WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Norfolk State women's basketball team fell 68-59 to Howard in a tightly contested game Saturday afternoon at Burr Gymnasium.
 
Norfolk State fell to 10-12 overall and 5-2 in MEAC play, while Howard improved to 16-7 (6-1 MEAC).
 
Anjanae Richardson led the Spartans with 19 points, adding four rebounds, one assist and one steal. Carmen Kweti contributed 12 points, six rebounds and five blocks, while Da'Brya Clark also reached double figures with 10 points.
 
Richardson and Jasha Clinton sparked the Spartans early, each knocking down a 3-pointer in the opening quarter. Howard responded with a 4-0 run to take an 8-7 lead with 4:57 remaining, before Kweti answered with a layup to put NSU back in front. The Bison closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to carry a 14-9 advantage into the second.
 
Norfolk State opened the second quarter with a 10-4 run, capped by a Richardson pull-up jumper to knot the score at 18-18. Clinton gave NSU its first lead of the quarter with a jumper from the free-throw line just before the media timeout. Clark later buried back-to-back 3-pointers to push the Spartans ahead by five with 2:24 remaining, but Howard countered with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 30-30. Richardson sank two free throws in the closing seconds, sending NSU into halftime with a 32-30 lead.
 
The Spartans extended their lead early in the third with consecutive jumpers from Richardson before Howard battled back to tie the game at 38 with 4:22 left in the quarter. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, and a Jenesis Hill 3-pointer briefly put Norfolk State ahead by one. The quarter ended with the score tied at 44.
 
Howard opened the fourth quarter with an early 3-point edge, but NSU answered with back-to-back baskets from Richardson and Kweti to take a 53-52 lead with 5:12 remaining. Following a Spartans timeout, the Bison used an 8-2 run to seize control. Kweti stopped the run with a layup to pull NSU within three, but Howard closed the game on an 8-0 surge to secure the win.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Howard defeated Norfolk State 68-59
• Anjanae Richardson led the Spartans with 19 points, adding four rebounds, one steal, and one assist to her totals
• Da'Brya Clark added 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block
• Carmen Kweti had 12 points, six rebounds, five blocks, and one steal
• Saturday's game featured 18 lead changes and 10 ties
• HU outrebounded NSU 41-36
• The Spartans outscored the Bison on the fastbreak 12-6

NEWS & NOTES

• Norfolk State fell to 10-12 overall (5-2 MEAC)
• Howard improved to 16-7 (6-1 MEAC)
• HU now leads the all-time series 39-27
• The Bison snapped a five-game losing streak against the Spartans

UP NEXT
Norfolk State will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. at Echols Hall.
 
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