NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State women's basketball team started its 2024-25 season inside Echols Hall with a 70-49 victory over William & Mary on Monday night.
 
The Spartans moved to 1-0 on the season while the Tribe fell to 0-1.
 
Anjanae Richardson paced the Spartans with a career night, finishing the game with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting with five 3-pointers.
 
Makoye Diawara picked up her first career double-double, posting 11 points and 10 rebounds while Diamond Johnson also scored in double figures with 11 points.
 
NSU took an early 6-2 lead in the first quarter following a pair of 3-pointers from Niya Fields and Richardson. The Tribe pulled ahead of the contest, going on a 7-0 run over four minutes, taking a 9-6 lead into the first media timeout of the contest.
 
William & Mary built the lead up to 11-6 with just three minutes left to play in the first quarter. The Spartans battled back to take the lead 13-12, following a 7-0 run of their own.
 
Norfolk State and William & Mary remained locked into a 15-15 score before forward Kierra Wheeler hit 1-of-2 free throws to take the lead, ending the first quarter with a 16-15 advantage.
 
NSU opened the second quarter by extending the lead to nine with back-to-back threes from Johnson and Amari Smith, forcing the Tribe to use a timeout. The Spartans kept their foot on the gas, building the largest lead of the contest 37-22 with 2:02 left in the half.
 
The Tribe ended the quarter on a 4-0 run that sent the teams to halftime with a score of 37-26 in favor of the Spartans.
 
Norfolk State opened the second half on an 11-2 run behind five points from Richardson and four points from Diawara, increasing the lead to 20. NSU maintained the 20-point lead throughout the quarter, taking a 54-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Spartans increased the lead in the fourth quarter to 67-43 behind a 9-2 run with buckets from Johnson, Diawara, and Richardson. Diawara picked up her first career double-double on a late rebound in the fourth quarter as the Spartans went on to capture their first win of the season 70-49.
 
 
Checking The Box Score

• Norfolk State shot an impressive 60.0% in the second quarter (9-15)
• The Spartans outrebounded the Tribe 51-35 (16-9 offensive reb.)
• The Spartans trailed for just 3:34 early in the first quarter
• Kierra Wheeler added 10 rebounds for the Spartans

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State extended its home game winning streak to 15
• William & Mary remains ahead in the all-time series 11-17
• Anjanae Richardson posted her career-high 21 points and drained a career-high five three-pointers
• Amari Smith made her Norfolk State debut, tallying three points and one assist
• Niya Fields brought in a career-high eight rebounds

 
Up Next
The Norfolk State women's basketball team will look to continue its strong start to the season on Thursday, Nov. 7 against Longwood at Echols Hall at 7 p.m.
 
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