Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications


Box Score


DURHAM, N.C. – Camille Downs scored a career-high 28 points and hit four of Norfolk State's 10 3-pointers as the Spartans returned from a three-week layoff to beat North Carolina Central 80-70 in the MEAC opener for both teams on Monday night at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

Downs scored 14 points in the first quarter alone and topped 20 for the third straight game as the Spartans (5-7, 1-0 MEAC) led wire to wire. She added eight rebounds and three steals in just 22 minutes before fouling out in the fourth.

Both teams were playing their first game in three weeks due to issues related to COVID-19. It was the Spartans who shook off the long layoff fastest, as Downs canned all four of her 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Spartans jump out to a 20-6 lead. Janay Turner and Makoye Diawara added 3-pointers in the second quarter, but the Eagles hit three triples of their own and took advantage of an advantage at the free throw line to cut their deficit to 37-34 at the half.

NSU faced foul trouble in the third period, as Downs missed most of the period after picking up her fourth. But the Spartans got contributions from a number of players to maintain their advantage. NCCU drew within 39-37 on a basket by Nyasia Palmer three minutes into the quarter, but NSU responded with a 10-0 run. Niya Fields and Turner both hit 3-pointers in the run, while both Diawara and Armani Franklin scored inside the arc to push NSU's lead back to double digits.

The fourth quarter played out much the same way. The Eagles (1-9, 0-1) got as close as four, 56-52, early in the period before the Spartans used another 10-0 spurt to all but decide the outcome. Franklin and Danaijah Williams both hit treys in the run and Deja Francis scored four points.

Downs returned to the game midway through the four to help ice it, scoring eight points in the quarter before fouling out in the final minute.

Francis chipped in 12 points and a team-high six assists for NSU. Diawara just missed her first double-double of her career, matching her career high with nine points while grabbing a game and career-best 10 rebounds. NSU also got 25 points from its bench – eight from Turner, seven from Williams, six from Armani Franklin and four from Lacee Savage. Fields added six points, five assists and four steals.

NSU shot 48 percent from the floor for the game, 56 from 3-point range. The Spartans' 10 made 3-pointers were their most since hitting 13 against Virginia-Lynchburg on Nov. 14, 2019.

Diamond Thomas scored 18 and Ashlyn Lockard 15 for the Eagles, who shot 34 percent from the floor.