NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State Spartans women's basketball rolled to a 69-43 win over Morgan State Bears women's basketball in the opening round of the MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
Norfolk State improved to 17-13 with the victory, while Morgan State ended its season at 5-26.
 
Anjanae Richardson led the Spartans with 18 points, adding eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists to her totals. Da'Brya Clark (13), Jasha Clinton (12), and LeAire Nicks (10) each added double figures in the win.
 
Norfolk State grabbed an early 3-2 lead in the first quarter on a pull-up 3-pointer from Clark before building a 10-6 advantage on a second-chance jumper by Clinton. The Spartans closed the quarter on a 10-3 run to take an 18-9 lead into the second.
 
Both teams traded baskets early in the second quarter before Nicks knocked down a pair of jumpers to extend the lead to double digits. Ciara Bailey pushed Norfolk State's lead to 28-17 with back-to-back layups with four minutes remaining in the half. The Spartans closed the period on a 7-3 run, capped by a Clinton layup, to carry a 35-20 lead into halftime.
 
Norfolk State opened the second half with an 8-2 run behind six points from Richardson to stretch the lead to 20. The teams traded baskets midway through the third quarter before Morgan State used a 10-2 run to trim the Spartans' advantage to 13 entering the fourth.
 
The Spartans took control in the final period, opening with a 16-1 run during the first six minutes. Bailey and Cire Worley each converted layups during the surge. Richardson added two late layups to extend Norfolk State's lead to its largest margin of the game at 31 points as the Spartans secured the 69-43 victory.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• #3 Norfolk State defeated #6 Morgan State 69-43
• Richardson led the Spartans with 18 points
• Clark (13), Clinton (12), and Nicks (10) each tallied double figures in the win
• NSU held MSU to 20.8 percent shooting (11-of-53)
• The Spartans shot 46.0 percent from the field (29-of-63)
• Thursday's game featured one lead change and zero ties
• Norfolk State outrebounded Morgan State 50-37

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Norfolk State improved to 17-13 with the win
• Morgan State ends its season 5-26
• NSU advanced to the MEAC Tournament Semifinals with the win for the seventh consecutive season
• The Spartans now lead the all-time series 33-19
• Norfolk State extended its winning streak against Morgan State to seven straight
• Clark tied the all-time 3-point single-season record with three made 3-pointers
• Richardson matched her career high of eight rebounds
• NSU's 50 rebounds mark the third-highest single-game total this season

 
UP NEXT
With the win, Norfolk State advances to the MEAC Tournament semifinals to face No. 2 seed Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks women's basketball at 2 p.m. Friday at Scope Arena.
 
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