The Norfolk State Women’s Basketball team (18-5,7-1) beat the South Carolina State Bulldogs (1-22,0-8) 87-25. This win extends the Lady Spartans win streak to 6 games.
“Well, you know, these games can be tough, especially when you start watching records and you know, it’s been a 12 day break for us.” Head Coach Vickers said. “So, you know, it was important to me that we had a good start. I don’t feel like a warm up was great. I don’t feel like intensity going into the game was great, but when the whistle was blown, we found some intensity but we know championships teams don’t do that. And we got to do a better job getting the right energy.”
The Spartans and the Bulldogs both came out slow in the first quarter. At the first media timeout, the Spartans led 8-4 but were only shooting 3-7 from the field, and 2 turnovers. After the first media timeout, the Spartans came alive, they went on a 14-2 run for 3 minutes and 28 seconds hitting 3 three-pointers. This run ran until the end of the first quarter where the Spartans led 22-8.
In the second quarter, the Spartans dominated holding the Bulldogs to only 4 points in the quarter, and they kept it going into the 4th quarter holding the Bulldogs to 4 points again in the quarter.
“Well, I’ll tell you I thought we did a good job with a couple things today because you know Skye Robinson didn’t play we only had two forwards so we don’t play that much four guard group.” Coach Vickers said. “So I did think they did a good job in the game adjusting is something that we don’t do a ton, you know, defensively, we don’t play that much man. But we did a good job playing man beating our guest today. So there was a lot as a coach that I could be excited about moving forward as we go through this last six game stretch into the tournament.”
In the 4th quarter, the Spartans were up big and Kierra Wheeler took 2 steps back and knocked down a 3, and the bench went crazy. That was Kierra’s first 3 made in conference play, and her second made 3 all season, only on 2 attempts.
“Well, you know, for Kierra, it’s the last piece of the puzzle, you know, she has a pretty good handle. Coach Vickers said”. “You can see that throughout the game. Obviously she’s dominant post presents for us but then our mid range this year is really improved. So it’s the last piece so we shoot it a lot in individuals, but it’s just about her becoming comfortable shooting it in the game. And you know, two for two is great, you know, so I told her in the beginning and a third like if you get one shoot it because you know as the is the last piece for her.”
The Lady Spartans will be back in action on Monday, February 19, 2024, at 5:30 pm against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Echols Hall.
Spartan Echo 