PRINCESS ANNE, Md. --- The Norfolk State women's basketball team took care of business on Saturday afternoon, taking down Maryland Eastern Shore 70-48 at the Hytche Center.
 
Graduate guard Diamond Johnson led NSU with 17 points, adding nine rebounds, five assists and one steal to her totals. Niya Fields (15) and Anjanae Richardson (10) also scored in double-figures in the win. 
 
Norfolk State built an early advantage, draining 4-of-5 from behind the arc to gain a 14-6 advantage with 5:37 to go in the first quarter. The Spartans continued their hot shooting from 3-point land with Fields knocking down her second of the game coming out of the media timeout.
 
NSU closed out the first quarter on an 8-2 run, capped off by a coast-to-coast layup from Richardson, allowing Norfolk State to take a 27-11 edge into the second quarter.
 
Da'naijah Williams kept the NSU momentum going to open the second quarter with a 3-pointer of her own. UMES held NSU scoreless for the next three minutes of the contest, but the Spartans only allowed the Hawks to score three points during that span. Fields ended the scoring drought with her fourth 3-pointer of the contest with 5:22 remaining before halftime.
 
Back-to-back layups from Ce'nara Skanes forced the Spartans to take a timeout and halt the Hawks momentum. Norfolk State ended the hard fought second quarter with Richardson knocking down a 3-pointer to give NSU a 39-20 lead at halftime.
 
NSU continued its 3-point barrage out of the locker room with Williams draining her second of the game. Johnson forced her first steal of the contest, leading to a coast-to-coast layup from Williams, extending the NSU advantage to 20 early in the third quarter.
 
Makoye Diawara finished off a 7-2 run, draining NSU's 10th 3-pointer of the contest to give the Spartans a 51-26 lead with 6:06 left in the third quarter. Skanes ended the five and a half minute scoring drought for the Eagles, before Johnson got to the rim for the bucket right before the end of the third quarter.
 
Norfolk State opened the fourth quarter by making a 3-pointer, allowing NSU to open each quarter of the game with a 3-pointer. Fields found Johnson for the driving layup and halting the UMES 5-0 run with 6:23 left to play in the game.
 
UMES gained some positive momentum at the end of the contest going on a 7-3 run, before NSU took the 70-48 win on the road.
 
Checking the Box Score

• Diamond Johnson led the Spartans with 17 points, adding nine rebounds, five assists, and one steal to her totals
• Niya Fields (15) and Anjanae Richardson (10) also scored in double-figures
• Norfolk State opened each quarter by draining a 3-pointer
• NSU shot 50.0% from behind the arc (12-of-24)
• The Hawks outrebounded the Spartans 40-33
• Norfolk State never trailed in the win

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 21-4 with the win (8-0 MEAC)
• Maryland Easter Shore fell to 8-15 with the loss (3-5 MEAC)
• Norfolk State now leads all-time series 35-17
• NSU swept the season series against UMES for the fourth consecutive season
• Niya Fields tied her career high with 15 points

 
Up Next
Norfolk State returns to Echols Hall on Monday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. against Delaware State.
 
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