BALTIMORE (Interstat) — The Norfolk State women’s basketball team used a strong second half to defeat Morgan State 69-60 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Thursday night at Hill Field House. The Spartans (15-12) led 31-26 at halftime before outscoring the Bears (4-24) by eight points in the third quarter to seize control. Anjanae Richardson led Norfolk State with 11 points and nine assists. LeAire Nicks and Niyah Gaston each added 12 points. Jael Butler scored a game-high 17 points for Morgan State in front of a crowd of 426. Norfolk State swept the season series, having also won on Jan. 22.

BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second quarter, the Norfolk State Spartans methodically pulled away from the Morgan State Bears for a 69-60 victory in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Hill Field House. The contest, played before an announced crowd of 426, saw the visiting Spartans improve to 15-12 overall and solidify their position in the conference standings. The home-standing Bears, struggling through a difficult season, fell to 4-24. The opening period was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets and ending the quarter knotted at 17. Morgan State’s Jael Butler, a 6-foot-2 forward from Gilroy, California, was active early, scoring 7 points in the frame to keep the Bears pace. Norfolk State’s offense flowed through guard Anjanae Richardson of Portsmouth, Virginia, who facilitated from the outset. The trajectory of the game shifted dramatically in the second quarter. Norfolk State’s defense clamped down, holding Morgan State to just 9 points on a series of missed shots and turnovers. The Spartans, meanwhile, found a rhythm from beyond the arc. Reserve guard Niyah Gaston of Suffolk, Virginia, provided a critical spark off the bench, hitting two three-pointers in a span of 53 seconds to extend a slim lead. Her second triple, assisted by Richardson at the 7:40 mark, gave Norfolk State a 23-17 advantage it would not relinquish. The Spartans closed the half on a 14-9 run, taking a 31-26 lead into the break. The five-point margin was built entirely in the second quarter and proved to be the foundational stretch of the game. Morgan State’s offensive struggles during that span, including a stretch of over four minutes without a field goal, created a deficit the Bears spent the rest of the evening trying to overcome. After halftime, Morgan State showed resilience, matching Norfolk State point-for-point in the third quarter as both teams scored 17. Butler continued to be the primary offensive option for the Bears, working inside for baskets, while Mihjae Hayes of Philadelphia provided playmaking. However, every time Morgan State threatened to cut the lead to a single possession, Norfolk State had an answer, often from Richardson or forward LeAire Nicks of Des Moines, Iowa. The Spartans sealed the victory in the final period by posting their highest-scoring quarter with 20 points. They maintained at least a two-possession cushion throughout the fourth, effectively managing the clock and converting at the free-throw line down the stretch. A key sequence occurred with just over five minutes remaining when Gaston connected on her third three-pointer of the night off a Richardson assist, pushing the lead to 54-47 and stifling a nascent Morgan State rally. Richardson was the orchestrator for Norfolk State, finishing with 11 points and a game-high 9 assists in 35 minutes, narrowly missing a double-double. Her backcourt partner, Jasha Clinton of Virginia Beach, added 8 points, 6 assists, and 2 blocks. The Spartans showcased balanced scoring inside and out, with Nicks contributing 12 points and Gaston adding 12 points on efficient shooting in just 17 minutes off the bench. Morgan State was led by a determined effort from Butler, who logged 38 minutes and scored a game-high 17 points to go with 2 assists. Hayes filled the stat sheet with 8 points and 6 assists, but the Bears’ offense could not sustain enough consistency to overtake the Spartans. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Norfolk State, which defeated Morgan State 78-52 at home on Jan. 22. The Spartans will look to continue their momentum on the road at Coppin State on Saturday. Morgan State, still seeking its first conference win, will host Howard on Saturday.

BALTIMORE (Interstat) — A surging Norfolk State looks to continue its push in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference when it visits struggling Morgan State in a women’s basketball matchup on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at Hill Field House. The Spartans (14-12 overall) enter on a four-game winning streak, including a dominant 93-52 victory over South Carolina State last Saturday. Their recent success contrasts sharply with the Bears’ (4-23) season, as Morgan State has lost four of its last five. Norfolk State’s defense has been the catalyst, holding opponents to an average of 48.3 points during the win streak. A key figure has been forward Carmen Kweti, who is coming off a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in just 18 minutes against South Carolina State. Over her last five games, Kweti has averaged 7.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, providing a major interior presence. Morgan State will counter with guard Jael Butler, its most consistent scoring threat. Butler is averaging 13.8 points over her last five contests, including a 16-point performance in the loss to Delaware State. She will need support from teammates like Kailyn Nash to keep pace with a balanced Norfolk State attack that saw three players score in double figures in the last meeting. That encounter, a 78-52 road win for Norfolk State on Jan. 22, underscores the challenge for the Bears. Morgan State has found victories scarce, with its only win since Jan. 8 being a 73-47 rout of South Carolina State on Feb. 16. The game is critical for Norfolk State to maintain momentum before visiting Coppin State on Saturday. Morgan State, seeking to salvage its season at home, will host Howard next. Tipoff is set for Thursday night in Baltimore.