Box Score ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State wiped out a 15-point second-half deficit but the Lady Bulldog comeback fell short as visiting Norfolk State (NSU) closed the game on a 16-11 run, including a 11-12 performance from the charity stripe, to earn a 71-67 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Saturday.

Graduate guard Bryeasha Blair, who sparked the comeback, had all 20 of her points in the second half, -- including 13 in the final quarter -- to lead SC State. Kyesha Lewis added 16 points and Jasmine Williams nine in the loss, which dropped Coach Doug Robertson's team to 6-11 and 1-4 in the MEAC.

Esther Udonsi came off the bench to grab a team-leading six rebounds to go along with six points for SCSU, while Williams had five boards for the Lady Bulldogs who lost the rebounding duel 36-30 to NSU.

The Lady Spartans, who remained undefeated in MEAC play, were led by Kayla Roberts with 20 points and Raven Russell with 16, including a perfect 12-12 from the free-throw line. Russell added a game-high eight rebounds, while Roberts snared seven caroms for NSU, which improved to 10-5 and 3-0 in the league.

The Lady Bulldogs started slowly and fell behind by 19 points -- 32-13 – early in the second quarter, before closing the gap to 37-26 at the half.

Robertson's team got the first five points of the third period, all by Blair, to pull to within 37-31 but the Lady Spartans scored 13 of the next 17 points, 11 by Roberts, to build a 15-point margin, 50-35, with 3:46 left in the third period, which ended with NSU ahead 54-46.

Host SC State began the final period with back-to-back baskets from long range by Blair to cut the margin to 55-52 with 8:03 to play. After NSU's De'Janaire Deas made one of two from the line, Blair got a layup and Lewis scored on a drive to give the Lady Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 56-55, with 4:41 left.

The Lady Spartans got two free throws from Russell to regain the lead and took a 60-56 edge on Roberts' fourth 3-pointer with 3:50 to play. SC State closed the gap to one twice, the last time at 62-61 on two Kemoni Jenkins' free throws with 2:50 remaining before NSU pulled away with seven straight points, including four by Russell from the line with, for a 69-61 cushion with just 1:47 left.

The closest SC State came after that was 69-67 on a Blair 15-footer with 43 seconds remaining. Alexys Long got two free throws for NSU for the final 71-67 margin.

The Lady Bulldogs return to action Monday when they host Hampton in the first game of an MEAC doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.