WASHINGTON D.C. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team took its first loss of MEAC play on Saturday afternoon at Burr Gymnasium, falling 73-60 at Howard.
 
Kierra Wheeler led the Spartans (12-5, 2-1 MEAC) with 21 points and four steals, while Diamond Johnson tallied 16 points. Tyana Walker led the Bison with 26 points, knocking down six 3-pointers.
 
Howard's Walker and Kaiya Creek knocked down 3-pointers to open the game, before Vanessa Blake converted in the paint to give Howard a quick 8-0 advantage. Wheeler made a spinning layup off Da'Brya Clark's pass for the Spartans' first points of the afternoon, tallying another score inside on the team's next trip down the floor.
 
Clark knocked down a 3-pointer to get the Spartans back within three, but Walker responded with a successful shot behind the arc at the other end.
 
Johnson got on the board with a 3-pointer, but the Bison built on their early advantage with a strong second quarter. Another Walker 3-pointer gave the Bison a 28-16 lead.
 
Clark finally slowed the momentum with a 3-pointer, forcing a Howard timeout, but the Bison kept mounting pressure. Walker drained another shot from behind the arc for 17 first half points, as the Bison took a 41-25 lead into the break.
 
Wheeler provided a few scores early in the third quarter as the Spartans attempted to kickstart a comeback effort. Johnson earned three-points the old-fashioned way soon after, cutting the deficit to 11.
 
Anjanae Richardson knocked down a 3-pointer late in the period, before Wheeler hustled for a second-chance score on the fast break. Walker continued to hurt the Spartans, though, slipping free inside for a score in the closing seconds of the third quarter to give Howard a 52-39 advantage.
 
Whenever the Spartans started to garner some energy, Howard responded with a crowd-engaging basket at the other end. Johnson and Robinson provided impressive plays in the final period, but it was too late. Howard closed out the win, snapping Norfolk State's five-game win streak.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Kierra Wheeler led the Spartans with 21 points and four steals
• Diamond Johnson added 16 points
• Howard's Tyana Walker scored a game-high 26 points, knocking down six 3-pointers
• Howard never trailed during Saturday's game
• The Bison shot 65.0 percent from the floor (26-of-40) and 55.6 percent from behind the arc (10-of-18)

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State dropped to 12-5 with the loss, 2-1 in MEAC play
• Howard improved to 5-12 with the loss, 2-1 in the MEAC
• Norfolk State now trails the all-time series with the Bison 22-36
• Howard shot 65.0 percent from the floor on Saturday, the first time an opponent has shot over 60.0 percent against the Spartans during head coach Larry Vickers' tenure

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State returns right back to the court on Monday, Jan. 22 at Echols Hall. The Spartans will face Mary Washington to close out their non-conference slate, with tipoff taking place at 5:30 p.m.
 
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