Norfolk State Women Hang on for 59-54 Win over SC State

Junior guard Kourtney Williams

Box Score ORANGEBURG, SC – Norfolk State's Rae Carbo had five of her 17 points and a key steal in the final 90 seconds to thwart a South Carolina State comeback as the visitors held on for a 59-54 win over the host Lady Bulldogs in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest.

SC State, down by 17 points with 14:11 left, roared back behind the shooting of Kourtney Williams, who finished with a game-high 23 points and Mykala Jones, who added 17, to take a 52-50 lead on a 3-pointer by Jones with 1:54 remaining.

Koryn Lawrence, who had a perfect night, converting all four field goal attempts and her only try from the line, tied the contest at 52-all on a layup before Corbo converted a steal for a 54-52 Lady Spartan edge with 1:00 on the clock. Two free throws put Norfolk ahead 56-52 with just 27 seconds left, but Williams got a short jumper to pull SC State to within two points, 56-54, but Corbo made 3-4 from the line in the final seconds to make the final count 59-54 and seal the win for the Lady Spartans.

"We made a great comeback," said SC State head coach Doug Robertson. "We put a lot of pressure on their guards and actually got the lead late in the game. Norfolk State had only eight turnovers at the half and finished with 27 for the game, so our pressure helped us to get back in the game and actually take the lead, but unfortunately, we held it for all of 15 seconds as we committed a costly turnover and they got a layup on the other end.

"We are struggling and are really in a kind of funk," continued Robertson. "We have to play better, become a little more creative in getting our offense going. We tried something different tonight, starting Deja Jackson instead of Ci Ci Goodwin, who has fouled out in our last three games. We wanted to have her (Goodwin) on the floor at the end for rebounding, an area we are still not doing as well as we should."

SC State, which dipped to 5-11 overall and 3-3 in the MEAC, was outrebounded 48-23 by Norfolk State, marking the second straight outing Robertson's team was beaten on the board by double digits. The Lady Bulldogs were outrebound 43-31 in a 71-53 loss to Bethune-Cookman on Monday.

The Lady Spartans, 9-9 and 5-2 in the MEAC, took control early, building a 31-18 lead at the half. The visitors continued their dominance early in the second half, moving out to a 43-26 advantage when Jazamine Gray nailed a 3-pointer with 14:11 left.

The Lady Bulldogs still trailed by 14 points, 49-35, with 8:11 left when Williams and Jones led the comeback that just fell short. Jones got a 3-pointer and after a free throw by Corbo, connected again to cut the deficit to 50-41 with 7:26 showing. It was the first time the SC State deficit was in single digits since the 6:28 mark of the first half and the score 22-14 Norfolk State.

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