Norfolk State outlasts Maryland Eastern Shore

NORFOLK, Va. – Four Spartans scored in double figures to give NSU a 61-57 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday afternoon at Joseph Echols Hall.

Freshman Dominique Harper led the balanced scoring effort for NSU as she finished the game with 12 points. Junior Rae Corbo and freshman Koryn Lawrence contributed 11 points each. Lawrence also grabbed seven rebounds. Junior Quineshia Leonard posted a double-double with 10 points and 14 boards. Also scoring for NSU was senior Rachel Gordon, junior Jazamine Gray and freshman Logan Powell. They finished the game with eight, six and three points, respectively.

For the game, NSU shot 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the field and were only 25 percent (3-of-12) from 3-point range. The Spartans also shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from the free throw line. Defensively, the Spartans out-rebounded UMES, 46-40.

Jessica Long was the only UMES player to score in double figures. She led UMES with 19 points and four steals. The Lady Hawks shot 30.3 percent (20-of-66) and 93.3 percent (14-of-15) from the free throw line.

The Spartans will face North Carolina Central in the final game of the regular season on Thursday. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.umeshawks.com

North Carolina Central drops home finale to Savannah State

DURHAM, N.C. – A 20-5 run powered by the Savannah State Lady Tigers during the final 11:33 of the first half proved to be too much for the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team to bounce back from as the Lady Eagles (10-18, 5-10 MEAC) dropped a 74-50 decision to SSU (16-13, 9-6 MEAC) during NCCU’s final home contest of the season on Monday in McDougald-McLendon Gym.

The opening eight minutes of action were headed by Jessica Freeman as the redshirt senior collected eight of the Lady Eagles first 15 points, connecting on back-to-back threes, giving NCCU its largest lead of the contest at the 12:24 mark as the Lady Eagles led SSU 15-9.

Following the Lady Tigers immense first half ending run, NCCU found itself down by 10 at the intermission as the Lady Eagles trailed SSU 31-21.

Freeman led NCCU heading into the locker room with 11 points, shooting 4-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from behind the arc for the Lady Eagles.

In addition to Freeman’s 11 points, juniors Racquel Davis and Khyra Conerly also put up double-figure scoring performances during NCCU’s shortcoming.

Davis added a team-best 14 points while pulling down a game-high seven boards, and Conerly collected an additional 11 points and six boards for the Lady Eagles.

The Lady Tigers were led by Senior Ezinne Kalu who earned a game-best 25 points, six boards, six assists and four steals for SSU while Jasmine Kirkland led the Lady Tigers with seven rebounds.

As a team, NCCU shot 14-for-52 from the field (26.9%), 4-for-11 from behind the arc (36.4%), 18-for-31 from the free throw line (58.1%), out rebounded SSU 36-34, dished seven assists, while earning three blocks and six steals.

The Lady Eagles return to action as they close out the 2013-14 regular season on the road in Norfolk, Va., where NCCU will battle with the Norfolk State Spartans on Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m.

For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ssuathletics.com