NORFOLK, Va. ---- The Norfolk State women's basketball team's quest for a fourth straight MEAC Tournament title fell short as top-seeded Howard defeated the Spartans 53-46 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Norfolk State dropped to 18-14 with the loss, while Howard improved to 26-7.
 
Jasha Clinton led the Spartans with 11 points, adding five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Anjanae Richardson also reached double figures with 10 points, while Carmen Kweti pulled down 13 rebounds.
 
The teams traded baskets early, with Norfolk State taking a 9-8 lead after Cire Worley knocked down a 3-pointer. Howard responded with a 7-1 run to close the quarter and take a 16-9 lead into the second.
 
Norfolk State opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run, tying the game on a Richardson layup that forced a Howard timeout. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes before Worley knocked down another 3-pointer with 4:42 remaining in the half to put the Spartans back in front. Norfolk State pushed its lead to 27-24 late in the quarter, but Howard answered with a free throw followed by a jumper to send the game into halftime tied.
 
Howard took control in the third quarter, opening the half with a 6-2 run before Ciara Bailey answered with a layup to pull the Spartans within two. The Bison followed with a 7-0 run to extend the lead before Clinton stopped the surge with a pair of free throws. Howard added two more free throws and held Norfolk State scoreless over the final two minutes of the quarter to take a 42-33 lead into the fourth.
 
The Bison pushed their lead to as many as 11 points early in the final period before Norfolk State responded with a 6-0 run, capped by a Da'Brya Clark 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 44-39. NSU trimmed the lead to four with 4:57 remaining after a Clinton jumper, but Howard extended the advantage back to six with 2:31 left. The Bison sealed the win at the free-throw line to secure the 53-46 victory.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Norfolk State fell to Howard 53-46
• Clinton led the Spartans with 11 points
• Richardson added 10 points, while Kweti grabbed 13 rebounds
• Saturday's game featured four lead changes and seven ties
• Howard scored 24 second-chance points to Norfolk State's six
• NSU outscored HU in the paint 26-18
• The Spartans bench outscored the Bison's 9-3

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Norfolk State fell to 18-14 with the loss
• Howard improved to 26-7 with the win
• HU now leads the all-time series 41-27
• The Bison snapped NSU's 11-game winning streak in the MEAC Tournament, dating back to 2022

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