Spartan Sports
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Norfolk State Spartans held off Howard to win the 2023 MEAC Championship. While in no way
shape or form was it easy the Spartans came out victorious.
Makoya Diamara led the way for the Spartans with 11 points and 9 rebounds. NSU's offense
struggled early in the first being down 10-2 at the first media timeout. Crystal white came into
the game and offered a spark for the Spartan's offense.
“It felt good,” Crystal said. It felt good to get into the rhythm and flow of the game early and just
knock down my shots my team needed me to.” Destiny Howell gave NSU the most problems,
she had 21 points at half time shooting 7-12 and making any shot at will. At the half, Howard led
30-29.
After the first half, Destiny Howell went cold. She came out of half and missed 4 shots, the
Spartan’s 3-2 zone slowed her and the Bison offense down. At the end of the third quarter, NSU
led 41-35. NSU went on an 8-0 run at the end of the quarter. NSU's defense shut Howard down
to only 5 points in the quarter.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, NSU's reached their largest lead at 10, 47-37. With 5
minutes left in the game, it felt like NSU was in the driver's seat. Then Destiny Howell came
alive and hit three clutch threes for Howard to bring them right back into the game.
With 35 seconds left, NSU led 49-46 then Howard begins to foul to force NSU to the line. Niya
Fields who had been quote all game came in clutch and went 7-9 from the line in the 4th quarter
alone to lead the Spartans to victory.
“I just came in my place and relaxed,” Niya said. “This is something we have practiced all year.”
NSU won the game 56-52. “I don’t know man our emotions got the best of us a little bit but
when came down to it Niya made some great free throws down the stretch, she stayed composed
and led our team in the last 5 minutes, and now we're the champs,” Head coach Vickers said. “It
feels amazing to be champs we worked so hard for this the daily grinds, the late nights, the
sleepless nights. It makes it worth every minute.”
The Spartans punched their ticket to the NCCA Women’s tournament, with all their fans in
attendance at Norfolk Scope Arena.
NSU WOMEN WIN MEAC
Norfolk State University's Men's Basketball Team return home glorious from Puerto Rico
By Ahmad Garnett
By Ahmad Garnett