HAMPTON, Va. — The Norfolk State women’s basketball team forced 26 turnovers on its way to a 62-53 victory over Hampton in the Battle of the Bay.
Senior forward Kierra Wheeler scored 16 points, leading the Spartans while graduate Diamond Johnson (15) and graduate Niya Fields (12) also scored double figures.
Norfolk State took control of the game early, logging a pair of layups before Johnson hit a big 3-pointer. The Spartans continued to build separation a few minutes later with a corner jumper from Johnson and a Da’Brya Clark free throw.
A pair of costly Spartan turnovers resulted in five points from Jasha Clinton to end the first quarter, cutting the NSU lead down to four (16-12).
The second quarter opened with the two squads trading buckets before back-to-back jumpers from Johnson and Da’naijah Williams led to a Hampton timeout with 5:16 remaining in the half.
Back-to-back scores out of the timeout from the Pirates trimmed the Spartans’ lead down to just two. Norfolk State used an offensive rebound and a second-chance 3-pointer from Fields at the top of the key, stopping the Hampton momentum.
NSU kept piling on the pressure, forcing a pair of turnovers on a 7-2 run just before halftime with four points from Wheeler and two points from Anjanae Richardson. Norfolk State took the 33-24 lead into the locker room.
The Spartans opened the second half with a quick bucket from Makoye Diawara, grabbing its first double-digit lead. HU fought back, gaining some ground before the media timeout (39-33).
NSU regrouped following the timeout, forcing three straight Pirate turnovers. Clark helped extend the Spartans’ lead to nine with 3:19 remaining in the third quarter with a layup. Following the layup, Clark forced a pair of steals to help build the Spartan lead back up to 11.
Fields with a smooth 3-point jumper sparked the Spartans at the beginning of the fourth quarter, increasing the lead to 12. The Pirates continued to fight back with a 5-0 run, causing the Spartans to take a timeout with 5:33 remaining in the contest (50-43).
Wheeler stopped the Pirates’ momentum with a hard-fought layup at the hoop, getting fouled, sinking a free throw, and putting the Spartans up five. NSU stopped the HU momentum late with a dish from Johnson to Wheeler, giving the Spartans a seven-point lead with 1:07 remaining (58-50).
Fields sealed the game with a pair of late free throws, clinching the Battle of the Bay 62-53.
Checking the Box Score
- Kierra Wheeler led NSU with 16 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor
- Diamond Johnson scored 15 points and dished out six assists
- Niya Fields also scored in double figures with 12 points
- Kierra Wheeler, Diamond Johnson, and Makoye Diawara led the team on the glass with seven rebounds
- Norfolk State only trailed for 2:51 in the first quarter
- NSU produced a season-high 14 steals
News & Notes
- NSU improved to 4-1 with the victory
- HU fell to 1-2 with the loss
- Hampton leads the all-time series 59-42
- Norfolk State has now won three straight games against Hampton
- Anjanae Richardson tied her career high of four steals
Up Next
Norfolk State returns to Echols Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 20 to take on Radford at 7 p.m.
Source: Norfolk State Athletics/nsuspartans.com
