BALTIMORE, Md. (Feb. 21, 2022)-
Charlene Shepherd scored a game-high 14 points, pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and tallied a career- and game-high five blocked shots, as Morgan State came from behind to defeat Norfolk State, 51-48 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest on Monday evening at Hill Field House.
The win helped Morgan State (14-7, 8-3 MEAC) split the season series against the Spartans, while improving to 8-1 at home this season. Norfolk State (12-10, 8-3 MEAC), which entered this weekend's road trip in sole possession of first-place in the league standings, would drop both of its games against the conference's two Baltimore schools.
Jayla Atmore came off the bench to score 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while
Kaia Ponder also grabbed seven boards to help the Lady Bears hold a 46-35 rebounding advantage over the Spartans.
The Spartans used a 6-0 spurt to match their largest lead of the contest of eight points (47-39), following a jumper by Camille Downs with 3:58 left in the game.
Morgan State would respond by closing out the game on a 12-1 run to steal victory from the Spartans.
Adia Brisker triggered the run with a three-pointer and Shepherd and
Ja'Niah Henson each knocked down two free throws to bring the hosts within a point at 47-46.
Norfolk State's Mahoganie Williams hit the second of her free throw attempts to give the guests a 48-46 lead with 2:26 remaining. That would be the Spartans' last point of the contest.
With 1:11 to play, Henson found McCalla in the left corner, who proceeded to drain the trey, her second of the game, to give Morgan State a 49-48 lead.
Jayla Atmore would add a layup with three seconds remaining for the game's final score.
Norfolk State was led by Janay Turner, who finished with 11 points and six rebounds. Mahoganie Williams fell short of a double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds and nine points. Williams also recorded a team-high three blocks.
The Lady Bears will travel North this weekend to Dover, Del. to face the Delaware State Hornets on Saturday, Feb. 26. Tip-off is at 2 p.m. at Memorial Hall. The Hornets (0-20, 0-11 MEAC) were dealt a 64-52 loss on Monday at South Carolina State.
