NSU holds #4 Maryland close, but falls late 82-69

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Courtesy of NSU Athletics) — The No. 13 seed Norfolk State women’s basketball team fought until the very end, falling at No. 4 Maryland 82-69 in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Saturday evening.

Kierra Wheeler led the Spartans with 20 points, adding seven rebounds and three blocks to her totals. Diamond Johnson (18), Da’Brya Clark (14), and Anjanae Richardson (11) all scored in double-figures in the loss.

The Spartans took control of the contest early, grabbing a pair of steals to build a 5-0 lead. Wheeler put NSU up seven with a lay in on the next possession. Maryland fought its way back into the contest, cutting the Spartans lead to two behind back-to-back baskets from Christina Dalce.

Norfolk State built its advantage back to four points with Richardson getting to the rim for the layup. Maryland took control of the final few minutes of the first quarter, producing a 9-0 run to give the Terrapins an 18-12 edge after one period.

Johnson took over the contest in the second quarter, scoring the first seven points of the period. Wheeler gave NSU a one-point edge with the lay in on the Spartans’ next possession. The two teams traded the lead back and forth, before Clark knocked down a big 3-pointer.

Johnson put Norfolk State back up by five with 1:08 left to play before halftime by nailing a 3-pointer. Sarah Te-Biasu drained a 3-pointer, cutting the gap to 32-30 heading into halftime.

Te-Biasu knocked down a pair of 3-pointers for Maryland to open the second half, before Niya Fields drained a 3-pointer to get the Spartans back within one. UMD built an eight-point advantage with five minutes left to play in the third quarter, before Johnson ended the Terrapins scoring run with a lay in on the following possession.

UMD kept its offensive attack going, scoring the next seven points to build a 10-point advantage with 2:05 left in the third. Wheeler ended the quarter on a strong note for NSU, getting to the rim for a lay in.

Norfolk State carried its momentum into the fourth quarter by scoring the first four points, forcing Maryland to take a timeout. Te-Biasu halted the NSU momentum following the break, extending the UMD lead back to seven points.

Maryland kept its hot 3-point shooting going with a 9-0 run to give the Terrapins a 14-point lead with 5:21 left to play. The Spartans kept fighting by trimming the advantage down to seven with 2:24 left to play. UMD ended the game on an 8-2 run to secure an 82-69 win at the XFINITY Center.

Checking the Box Score

• Senior Kierra Wheeler led the Spartans with 20 points, adding seven rebounds and three blocks
• Diamond Johnson also put together a stellar game for NSU, scoring 18 points while adding six rebounds and three assists.
• Da’Brya Clark (13) and Anjanae Richardson (11) both added double figures in the loss
• Johnson scored 16 of NSU’s 32 points in the first half
• NSU held a two point edge at halftime (32-30)
• Norfolk State shot 53.3 percent in the third quarter (8-of-15)
• NSU forced 10 steals to UMD’s six
• Saturday’s game featured five lead changes and one tie

News & Notes

• Norfolk State ended its historic season with a 30-5 overall record (14-0 MEAC)
• This season ranks as the most wins by a Spartans team in NSU’s Division I histor
• Maryland improved to 24-7 with the win
• UMD advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with the win
• Maryland now leads the all-time series 1-0
• Diamond Johnson finishes the season with 645 points, 207 rebounds, 140 assists, and 123 steals

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