NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State is crowned the 2023-24 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Champions.  

After several lead exchanges in the fourth quarter, the Spartans pulled away in the final seconds for a final score of 51-46.  

Kierra Wheeler scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds while Diamond Johnson scored all 12 of her points in the second half to lead Norfolk State University to a 51-46 win over Howard University in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship for the second season in a row.  As a result, the Spartans advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season with an automatic bid. Pairings will be announced on Sunday. 

"Last year when we went, there is a special feeling that you get when you see that NCAA March Madness banner as you approach the arena," explains Vickers. "I think we were happy to be there last year. But we now feel that if we rebound the basketball, play defense make some of those shots, we can play with anybody." 

Norfolk State jumped out early but kept within a single digit margin with the Bison throughout the game.  Each team traded leads, parlaying some tough defense and strong rebounding to make it a close contest. 

The Spartans got the edge 11-6 at the end of the first quarter before Howard countered with a 12-9 run to cut the deficit to 20-18 at intermission. 

"They play a matchup zone like no one we have played," acknowledged NSU head coach Larry Vickers of his opponent. "You could see its impact where we were tentative at times and it resulted in missed layups." 

Howard continued to stymie the Spartans and put together an 18-13 run in the third quarter to take a 36-33 lead going into the final stanza. 

That is when Wheeler and Johnson took over. Wheeler connected on 9 of 21 from the floor, scored her team's first nine points. But the Bison refused to let up as Kaiya Creek nailed back-to back three pointers to tie the game at 44 all. The lead exchanged hands and Howard took a 47-46 lead on a Vanessa Blake putback with 1:28 remaining. 

Johnson connected on one of two free throws and from there the Spartans defense and some deft free throw shooting by Da'Brya Clark, who knocked down three of four free throws to close out the scoring and secure the win. 

"We pride ourselves on our defense and were able to make stops down the stretch," noted Vickers, the MEAC Coach of the Year and Tournament Outstanding Coach.  

It marked the fourth time that the two have met in the tournament finals, making this a carbon copy of last year's championship match-up.  

"I am disappointed for our players," lamented Howard head coach Ty Grace, in the post-game press conference. "We played hard and did the things that we planned to do. We just came up a little short. Norfolk State is a good basketball team. I am proud of this team." 

Graduate guard Iyanna Warren led the Bison with a team-high 19 points while Creek added eight points and six rebounds.  

The following is the All-Tournament team: 

Kierra Wheeler, Norfolk State 

Iyanna Warren, Howard University 

Laila Lawrence, Coppin State 

Kaiya Creek, Howard University 

Diamond Johnson was named Most Outstanding Performer in the tournament, while her head coach Larry Vickers earned Tournament Most Outstanding Performer