Omara Parker finished with a game-high 19 points against Norfolk State.
BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 14, 2012)-Norfolk State's Rae Corbo (15 points) shot 5-of-16 from the floor, but her basket in the paint with 24 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner, as the visiting Spartans spoiled Morgan State's home opener with a 76-75 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory on Saturday afternoon at Hill Field House.
The victory was the second straight over Morgan State, as the Spartans now lead the all-time series, 15-10.
Morgan State had a chance to pull off the victory at the end when Omara Parker drove the left side of the baseline, but her layup attempt rimmed out with just over two seconds left in the game.
Whitney Long led Norfolk State (8-8, 3-2 MEAC) with 16 points, while Quineshia Leonard came off the bench and recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Batavia Owens also tallied a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Rebounding and second chance points proved to be a large part of the reason for the Spartans' victory. Morgan State, which has been outrebounded in all but two of their first 16 games, was once against outrebounded. Behind a game-high 14 rebounds by Rachel Gordon, the Spartans held a 57-33 rebounding advantage over Morgan State, which also helped Norfolk State carry a 19-9 cushion over the Lady Bears in second chance points.
Morgan State (3-13, 0-3 MEAC) trailed 59-49 with 13:10 remaining in the game, when it used a 20-9 run capped off by Keirah Hicks hitting a trey from the left wing to give the Lady Bears their first lead of the second half at 69-68 with 4:01 to play in the contest.
After Tracey Carrington knocked down two free throws to put Morgan up 73-72, Norfolk went ahead by one when Owens scored on a put back and was fouled. Owens would miss the free throw and Parker raced down the floor and scored on a layup to put Morgan back in front 75-74.
Norfolk State's Corbo gave the guests the lead back with her basket in the lane which proved to be the game winner.
Playing in their first home game of the season and first since Feb. 21, 2011 the Lady Bears seemed glad to be at home. Morgan State jumped out to a 19-10 lead, before the visiting Spartans countered with a 9-2 spurt to get within 21-19.
Morgan State held a 30-22 lead with 8:39 to play in the first half, when the visiting Spartans countered with a 24-5 run to close out the half. During the run Long connected on a trey to even the score at 34 all, then scored the next four points in part of her own 7-0 run to give the guests a 38-34 advantage. The Spartans would take a 46-38 lead at the break.
Morgan State was led by Parker, who came off the bench and scored a game-high 19 points, while Carrington, who had not dressed since a 65-48 loss at Stony Brook on Dec. 21, added 15 points and tied team-high honors with six rebounds in a reserve role. Hicks finished with a career-high 12 points, connecting on 4-for-6 from three-point range and Moneshia Davis added 10 points and a game-high three steals.
The Lady Bears will host Hampton in a MEAC game on Monday, Jan. 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Hill Field House. The hour early game time is to accommodate the men's game which is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPNU.
