Norfolk State women’s basketball to take on South Carolina State in MEAC Tourney opening round

_{image via Matt Patterson}

Courtesy of Noah Schlekeway, Assistant SID, Norfolk State University

NORFOLK, Va. — The No. 1 seed Norfolk State women’s basketball team has its sights set on its third consecutive MEAC postseason title heading into the 2025 MEAC Tournament this week. 

The 2025 MEAC Basketball Tournament will take place at the Norfolk Scope Arena from Mar. 12-15. The championship game will tip-off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, televised on ESPNews with the winner receiving the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Spartans enter the tournament on a 16-game winning streak, dating back to Dec. 29, 2024.

NSU and the No. 8 seed South Carolina State meet for the third time this season. Norfolk State dominated both meetings with the Bulldogs, including an 83-37 win on Feb. 1 and an 88-57 win on Mar. 1. Sophomore guard Da’Brya Clarkhad two strong games against SCSU with a combined 35 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three blocks, and three assists.

Norfolk State produced a strong second half in one of its most important games of the season, leading to a 68-56 win against Howard on Mar. 6 to close out the regular season. Graduate guard Diamond Johnson led NSU with 25 points, adding eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals. Senior forward Kierra Wheeler posted her 12th double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The first two rounds of the tournament will air live on ESPN+. Ross Gordon will also provide radio coverage on WNSB Hot 91.1 FM for the tournament. Fans can purchase tickets online via Ticketmaster or in-person at the Norfolk Scope Arena box office.

LAST TIME OUT

• Norfolk State defeated Howard 68-56 at Burr Gymnasium on Mar. 6
• Diamond Johnson led Norfolk State with 25 points, adding eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals
• Kierra Wheeler posted her 11th double-double of the season, scoring 15 points while grabbing 10 rebounds
• Anjanae Richardson also scored in double figures with 12 points
• Norfolk State shot 94.7 percent at the free throw line (18-of-19), the second-best performance at the charity stripe in the program’s history
• The game featured four lead changes and three ties
• NSU forced 26 turnovers, resulting in 24 points

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

• South Carolina enters the MEAC Tournament as the No. 8 seed with a 2-28 record (1-13 MEAC)
• SCSU fell to North Carolina Central 68-63 on Thursday, Mar. 6
• Junior guard Shaunice Reed leads the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 11.7 points per game
• The Bulldogs average 49.6 points per game this season
• South Carolina State head coach Tim Eatman is in his third season at South Carolina State

SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 

• Norfolk State leads the all-time series against South Carolina State 33-18
• NSU defeated SCSU twice this season (83-37 and 88-57)
• The Spartans have won the last 16 meetings against the Bulldogs
• South Carolina State last defeated Norfolk State 60-52 on Jan. 23, 2016

THE PATH AHEAD 

• Norfolk State must win three MEAC Tournament games to earn the program’s third-straight MEAC Tournament Championship
• If Norfolk State defeats South Carolina State, the Spartans will play their semifinal game on Friday Mar. 14 at 12 p.m. against the winner of Coppin State and North Carolina Central’s Thursday’s game
• The MEAC Tournament Championship game will tip-off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 15, broadcast live on ESPNews

REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS

• Norfolk State clinched the outright MEAC Regular Season title with a 68-56 win at Howard on Mar. 6
• NSU posted a perfect 14-0 MEAC record, the programs only undefeated conference regular season record since joining the MEAC
• The achievement marked NSU’s fourth regular season title in program history and the fourth under head coach Larry Vickers‘ tenure

POSTSEASON SUCCESS

• Norfolk State has played in the last three MEAC Tournament Championships games, winning the last two titles
• The last MEAC Championship without Norfolk State occurred in the 2021 season when North Carolina A&T defeated Howard

PROTECTING OUR HOUSE

• The Spartans are currently riding a 26-game home winning streak dating back to February of 2023
• Following Jackson State’s loss to Alcorn State and Princeton’s loss to Columbia on Saturday Feb. 24th, Norfolk State now holds the longest active home winning streak in all of Division I
• Norfolk State finished the 2024-25 season 13-0 at Echols Hall, marking its second season in a row posting an unbeaten record at home
• NSU was one of 14 teams that finished unbeaten at home across Division I this season
• Norfolk State is currently 58-10 over the last five seasons inside of Joseph Echols Hall