ORANGEBURG, SC – Visiting Norfolk State scored the game's final seven points in earning a 57-50 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference decision over host South Carolina State Monday night.

Senior Rhein Beamon had 13 points and Esther Udonsi, another senior, added 10 for SC State in the loss, which dropped Coach Audra Smith's team to 9-10 overall and 2-3 in the MEAC. Jaquanna Murray led the Lady Bulldogs on the boards with five and also added five points.

The Lady Spartans were led by Khadedra Croker with 15 points and five rebounds. Alexys Long added 12 points and Kendrea Dawkins 11 for the Lady Spartans who remained unbeaten in league play. Norfolk State climbed to 11-8 overall and improved its unblemished MEAC record to 6-0.

The Lady Bulldogs' Taylor Brown hit her only basket of the game with 2:28 remaining to pull host SC State into a 50-all deadlock, but that would be the final points of the game for the Lady Bulldogs.

The Spartans regained the lead, scoring five points on their trip down court to go ahead 55-50. Long nailed a 3-pointer and Crocker was fouled on the play. The senior converted both attempts from the line with 1:16 to play.

 The Lady Bulldogs got two chances at the basket after calling a timeout with 47.5 seconds but were unable to score and Norfolk State got two free throws for the final margin.

The Lady Bulldogs, coming off one of their best shooting performances of the year in a 72-63 MEAC win over Howard Saturday struggled from both field and the charity stripe on Monday. Smith's team made just 37.0 percent (17-46) of its shots from the field and was only 10-21 from the free throw line.

The Lady Spartans connected on 47.7 percent (21-44) of their attempts from the field but were only slightly better than SC State at the line, nailing just half of their 18 attempts, however, they were 4-4 in the final 55 seconds.

SC State also continued to struggle on the boards as the Lady Spartans had a 36-25 advantage, including nine on the offensive glass.

In a low-scoring first half, Norfolk State led 9-8 after the opening quarter and 23-18 at the half. The host Lady Bulldogs used an 18-14 third quarter to pull to within 37-36 after three periods. SC State scored the first five points of the final period on a 3-pointer by reserve Kyesha Lewis and two Udonsi free throws to build a 41-37 advantage with 9:10 on the clock but the visitors scored seven unanswered points for a 44-41 lead at the 7:21 mark.

After SC State's Kemoni Jenkins, who had four points in the contest, missed two free throws, Beamon deadlocked the contest at 44-all on a 3-pointer with 6:11 to play.

There was one lead change and one tie before Norfolk State went on its game-winning 7-0 run.

The SC State women return to action Saturday when they travel to Savannah State for a league doubleheader, beginning at 2 p.m.
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