudson and Destiny Howell registered 15 and 14 points, respectively in the victory.
 
With the win, Howard jumped into a tie for second in the conference standings with Morgan State after the Bears fell on the road to Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
The Bison are averaging 59.8 points per game and shooting 34.5 percent from the floor.
 
Howell leads the Howard offense at 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while Hudson is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points.
 
Norfolk State has sealed the top spot in next week's MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament and will face the eighth seed, South Carolina State, in the quarterfinals, starting on Wednesday at 12 p.m. from the Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
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.