title image via Fannae Webb
Courtesy of Noah Schlekeway, Assistant SID
AUBURN, Ala. — The Norfolk State women’s basketball team earned its second SEC upset win of the season, taking down Auburn 63-57 at Neville Arena Sunday afternoon.
Graduate guard Diamond Johnson led the Spartans with 17 points. She added 11 rebounds, four steals, and three assists to her totals. Sophomore guard Da’Brya Clark also scored in double figures for NSU with 15 points.
The Tigers took the early 6-4 first-quarter lead behind a pair of free throws from Deyona Gaston. Clark answered back with a pair of baskets and a free throw, gaining the advantage back. NSU ended the first quarter on an 8-2 run, capped off with Johnson’s free throws with 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Forward Da’naijah Williams extended the NSU advantage to nine early in the second, picking off a pass and taking it to the hoop, forcing a Tigers timeout. Johnson saved the next possession for the Spartans, tossing the ball over her head and finding Clark, leading to the first 3-pointer of the game from Anjanae Richardson.
The Tigers went on a 6-2 run midway through the second quarter, trimming the lead to 26-22 with 2:19 left in the half. Auburn cut into the Norfolk State advantage behind a jumper from Audia Young. Clark answered with a buzzer-beater from just beyond the 3-point line right before the half, giving NSU the 31-24 edge after the first half.
Johnson scored the first basket from beyond the 3-point line to continue building the NSU lead. Clark found Makoye Diawara for the hard-fought second-chance layup with 7:43 left in the third quarter. The Tigers continued to fight back, draining a fastbreak layup, before NSU capped off the third quarter with a 9-3 run, claiming a 48-35 lead after three quarters.
Junior forward Ciara Bailey scored a big layup behind a dish from Richardson to begin the fourth quarter. Diawara extended the advantage to 17 with 6:57 left to play in the game, but Auburn battled back with an 8-0 run to force a Spartans’ timeout. Clark halted the Tigers’ momentum following the timeout with a pair of fastbreak free throws.
Williams grabbed a crucial offensive rebound and drained the putback layup with 2:21remaining in the game. The Tigers used a big 3-pointer by Young to get within three points, but graduate guard Niya Fields answered back with a 3-pointer of her own. Diawara put the game away with a layup, giving Norfolk State an upset victory on the road.
Checking the Box Score
- Diamond Johnson posted her fifth career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds
- Johnson also added four steals and three assists to her totals
- Da’Brya Clark also scored in double figures with 15 points
- NSU shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half (13-of-26)
- The Spartans outrebounded the Tigers 42-33
- Sunday’s game featured four ties and two lead changes
News & Notes
- Norfolk State improved to 12-4 with the win
- Auburn dropped to 9-4 with the loss
- The Spartans handed the Tigers their first loss at home this season, snapping Auburn’s eight-game winning streak at Neville Arena
- NSU ties the all-time series 1-1
- Norfolk State claimed its second win over an SEC team this season, with the first win happening on Nov. 10 at Missouri, 57-54
- The Spartans finished the month of December 5-1
- Diamond Johnson became the first player to lead NSU in points (17), rebounds (11), steals (4), and assists (3) since Chanette Hicks (Jan. 11, 2020)
Up Next
Norfolk State returns to Echols Hall on Saturday, Jan. 4, opening MEAC play against Maryland Eastern Shore. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
