Spartans return top scorer James

Norfolk State women at a glance

Last year:

(tied-fourth).

Coach Larry Vickers (53-49) Season opener: Tuesday at home vs. Liberty, 6 p.m.

17-15, 10-6 MEAC

Strengths

The Spartans return top scorer La’Deja James (13.3 ppg), She is one of just four players who started a game for last season’s team.

Weaknesses

In a word, inexperience. Gone are top rebounders Khadedra Coker (5.6 rpg, 7.1 ppg) and Raven Russell (4.8 rpg, 10.9 ppg). James will have to pick up the slack.

Prediction

The Spartans, who have improved each season under Vickers and are coming off a programfirst third consecutive winning MEAC season that included a runner-up finish in the league tournament, were picked to finish fourth. With what they’ve lost, that’s probably reasonable.

Schedule

5: Liberty, 6 p.m.; 9: at Marshall, 1 p.m.; 14: Virginia University of Lynchburg, 6 p.m.; 20: High Point, 6 p.m.; 22: La Salle, 6 p.m.; 29: North Florida, noon; 30: at Jacksonville, 2 p.m.

5: Longwood, 6 p.m.; 7: at Hampton, 4 p.m.; 15: at West

Virginia, 4 p.m.; 18: Robert Morris, 11 a.m.; 20: at Richmond, 6:30 p.m.

4: Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m.; 6: at Coppin State, 5:30 p.m.; 11: at Howard, 2 p.m.; 18: Maryland Eastern Shore, 4 p.m.; 25: South Carolina State, 4 p.m.; 27: Florida A&M, 4 p.m.

1: at North Carolina A&T, 2 p.m.; 8: Delaware State, 4; 15: Morgan State, 4 p.m.; 17: Coppin State, 5:30 p.m.; 22: at Florida A&M, 2 p.m.; 24: at BethuneCookman, 5:30 p.m.; 29: Howard, 4 p.m.

2: at Delaware State, 5:30 p.m.; 5: at Morgan State, 5:30 p.m.; 10-14: MEAC tournament (at Scope)