Title image via Niya Grant Photography
Courtesy of Alysse Scripter, Associate Sports Information Director, Norfolk State Athletics
NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State University women’s basketball team wrapped up a historic season with a final ranking of 24th in the CollegeInsider.com Women’s Mid Major Top 25 Coaches Poll.
The Spartans finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 26-7 that culminated with a trip to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The program achieved new heights with the most victories in the NCAA Division I era. In addition, Norfolk State ended a 21-year drought by winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship and claimed the regular season crown for the second consecutive season.
Several Spartans garnered several post season accolades as head women’s basketball coach Larry Vickers was selected the HBCU National Coach of the Year by BOXTOROW, as well as Camille Downs and Deja Francis begin named HBCU BOXTOROW All-Americans. Additionally, Downs was named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Norfolk State ranked top-5 in the country in five different statistical categories recorded by the NCAA. NSU was first in scoring defense allowing an average of 50.7 points per game and first in field goal percentage defense holding teams to 31.5% shooting percentage. The Spartans ranked fifth in steals per game making 12.1 steals, fifth in three point percentage defense, holding teams to 25.2% from beyond the arch, and fifth in turnovers forced per game, making teams turn the ball over 21.97 times a game.
