NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State women's basketball team plays its first road game of the season Saturday, Nov. 14. The Spartans face rival Hampton in the annual Battle of the Bay at 6 p.m. at the Hampton Convocation Center.
"I have to do a better job of letting them know the significance of the Battle of the Bay," head coach Jermaine Woods said. "This means something. Hampton came here last year and ended our home winning streak, so we have a chance to go over there and get some payback."
HOW TO FOLLOW
Saturday's game will stream on FloHoops. Livestats will be available through statbroadcast.
LAST TIME OUT
Norfolk State (1-3) fell to No. 4 Duke, 85-23, on Thursday in front of 1,982 fans at Echols Hall. It was the first game at Echols Hall against a Power Four or ACC program. Alexis Davis and Sana'a Garrett each scored five points, and Cire Worley led the Spartans with seven rebounds. Niyah Gaston and Niylia Wilkins made their season debuts.
"This was the first time they've played since our scrimmage in October, and you could tell," Woods said. "But I think they'll both be fine Saturday and ready to compete."
SPARTAN STORYLINES
Indiana State transfer Clemisha Prackett leads Norfolk State at 9.5 points per game and is shooting 53.8% from the field, all in a reserve role. Garrett is averaging 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds and leads the team with 13 assists. Davis is adding 7.5 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game and has made 16 of 19 free throws (84.2%). Worley is averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. Freshman Asia Keels leads the team with 13 steals.
Free throws remain an advantage for the Spartans. Norfolk State has made 70 free throws this season, 27 more than its opponents.
Ball security will be key Saturday. Hampton is forcing 24.0 turnovers per game, and Norfolk State is committing 16.3.
"We've been preparing for them this week," Woods said. "We weren't looking past Duke, but we made sure we mixed in some of the things Hampton does. We'll do personnel and walk through their sets, and try to keep our legs fresh going into a very important game."
SCOUTING HAMPTON
Hampton is 1-2 under third-year head coach Tamisha Augustin. The Pirates opened the season with road losses at Houston (73-65) and SMU (66-54), then beat The Apprentice School 103-43 on Monday in their home opener. Hampton went 10-21 overall and 4-14 in the CAA last season.
Kiki McElrath leads the Pirates at 23.0 points per game and has made 19 of 20 free throws. She was also Hampton's leading scorer last season. Aaryn Battle adds 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and leads the team with 13 assists and eight steals. Maya Woodson leads Hampton with 6.3 rebounds per game, and Kennedy Hall averages 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Hampton is averaging 74.0 points and 16.0 assists per game. The Pirates are also forcing 24.0 turnovers per game and hold a +8.3 turnover margin.
SERIES HISTORY
Hampton leads the all-time series 59-42. Norfolk State has won four of its last five games at the Hampton Convocation Center. That includes wins in each of the last two seasons there: 62-53 on Nov. 16, 2024, and 59-45 on Nov. 19, 2023.
Hampton won last season's meeting, 57-55, on Nov. 21, 2025, in front of 2,001 fans at Echols Hall. The loss ended Norfolk State's home winning streak. The rivalry dates to 1974-75, when the Spartans won the first nine meetings.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns home for a three-game homestand at Echols Hall. The Spartans host Bluefield State on Tuesday, Nov. 17, Campbell on Friday, Nov. 20, and Appalachian State on Monday, Nov. 23. All three games tip off at 6 p.m., and the Campbell and Appalachian State games will be broadcast on the MEAC Network.
