Thanks to established star Kyra Wheeler and newcomer star Diamond Johnson, the Norfolk State women pulled off a thrilling comeback Monday night and held on to win 85-71 in overtime at High Point.
On the brink of defeat, NSU outscored the Pointers 27-4 without making a field goal in the final seven minutes, including 18-4 in the five-minute overtime period.
Wheeler scored 33 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, a career high.
Johnson, in her second game since a judge in West Virginia ruled multiple transfers like her eligible for the rest of the season, scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The former Phoebus High, Rutgers and North Carolina State guard made crucial late shots as NSU (8-4) handed the Pointers (4-7) their first home loss in five games.
Lauren Bevis scored 29 points for High Point. She was 6 of 14 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 at the free throw line.
After High Point overcame a 14-6 deficit, the game was close throughout until the Pointers went on a 9-0 run to take a 67-58 lead, capped by a Callie Scheier 3-pointer with 2:04 remaining in regulation.
But NSU responded in amazing fashion. Johnson hit one of two free throws, Anjanai Richardson made a layup and Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left to give the Spartans a 67-64 lead.
After a High Point turnover and an NSU offensive rebound, Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left. The Pointers held for one shot but committed another turnover, setting up overtime.
And the momentum continued. Two free throws by Wheeler, a jumper by Nia Fields, and a long-range basket by Johnson gave NSU a 74-67 lead, ending a 16-0 Avalanche run. After Bevis made three free throws at 2:36, Johnson hit another 3-pointer for a 77-70 lead at 2:25.
NSU will not play again until a December 28 home game against UNC Wilmington.
More women
Bryant and Stratton 66, Catawba Valley Community College 50: Bryant and Stratton improved to 11-1 with their win at the Atlantic Shores Gym.
Lakeland High School graduate Jaylen Brown scored 18 points, Norview graduate Rakila Jones had 16 points, eight steals and six assists, and LaTanya Perry had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats, who outlasted visitors from Western North Carolina. 24-11 in fourth place. A quarter to open a close match.
Talwood High School’s Yvette Sandifer added nine points and seven assists for Bryant & Stratton, which has won seven straight games since a 60-59 loss Nov. 18 at Cape Fear Community College. The Bobcats — whose head coach is Morey and former Virginia Cavaliers Cornell Parker — are 9-1 in Region 10 Division II of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
No. 2 UCLA 77, No. 13 Ohio State 71: Charisma Osborne scored 19 points and Lauren Bates scored 17 for the Bruins in Columbus, Ohio.
UCLA (10-0) overcame a sluggish first half and dominated the boards. Ohio State (9-2) started the game on a 7-0 run, shooting 3-of-4 and forcing two turnovers, but the Bruins fought back.
Jesse Sheldon scored 30 points and Taylor Terry added 20 points for the Buckeyes.
West Virginia 77, Wright State 72: Junior guard JJ Quinerly, a Lake Taylor High School graduate, produced 30 points to help the host Mountaineers (10-0) overcome a 60-55 deficit to the Raiders (6-5).
Before fouling out at 65 points, she added six steals in her fifth straight game with at least 20 points.
East Carolina 65, George Mason 44: Sophomore Amiya Joyner had a career-high 27 points, 16 rebounds, six blocks, three assists and three steals as the Buccaneers (6-3) cruised past the Patriots (8-2) in Greenville, North Carolina.
Taylor Lake graduate Jazmine Doster led George Mason with nine rebounds and two points. Mason’s Kennedy Harris, a freshman from Hampton High School, had seven points.
Hockey moves up one place in the poll: Virginia Tech (8-2) rose one spot to No. 15 on the AP list after dominating Rutgers on Sunday.
Other ranked ACC teams were: No. 3 North Carolina State, No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 19 Louisville, co-No. No. 21 Florida and No. 24 North Carolina. Next up for the Wolfpack (11-0) is the Anne Donovan Classic at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Old Dominion.
men
Wake Forest 88, Delaware 59: Hunter Sallis scored 19 points, and Andrew Carr added 15 points and 11 rebounds, as the Demon Deacons (7-3) defeated the Hornets (6-8) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake has won five straight games, all by double digits.
Martaz Robinson had 15 points and eight rebounds for DSU.
JMU and UVA hold steady: James Madison (10-0) retained No. 20 and Virginia (9-1) remained at No. 22 on The Associated Press Top 25 on Monday.
The Dukes and Cavaliers besieged No. 21 Duke (7-3) for the second straight week. UVA’s opponent on Tuesday night, Memphis (8-2), climbed into the rankings after recent wins at VCU, Texas A&M and at home against then-No. 13 Clemson.
Besides UVA and Duke, the Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the top 25 were No. 11 North Carolina and No. 18 Clemson. Miami barely fell, falling to first place among the “others who got the vote.”
In the coaches poll, new No. 20 UVA and new No. 21 JMU flipped positions from last week, while Clemson ranked 18th and Duke 19th. UNC was 13th, but the coaches’ top five mirrored the AP: Purdue, Kansas, Houston, Arizona and Connecticut.
The Norfolk State women’s basketball team pulled off a stunning comeback victory against High Point, securing their impressive 11-1 record for the season. With an impressive display of skill and determination, the Spartans managed to overcome a major deficit and secure a thrilling win. This victory has undoubtedly solidified their position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of collegiate basketball. The Norfolk State women have proven themselves as resilient and talented athletes, and their success continues to captivate fans and critics alike.