| Norfolk State [23-6] vs. Howard [3-26] |
| 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament - Quarterfinals |
| Date/Time |
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 | 12:00 P.M. | Gameday |
| Location |
Norfolk, Va. | Norfolk Scope Arena |
| Tickets |
Purchase Tickets Here |
| TV/Streaming |
ESPN+ |
| Radio |
WNSB (HOT) 91.1 FM |
| Live Stats |
nsuspartans.com or click here |
| Norfolk State Game Notes |
Game Notes |
| South Carolina State Game Notes |
Game Notes |
| MEAC Tournament Notes |
Game Notes |
| All-Time Series |
Norfolk State leads series, 29-18 |
| First Meeting |
Norfolk State 76, South Carolina State 66 [1998] |
| Last Meeting |
Norfolk State 69, South Carolina State 41 [February 25, 2023] |
| Longest Series Winning Streak |
Norfolk State - 11 |
| Current Winning Streak |
Norfolk State - 11 |
| Social Media |
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NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University women's basketball team opens the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Basketball Tournament at 12 p.m. on Wednesday in the quarterfinal round against South Carolina State at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
The Spartans , the top seed in the tournament, won both regular season meetings this season against the Bulldogs, who enter the tournament as the eighth seed. Norfolk State, which earned back-to-back regular season MEAC championships for the first time in school history, is seeking its second tournament championship and first since the 2002 crown.
NSU, which reached the tournament championship game a year ago, has won six out of its last seven games. Meanwhile, South Carolina State (3-26) has dropped its last six games.
The winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal game will advance to Friday's semifinal round. North Carolina Central, the fourth seed, meets Coppin State, the fifth seed, in a quarterfinal game on Thursday and the winner advances to meet either Norfolk State or South Carolina State at 12 p.m. on Friday.
Last Time Out – Norfolk State
The Spartans saw their six-game winning streak snapped on March 2 with a 60-55 road loss to Howard.
Norfolk State, which had already clinched the MEAC regular season title, shot 2-for-11 in the second quarter as the Bison raced out to a huge first-half lead. The Spartans nearly rallied all the way back from an 18-point deficit before eventually dropping the road contest.
Camille Downs led the way offensively with 22 points, a team-high five steals and two rebounds.
Kierra Wheeler tossed in 10 points, with seven boards and
Makoye Diawara grabbed a team-high 10 boards, including six on the offensive glass.
Norfolk State is averaging 61.9 points, while holding opponents to 50.1 points per game. In addition, the Spartans hold a 3.7 average in rebounding margin and forcing 22.3 turnovers per game.
Downs leads three players in double figures, averaging 12.0 points, while Francis and Wheeler are scoring 11.4 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 Bulldogs
South Carolina State comes into the contest off a 61-47 loss to North Carolina Central on March 2.
The Bulldogs, who went just 1-for-23 from behind the 3-point line, fell behind 31-18 at the break and could not rally in the second half.
Nicole Gwynn led the way with 17 points, while Nadia Reese chipped in 12.
The Bulldogs are averaging 47.2 points per game and shooting 32.9 percent from the floor.
Gwynn is the lone player in double figures, averaging 11.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Lovely Sonnier is averaging 9.0 points and a team-high 8.2 boards.
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.
