NORFOLK, Va. — Sophomore Kieche White led the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team with 13 points and five assists in a 62-48 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road loss at Norfolk State University on Saturday afternoon inside Joseph Echols Memorial Hall.
 
The Spartans had a strong defensive performance, holding the Eagles to 27.5-percent shooting percentage while and dominating the paint by outrebounding the visitors, 49-40, and doubling them up in points scored down low, 40-20.
 
Norfolk State improved to 13-11 on the season and 8-3 in the league. Junior La'Deja James led the Spartans with 15 points, senior Raven Russell cashed in 12 points, senior Khadedra Croker supplied six blocks and junior Dana Echols filled up the box score with nine points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
 
The Spartans made their first five shots to jump out 10-2 in starting their wire-to-wire triumph. The run was capped by three consecutive hoops by senior Alexys Long.
 
The Eagles kept Norfolk State without a field goal for the final 7:27 of the first quarter. NCCU managed to score seven points over that span to pull within one, 10-9, after one quarter of play. White scored five points during the rally, including a deep 3-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer.
 
NSU responded to start the second quarter, going on an 11-2 surge to grab its first double-digit advantage.
 
The Spartans held the Eagles to seven made field goals on 36 tries (19.4%) in the first half to lead by 11 (27-16) at halftime.
 
NCCU briefly trimmed the deficit to singles digits twice early in the third quarter on 3-pointers by senior Rodneysha Martin and sophomore Zaria Atkins, but Norfolk State made over half of its shots in the period to extend its lead to 44-28 heading into the fourth quarter. The Spartans stayed comfortably ahead before settling for the 14-point victory.
 
Junior Paulina Afriyie was one rebound shy of her ninth double-double for the Eagles. Afriyie finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Kiyana Brown added four points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Atkins made two of NCCU's five 3-pointers for six points.
 
NC Central (7-18, 4-8) next plays at Howard University on Monday at 5:30 p.m.