Norfolk State takes a donkey-kicking from Alabama, 92-30

Courtesy of Notfolk State Athletics

30

Norf

92

 Bama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | The Norfolk State University women’s basketball team returned to the court after being off for a week as the Spartans started slow and could not recover in a 92-30 loss to Alabama on Sunday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum. 

Norfolk State (9-3), which hadn’t played since a 65-44 road loss last Sunday to Old Dominion, trailed 19-7 at the end of one quarter and 44-21 at the half.

Niya Fields went 4-of-5 from the floor to lead the Spartans with nine points, along with one rebound and one blocked shot. Danaijah Williams chipped in seven points, with four boards and one steal.

Brittany Davis led Alabama with 22 points, including six 3-pointers, along with nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and one blocked shot. Loyal McQueen registered 20 points and was 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. In addition, she added three boards, two assists and one steal. Aaliyah Nye tossed in 11 points, three boards, two steals and one assist.

It was a slow start for Norfolk State (9-3) as the Spartans shot 21.4 percent in the first period.

Alabama (8-2) held Norfolk State to just one field goal over the first seven-plus minutes as the Crimson Tide built a 13-2 advantage after a JaMya Mingo-Young layup with with just under three minutes to play in the opening period.

A 3-pointer by Fields snapped an 8-0 run by Alabama and closed the gap to 13-5 with 2:26 remaining.

The Crimson Tide scored four straight points at the foul line before a Fields jumper cut the deficit to 17-7 with 23 seconds left.

However, free throws by McQueen sent Alabama into the second period with a 19-7 advantage..

The Spartans opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run, on buckets by Deja Francisand Skye Robinson, cutting deficit to 21-14 with 8:22 left.

The Spartans, who trailed 27-19 with 6:44 left in the second, went cold from the floor, going more than five minutes without a bucket as Alabama used a 13-0 run to push the advantage to 40-19. A jumper by Fields ended the scoring spell for NSU as the Spartans trailed, 40-21 with 1:20 remaining.

Free throws by McQueen sent the Crimson Tide into the break with a 44-21 lead.

Alabama opened the third period strong, using a 19-0 run over the first six-plus minutes, extending the lead to 63-21 and took a 76-24 advantage into the final quarter.

Norfolk State could not recover from the huge deficit in dropping the road contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Norfolk State shot 20.3 percent (12-of-59) from the floor and 60.0 percent (3-of-5) from the free-throw line
• Niya Fields went 4-of-5 from the floor to finish with a team-high nine points, along with one rebound and one blocked shot
• Danaijah Williams chipped in seven points, with four boards and one steal.
• The Spartans finished with 14 bench points, 12 points in the pain, 11 points off 14 Alabama turnovers, four fast break points and three second-chance points
• Alabama went 27-of-62 shooting (43.5 percent) and 21-of-24 (87.5 percent) from the charity stripe
• Brittany Davis recorded 22 points, including six 3-pointers, with nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and one blocked shot
• Loyal McQueen registered 20 points and was 4-of-4 from beyond the arc, along with three boards, two assists and one steal
• Aaliyah Nye tossed in 11 points, three boards, two steals and one assist.
• The Crimson Tide finished with 37 bench points, 28 points off 22 Norfolk State turnovers, 18 points in the paint, 17 second-chance points and 12 fast break points

UP NEXT 
Norfolk State returns home on Wednesday as the Spartans play host to William & Mary. Tip-off agains the Tribe is set for 2 p.m. from Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall. Fans will be able to follow along live on HBCU League Pass+ or by listening live on WNSB 91.1 FM.