NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State women's basketball team dropped its regular-season finale 74-59 to Howard at Echols Hall on Thursday evening.
 
Howard improved to 23-7 (13-1 MEAC) with the win, while Norfolk State fell to 16-13 (11-3 MEAC).
 
Jasha Clinton led the Spartans with 19 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists. Da'Brya Clark also scored in double figures with 13 points, adding four rebounds and two steals.
 
Howard jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter before Anjanae Richardson stopped the run with a pull-up jumper. Norfolk State cut the lead to five with 6:47 remaining in the quarter, but Howard answered with an 8-0 run. The Spartans closed the quarter by trimming the deficit to 12.
 
Norfolk State opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run, trimming Howard's lead to 26-16. The Bison responded with a 7-3 run before the Spartans cut the deficit back to 10 on a Richardson layup. Howard closed the quarter on a 5-2 run to take a 42-29 lead into halftime.
 
The Bison controlled the start of the second half, opening with an 8-2 run to push the lead to 20. Norfolk State answered with a 6-1 run midway through the quarter, cutting the deficit to 55-39 after a pair of Clark free throws. Both teams traded baskets late in the quarter, and Howard carried a 60-43 lead into the final period.
 
Norfolk State looked to build momentum in the fourth quarter with five straight points from Clark, cutting the Howard lead to 12. The Bison pushed the lead back to 15 with 6:09 remaining before the Spartans trimmed the deficit to 11 with 3:49 left. Howard closed the game on a 6-2 run to secure the victory.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Howard defeated Norfolk State 74-59
• Clinton led the Spartans with 19 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists
• Clark also scored in double figures with 13 points
• Howard never trailed in the win
• HU capitalized on turnovers, scoring 19 points to NSU's nine
• Norfolk State held Howard to 6-for-27 shooting in the second half (22.2%)

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Norfolk State ended the regular season 16-13 (11-3 MEAC)
• Howard ended the regular season 23-7 (13-1 MEAC)
• The Bison now lead the all-time series 40-27
• Howard swept the season series against NSU for the first time since 2010-11
• The Bison won at Echols Hall for the first time since the 2016-17 season

 
UP NEXT
Norfolk State turns its attention to the MEAC Tournament, where it will look to win its fourth consecutive conference championship. The Spartans earned the No. 3 seed and will face No. 6 seed Morgan State on Thursday, March 12, at 2 p.m. inside Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.