NORFOLK, Va. ---- The Norfolk State women's basketball team advanced to the MEAC Tournament championship game with a 60-51 victory over No. 2 seed Maryland Eastern Shore in the semifinals on Friday afternoon.
 
Norfolk State improved to 18-13 with the win, while Maryland Eastern Shore fell to 19-14.
 
Jasha Clinton led the Spartans with 19 points, adding four steals, three assists, two rebounds, and one block. Cire Worley also scored in double figures with 15 points while contributing eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore jumped out to an early 6-2 lead before Da'Brya Clark knocked down a historic 3-pointer to set the program's single-season record for most made 3-pointers, trimming the deficit to one. The Hawks responded with an 8-0 run to build a 14-5 advantage with 1:58 remaining in the quarter. Norfolk State closed the gap with back-to-back 3-pointers from Clark and Clinton to pull within three heading into the second quarter.
 
The teams traded baskets early in the second quarter before Worley drilled a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 19-18. The Spartans took their first lead of the game when Worley added another 3-pointer after a pair of free throws, putting Norfolk State ahead 23-21 with 3:06 left in the half. NSU closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 31-25 lead into the locker room.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore held the Spartans scoreless through the first four minutes of the second half, tying the game before Clinton stopped the run with a 3-pointer. Both teams continued to trade baskets over the next three minutes before Norfolk State closed the quarter with a 6-0 run, capped by a Carmen Kweti layup, to take a 42-36 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Norfolk State extended its lead to 10 points early in the final period with a 6-2 run capped by a Clinton layup. The Hawks responded with a 3-pointer with 4:30 remaining, but the Spartans pushed the advantage back to double digits moments later. Back-to-back layups pulled Maryland Eastern Shore within six, forcing Norfolk State to call a timeout with under a minute remaining. The Spartans then sealed the win by knocking down seven free throws in the closing seconds.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Norfolk State defeated Maryland Eastern Shore 60-51
• Clinton led the Spartans with 19 points
• Worley also scored in double-figures with 15 points
• Friday's game featured two lead changes and five ties
• Norfolk State outrebounded UMES 37-28
• NSU shot 60 percent in the second quarter (6-of-10), including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc
• The Spartans shot 82.6 percent at the free-throw line (19-of-23)

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Norfolk State improved to 18-13 with the win
• Maryland Eastern Shore fell to 19-14 with the loss
• The Spartans now lead the all-time series 35-18
• Norfolk State defeated Maryland Eastern Shore in the MEAC Tournament for the first time since 2007
• NSU advanced to its fifth consecutive MEAC championship games
• Clark broke the single-game 3-point record with two made 3-pointers in the game

 
UP NEXT
Norfolk State will face No. 1 seed Howard in the MEAC championship game for the fifth consecutive season. The Spartans will look to secure a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance at 4 p.m. Saturday at Scope Arena.
 
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