NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State women's basketball team will host a pair of MEAC games this week, welcoming Morgan State at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, and Coppin State at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.
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KEY STORYLINES
- Head coach Jermaine Woods is in his first season at Norfolk State and sits three wins shy of career victory No. 50
- Norfolk State and Morgan State will meet for the 50th time in program history.
- The Spartans have won the last five meetings against the Bears, dating to the 2022-23 season.
- Morgan State has not defeated Norfolk State at Echols Hall since the 2017-18 season.
- Norfolk State has won eight straight meetings against Coppin State, dating to the 2021-22 season.
- Woods will coach against his former team, Coppin State, for the first time at NSU.
- Norfolk State ranks 14th nationally in steals per game (12.8) and 26th in blocks per game (4.9). The Spartans also rank 27th in turnovers per game (21.47) and 51st in turnover margin (4.26).
- Jasha Clinton ranks seventh nationally in total steals (66) and 12th in steals per game (3.47).
- Da'Brya Clark ranks 45th nationally in 3-point attempts (27), 39th in steals (48) and 43rd in steals per game (2.67).
- Ciara Bailey ranks 36th nationally in total blocks (32) and 32nd in blocks per game (1.88).
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
- Norfolk State leads the MEAC in opponent field goal percentage (.364), blocks (93), blocks per game (4.89), steals (224), steals per game (12.84) and scoring defense (61.7).
- NSU ranks second in the MEAC in 3-point attempts (367), scoring margin (0.0), turnover margin (4.26), turnovers forced per game (21.40) and turnovers per game (17.2).
- Jasha Clinton ranks third in the MEAC in scoring (13.9 ppg), while Da'Brya Clark ranks second (14.6 ppg).
- AJ Richardson ranks ninth in assists (2.3), 11th in scoring (9.7 ppg) and 18th in rebounds per game (4.4).
- Carmen Kweti ranks third in blocks per game (1.2) and 13th in rebounds per game (4.7).
- Ciara Bailey leads the MEAC in blocks per game (1.9) and ranks 16th in rebounding (4.7).
- Clinton ranks second in the MEAC in field goal percentage (.440), leads the conference in total steals (66) and steals per game (3.5), and ranks second in assists (3.6).
- Clark ranks first in 3-pointers made per game (2.2), second in steals per game (2.7), fourth in blocks per game (1.1), sixth in free throw percentage (.733) and eighth in assists (2.4).
SERIES HISTORY VS MORGAN STATE
- Thursday's game marks the 50th all-time meeting between the programs.
- Norfolk State leads the series 30-19.
- The series began in 1981-82, when NSU defeated MSU 57-46.
- Morgan State's last win in the series came during the 2022-23 season, a 57-46 victory in Baltimore.
- The Bears have not won at Echols Hall since the 2017-18 season.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
- Morgan State enters the game with a 3-17 overall record and a 2-2 mark in MEAC play.
- The Bears defeated Delaware State 61-59 last week in Dover, Del.
- Ja'la Bannerman leads MSU with 12.1 points per game and adds 1.1 steals per contest.
- Redshirt senior forward Kailyn Nash ranks second on the team with 7.8 points per game.
- Morgan State averages 53.1 points per game and allows 73.6.
- The Bears shoot 34.8% from the field, 30.9% from 3-point range and 70.3% at the free throw line.
- Head coach Nadie Domond is in her first season at Morgan State and her sixth as a head coach overall.
SERIES HISTORY VS COPPIN STATE
- Saturday's game marks the 52nd meeting between the programs.
- Coppin State leads the all-time series 30-19.
- The series began in 1997-98, when Coppin State defeated Norfolk State 77-59.
- The Eagles' last win in the series came during the 2021-22 season, a 56-48 victory.
- Coppin State has not won at Echols Hall since the 2019-20 season.
ABOUT COPPIN STATE
- Coppin State enters the weekend 4-16 overall and 2-2 in MEAC play.
- CSU fell to No. 2 South Carolina 90-48 on Sunday, Jan. 18, in Baltimore.
- Senior Khila Morris leads the Eagles with 12.8 points per game.
- Senior forward Paris McBride ranks second on the team with 8.3 points per game.
- Coppin State averages 55.0 points per game and allows 71.2.
- The Eagles shoot 32.9% from the field, 26.2% from 3-point range and 67.5% at the free throw line.
- Head coach Darrell Mosley is in his first season at Coppin State and his seventh as a head coach overall.
LAST TIME OUT
- Norfolk State defeated South Carolina State 85-41
- Da'Brya Clark led the Spartans with 30 points, adding 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks. She also knocked down nine 3-pointers, marking a new NSU single game record
- Jasha Clinton also tallied a double-double with 12 rebounds and 11 points
- Anjanae Richardson (13) and LeAire Nicks (10) scored in double figures
- Saturday's game featured three lead changes and two ties
- NSU outrebounded SCSU 49-34
- The Spartans shot 62.5 percent in the first quarter (10-of-16)
- Norfolk State scored 32 points off turnovers compared to SCSU's 15 points
UP NEXT
Norfolk State will return to MEAC action on the road on Saturday, Jan. 31 in Washington, D.C., taking on Howard at 2 p.m.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X/Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube), or visit nsuspartans.com.Â
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