The Norfolk State Lady Spartans sneak past Coppin State 61-53. This win was powered by a Norfolk State 20-1 run that lasted 8 minutes and 37 seconds.

“Well, obviously after last week’s loss, it kind of gave us the edge this week in practice. Head Coach Larry Vickers said This was one of the better weeks of practice that we had, and then I thought we played with a good intensity. Well, even from the beginning, even though offensively our shots wasn’t going, you know that competition. That’s a good defensive team, and you know after the first half you just kind of got to see once you begin to see how they play you can now how to make your adjustments and I felt like in the second half our team did a great job coming out in the third and Meme (Kierra Wheeler) did good running the floor and diamond attacking gaps and you know, just the one more passes created a lot of stuff for our basketball team.”

Both teams thrived defensively early throughout the first half, but both teams struggled on the offensive end, Norfolk State only shooting 2-8 and Coppin State shooting 1-9 the first 5 minutes of the 1st Quarter.

The Game plan for Coppin State was to trap the Spartan guards off of any ball screens. The Spartan guard that was trapped by far the most was Junior Standout Diamond Johnson. “As we watched the film we knew they were gonna trap the ball screen Diamond said, So my coaches told me to keep my dribble go around and make the right pass, so I was just prepared for it.”

Diamond Johnson finished the game with 22 points and 3 rebounds. This is the Sixth game out of the Nine she has played she has scored 20 plus points so she is very used to the pressure. “I feel more free on the court and off the court” Johnson said.

Kicking off the Second Half the Spartans were down 26-22, and then the Spartans came alive. An 18-1 run lasting 8 minutes and 37 seconds. Offensively the Spartans started spreading the ball around instead of taking low percentage shots they got to the basket and converted on better looks.

“At halftime we really went in and thought about the adjustment that we needed to make said Kierra Wheeler. We seen what they were doing offensively and defensively and I don’t think the first half that we did terrible but we were just more poised and making the right reads in the second half to really just extend that lead. So when we got the lead it wasn’t like we just didn’t know when it was coming but we know that we’re just gonna do it”

In the Second half, Junior Forward Kierra Wheeler went from having 6 points and 8 rebounds in the third to finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Lady Spartans have been one of the best teams in the MEAC all year and have started getting used to having a target on their backs.

“I think this week in practice, we kind of like simulated that. Kierra Wheeler said, Especially after I lost to Howard, like it was a big realization for us just to see like, I know a lot of last year is my first year in the MEAC. So they warned me about like, how aggressive and how they was gonna come at us with everything but I don’t think me personally I did a good job at communicating with them that every time they come on the floor, they’re gonna try to beat us so, I think my team knows now like when we stepped on the floor, like you said, everybody gonna try to give us the best and we got to defend, we got to finish around we got to defend green and gold.”

The strong surge in the Second Half put the Spartans firmly in the driving seat to secure the win. The Spartans will be back at home on Monday, January 29, 2024, at 5:30 pm against the Morgan State Bears.