| MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE [8-10, 1-0 MEAC] AT NORFOLK STATE [6-10, 1-0 MEAC] |
| Date / Time |
Thursday, Jan. 8 | 6 PM |
| Location |
Norfolk, Va. | Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall |
| TV / Streaming |
N/A |
| Radio |
Hot 91.1 |
| Live Stats |
nsuspartans.com |
| Game Notes |
Norfolk State Notes |
| Game Notes |
Maryland Eastern Shore Notes |
| All-Time Series |
NSU Leads, 33-17 |
| Last Meeting |
NSU 59, Maryland Eastern Shore 43 (Feb. 15, 2025) |
| Social Media |
Twitter - X | Instagram | Facebook |
NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State women's basketball team returns home to Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall on Thursday night to host the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action, with tipoff set for 6 p.m.
KEY STORYLINES
- The Spartans return home for the first time since Dec. 11, 2025, when they defeated Dillard 100-54.
- First-year head coach Jermaine Woods enters the matchup five wins shy of career victory No. 50.
- Graduate guard Jasha Clinton continues to rank among the nation's elite defenders, sitting third nationally in total steals (61) and sixth in steals per game (3.81).
- Da'Brya Clark ranks 70th in 3-pt attempts (98), 47th in steals (38) and 61st in steals per game (2.53)
- Norfolk State ranks 15th in the nation in steals per game with 13.3 per contest while also ranking 25th in turnovers forced per game at 22.06 and 54th in turnover margin at 4.69
- The Spartans enter Thursday's game after opening MEAC play with a 20-point victory, 68-48, at North Carolina Central.
- Norfolk State and Maryland Eastern Shore meet for the 51st time in program history.
- The Spartans have their eyes set on a fourth consecutive MEAC Championship after claiming the program's fourth overall MEAC Tournament title last season.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
- Norfolk State enters the contest with a 6-10 overall record and a 1-0 MEAC mark.
- Norfolk State currently leads the MEAC in opponent FG % (.377), opponent turnovers (352), blocks (74), blocks per game (4.63), steals (212), and steals per game (13.25)
- NSU ranks second in the MEAC in 3-Point FGs Made (4.6 pg), team FT % (0.686), opponent FT % (0.735), scoring defense (63.4), scoring margin (-3.6) and turnovers per game (17.3)
- Jasha Clinton ranks second in the MEAC in points with 14.8 ppg while Da'Brya Clark ranks third with 13.6 ppg
- AJ Richardson sits 12th in scoring (9.5 ppg) and 19th in rebounds per game (4.4 rpg)
- Carmen Kweti ranks second in block shots per game (1.3) and 11th in rebounds per game (5.2)
- Ciara Bailey leads the MEAC in blocked shots per game (1.6) and 14th in rebounding (4.6)
- Clinton also leads the MEAC in field goal percentage (.463), total steals (61) and steals per game (3.8) and ranks second in assists (3.6 apg)
- Clark ranks 3rd in steals (2.5 pg), 4th in blocked shots (1.0 pg) and 10th in assists (2.0 pg)
SERIES HISTORY VS. MD. EASTERN SHORE
- Thursday's matchup marks the 51st all-time meeting between Norfolk State and Maryland Eastern Shore.
- Norfolk State leads the series 33-17.
- The series dates back to 1981-82 when NSU won the first encounter 96-55.
- The last UMES victory came during the 2018-19 season when the Hawks won 59-43 in Echols Memorial Hall.
- NSU enters the contest riding a nine-game winning streak in the series, including a 70-48 victory on February 15, 2025.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
- Maryland Eastern Shore enters the matchup with an 8–10 overall record after picking up a challenging 68-61 victory over Morgan State in the MEAC conference opener
- The Hawks have six Division 1 victories this season: Monmouth (71-66), Loyola - Chicago (70-67), UMBC (68-54), Mount St. Mary's (67-59), Wichita State (56-52) and Morgan State
- Md. Eastern Shore has faced one ranked opponent in 2025, falling to #9 Oklahoma (90-37)
- UMES is led by Ashanti Lynch in scoring (12.1 ppg) and is fourth in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and has a team-high 34 steals.
- Brianna Barnes (10.2 ppg) ranks second on the team in scoring, as the only other Hawk averaging double figures.
- As a team, UMES averages 63.6 points per game while allowing 68.7 points per contest.
- The Hawks are shooting 38.9 percent from the field (412-1058), 28.9 percent from three-point range (73-253), and 67.5 percent from the free-throw line (247-366).
- Head coach Malikah Willis is in her 2nd season at the helm and owns a career record of 22-27.
LAST TIME OUT
- Final: Norfolk State 68, North Carolina Central 48
- Team Comparisons
- Points off turnovers: NSU 32, NCCU 20
- Rebounds: NSU 55, NCCU 30
- Second-chance points: NSU 31, NCCU 9
- Points in the paint: NSU 28, NCCU 18
- Fast-break points: NSU 21, NCCU 17
- Blocks: NSU 9, NCCU 3
- Time leading: NSU led for 39:36
UP NEXT
The Spartans take to the road traveling to Dover, Del., where they will face the Delaware State Hornets. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Alumni Gymnasium.
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.
