NORFOLK (Interstat) — Virginia State held off Norfolk State 63-62 on Monday, getting a late free throw from Kendahl Spearman to win a non-divisional women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Echols Hall. The game was played in front of 323 spectators. Norfolk State, known as the Spartans, fell to 0-1 on the season. Virginia State protected a narrow lead through the final minutes and survived a fourth-quarter comeback bid by the hosts. The visitors led after every quarter until Norfolk State tied the game late, but Virginia State made the final scoring play.

Virginia State opened with the first six points and forced Norfolk State to chase early. Taylor Ragland started the scoring with a jumper, Shayla Wyatt added a layup and Tamia Darden hit a floating jump shot for a 6-0 advantage. Jizelle James put the Spartans on the board with two free throws, but Virginia State answered with a Ragland layup and two Briseis Estrada free throws to take a 10-2 lead. Norfolk State began to settle in when Dahni Suggs scored inside, James hit a 3-pointer and Alexis Davis converted a layup. Virginia State responded with a Darden 3-pointer, a Marasia Dyes layup and a Dyes free throw. Davis scored again inside for the Spartans, and Dyes added a jump shot. James made two free throws and Ragland made two more for Virginia State, which led 20-13 after the first quarter.

Norfolk State chipped away in the second quarter. Asia Keels opened the period with a 3-pointer, and James later added a 3-point jump shot as the Spartans cut into the deficit. Virginia State answered with two Kendahl Spearman free throws and a Raigan McCalla tip-in layup. Darden made a layup for the visitors, and James made two free throws for Norfolk State before hitting a 3-point jump shot. Alexis Davis made a free throw for the Spartans, but McCalla scored another tip-in layup for Virginia State. Sana’a Garrett made a layup for Norfolk State, and Spearman closed the half with a layup that gave Virginia State a 30-24 lead at the break. Virginia State extended its advantage in the third quarter on a Spearman layup, two free throws from Ragland and a Darden 3-pointer. Norfolk State stayed within reach behind baskets from Prackett, Garrett and Nicks. Estrada hit a 3-pointer and Jada Clark added a jumper for Virginia State, while Chloe Mills also connected from deep. Norfolk State closed the third quarter with free throws and a Nicks layup, but Virginia State still led 47-39 going into the final period.

Norfolk State made its move in the fourth quarter. Nicks scored inside early, but Spearman answered with a 3-pointer for Virginia State. The Spartans then rallied from a 50-41 deficit. James hit a 3-point jump shot, Keels made a layup and Davis scored a layup to tie the game at 50. Davis later made free throws to push Norfolk State ahead, and the lead changed hands repeatedly over the final four minutes. Ragland tied the game with a pullup jumper, and Nicks made free throws to put the Spartans in front. Virginia State answered with a layup from Alaya Monroe-Sutton and a tip-in by McCalla. Davis made two free throws to cut the deficit to one, and Nicks made two more free throws to give Norfolk State a 61-60 lead. Spearman then made two free throws with 20 seconds remaining to put Virginia State back ahead. James tied the game with a free throw with 15.8 seconds left, and Spearman made the winning free throw with 2.9 seconds remaining. Norfolk State could not answer before time expired.

James led Norfolk State with 19 points, six rebounds and one assist in 36 minutes. Davis finished with 12 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes, while Nicks also scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds to go with one block in 21 minutes. Garrett added five points, four rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes. Keels had eight points, three rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes. Worley contributed five rebounds, six assists and one block in 29 minutes. Prackett scored four points and pulled down two rebounds in seven minutes, while Suggs added two points and one rebound in three minutes. Elise McClain played nine minutes and LaChelle Moreland-Jones played five minutes for the Spartans.

Ragland was a steady presence for Virginia State, scoring on jumpers, layups and free throws. Darden connected from 3-point range and added a floating jump shot. Spearman made free throws and scored on layups and a 3-pointer, including the decisive free throw. Estrada made two free throws and a 3-pointer. McCalla’s tip-in layups helped Virginia State maintain its edge, and Dyes contributed a three-point play in the first half. Wyatt, Clark, Mills and Monroe-Sutton also made key baskets in the victory.

Norfolk State finished with 62 points from 74 possessions and an offensive rating of 83.7. The Spartans had eight offensive rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and 13 turnovers. Virginia State’s late execution at the free-throw line made the difference in a game that featured several momentum swings. The visitors built their early lead with balanced scoring and held off Norfolk State’s fourth-quarter surge. The Spartans’ comeback was fueled by James, Davis, Nicks and Keels, but Virginia State answered each key basket down the stretch. Spearman’s final free throw capped the scoring and gave Virginia State the one-point win. The decisive sequence came after Norfolk State tied the game on James’s free throw, leaving Virginia State with the final possession.

Norfolk State is scheduled to host Dist. Columbia in its next game. The Spartans will then host Penn, Duke, Bluefield St., Campbell and Appalachian State in a run of home games. They are set to visit Hampton and Radford before traveling to Iowa State, and they also host Chowan. No game simulator, point spread, betting line or over-under information was available.