NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State women's basketball team continues its season-opening four-game homestand on Sunday, Nov. 8, hosting Penn at 2 p.m. inside Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: MEAC Network
Live Stats: Stats
Radio: Hot 91.1
LAST TIME OUT
Norfolk State (1-1) earned its first win of the season Wednesday, beating UDC 62-51. The Spartans forced 26 turnovers, recorded 16 steals, grabbed 23 offensive rebounds and made 25 free throws. Freshman Asia Keels had six steals, and Alexis Davis grabbed nine rebounds.
That followed a 63-62 loss to Virginia State in Monday's season opener, which ended Norfolk State's nine-game winning streak in the series. Freshman Jizelle James scored 19 points in her collegiate debut, making three 3-pointers and going 10-of-14 from the free-throw line.
SPARTAN STORYLINES
Hofstra transfer Sana'a Garrett leads the team at 11.5 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Indiana State transfer Clemisha Prackett is averaging 10.0 points in 13.5 minutes off the bench, and LeAire Nicks is adding 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Davis leads the team with 7.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 66.7% from the field. Cire Worley has made 10 of 12 free throws and has six assists.
Defense has carried the Spartans through two games. Norfolk State is forcing 24.5 turnovers per game, holds a +10.0 turnover margin and averages 14.0 steals. Keels leads the team with 11 steals, an average of 5.5 per game. The Spartans have also gotten to the line often, making 24.0 free throws per game to their opponents' 13.5.
Sunday's game matches the Spartans' defense against one of the most careful offenses they will see this season. Norfolk State is forcing 24.5 turnovers per game, while Penn is committing just 7.0.
SCOUTING PENN
Penn went 17-10 overall and 7-7 in the Ivy League last season. Head coach Mike McLaughlin is in his 18th season leading the program.
The Quakers are 2-0 for the third straight season. They opened with a 110-27 win over Division III Swarthmore at The Palestra. On Friday, senior forward Tina Njike hit a buzzer-beater to give Penn a 71-70 win at Drexel in the Big 5 opener.
Through two games, Penn is averaging 90.5 points while shooting 51.7% from the field. The Quakers also hold a +18.5 rebounding margin, average 24.0 assists and commit just 7.0 turnovers per game.
Njike leads the team at 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and is shooting 60.9% from the field. Freshman Rachel Thatcher is averaging 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds. Brooke Suttle adds 10.0 points per game and Mataya Gayle adds 9.0, while junior forward Katie Collins leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn leads the all-time series 2-1, and Sunday marks the fourth meeting between the programs. It's the Quakers' first trip to Norfolk since Nov. 9, 2012, when the Spartans won the only previous meeting at Echols Hall, 60-51.
Penn won the other two meetings at The Palestra: 79-49 on Jan. 5, 2014, and 55-50 last season on Nov. 18, 2025. Njike led the Quakers with 12 points in last season's game.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State closes its homestand Thursday, Nov. 12, hosting Duke at 7 p.m. at Echols Hall.
