NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State University women's basketball team broke open a tied game with a 22-5 third quarter and forced 26 turnovers to beat District of Columbia 62-51 on Wednesday at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall, earning its first win of the season.
The Spartans (1-1) never trailed. They scored 27 points off turnovers and had 16 steals.
Sana'a Garrett led Norfolk State with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Cire Worley added 17 points and went a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. Off the bench, Clemisha Prackett scored 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 8-of-12 at the line, with six rebounds and three steals. Asia Keels had a game-high six steals to go with five rebounds. Alexis Davis grabbed nine rebounds, five of them on the offensive glass. LeAire Nicks finished with six points, six rebounds and three steals.
How It Happened
- Norfolk State opened the game on a 6-0 run. Worley made four free throws and Garrett scored on a fast-break layup.
- UDC fought back to tie the game at 13 with 3:07 left in the first quarter. The Spartans closed the period on a 7-0 run, capped by two Worley free throws with six seconds left, to lead 20-13.
- The Firebirds held NSU to four points in the second quarter. LeAsia Todd's two free throws with 36 seconds left tied the game at 24 heading into halftime.
- Garrett hit a jumper and Worley drained a 3-pointer to open the second half, and the Spartans never let UDC tie it again. Norfolk State pressed throughout the third quarter, forcing 11 turnovers and holding the Firebirds to 2-of-7 shooting.
- NSU closed the third on a 10-0 run over the final 3:40. Prackett scored two inside baskets, Worley converted a fast-break layup and Garrett added a layup off a steal. Worley's jumper with seven seconds left made it 46-29 entering the fourth.
- UDC got within 10 three times in the fourth quarter but never got closer. Garrett's layup with nine seconds left set the final margin.
Inside the Numbers
- Norfolk State outscored UDC 27-20 in points off turnovers. The Spartans also won second-chance points 20-5, fast-break points 17-9 and points in the paint 30-24.
- NSU outrebounded the Firebirds 43-38, including 23 offensive rebounds.
- The Spartans went 25-of-36 at the free-throw line, while UDC went 15-of-21.
- Norfolk State held UDC to 34.7 percent shooting and 2-of-16 from 3-point range.
- Aliyah Eason led UDC with 20 points. Todd posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, and SeLah Foreman blocked three shots.
Coach's Comments
"A win is a win, but it's not what we wanted," said head coach Jermaine Woods. "We didn't shoot the ball well. We defended, though. We did a good job defending and held them to 35 percent shooting. When we get open shots, we've got to take them and make them."
"We put them away in the third quarter. We pressed the whole third quarter, and that's where the game changed."
On Prackett: "She didn't play that many minutes last game, and she and I had a good meeting. She's a 25-to-30-minute player, and she was big for us tonight. That's why she's here. I'm proud of her for bouncing back from a game where she probably should have played more and coming back tonight to give us great minutes."
"Every captain is a leader, but every leader is not a captain. People follow her, and when she's positive, we're pretty good."
Player's Comments
"The third quarter was an amazing quarter," said Prackett. "I liked that Coach put us in the press, because it sped up my mental a whole lot. My mindset shifted from the first half to the second half coming out of the locker room."
On being a leader for the team: "I'm the energy. As long as I keep the energy going and keep doing what my coach is asking me to do, I'll be fine. Last year I had to take a back seat a little bit, but now I'm stepping into a leadership role as a senior."
Up Next
Norfolk State continues its season-opening, four-game homestand when it hosts Penn on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m., and the game will stream on the MEAC Network. The homestand wraps up Thursday, Nov. 12, when the Spartans host Duke at 7 p.m.
