Hicks nears triple-double as NSU posts lopsided win
NORFOLK — It’s unlikely anyone would’ve caught any virus from falling onto the floor Wednesday afternoon at Scope.
Norfolk State’s women used its overmatched and outmanned opponent to mop it thoroughly.
Chanette Hicks scored 18 points and flirted with a triple-double to lead the second-seeded Spartans to a historic 76-45 dismantling of No. 7 seed Howard in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament.
NSU (19-11) advanced to play today’s winner between No. 3 Morgan State and No. 6 Delaware State, in Friday’s semifinals.
Hicks, a former Maury High and Virginia Tech star who joined the Spartans for her final year of eligibility, was sublime against the Bison (16-15), who were without a pair of injured guards and paid the price.
The 5-foot-6 Hicks finished with nine assists and eight steals to propel NSU to the largest MEAC tournament victory in program history.
Fourth-year coach Larry Vickers stopped short of saying the performance was the Spartans’ most thorough of the season. But it was close.
“It would probably be top three,” he said.
La’Deja James, playing inspired basketball after the accidental shooting death of a cousin last week, added 14 points for NSU, which shot 51.8% from the field.
Putting together a series of game-altering runs, the Spartans led by as many as 36 late in the third quarter. Howard, limited to 31.6% shooting by the Spartans’ quick feet and handsy defense, never again cut the margin below 29.
NSU swept the homeand-home series with the Bison during the regular season, but needed overtime for a 69-60 victory on
Feb. 29. The Spartans won by just three on the road on Jan. 11.
This time, Howard was handcuffed without ballhandling scoring threat Sarah Edmond and fellow guard Iyanna Warren, forcing coach Ty Grace to play three post players. It wasn’t the Bison’s strength.
“I wouldn’t say it wasn’t our night,” Grace said after thanking her departing seniors. “I just think that we were a little undermanned, and Norfolk State did a great job keeping the gas on the pedal.”
Ayonna Williams led Howard, which committed 28 turnovers and didn’t eclipse the 30-point mark until the final minute of the third quarter, with 10 points.
The Spartans’ crippling 20-0 run to start the third quarter served to remove all doubt, giving them a 59-23 lead and allowing Vickers to go to his bench.
Hicks said she was aware of her looming triple-double by then, but there wasn’t much she could do to get it.
“With the big lead, I kind of figured that I wouldn’t be going back in,” she said.
James’ cousin, Ashley “AJ” James, was a star basketball player at Virginia Beach’s Green Run High and Hargrave Military Academy with plans to play next year at Missouri State. He was shot accidentally in Chesapeake.
La’Deja James, a senior guard who played at First Colonial High at the Beach, was fueled by his memory.
“I told our team before we went out, before the game even started, if they don’t have anyone to play for, play for my cousin,” James said. “I feel like that rubbed off on them, and I feel like we did exactly that.”
NSU shot 55.2% in the first half while holding the Bison to 33.3% to take a 39-23 lead into halftime.
It was all but over by then.