The Norfolk State women's basketball team earned one of its biggest NCAA Division I program wins on Sunday afternoon when they beat Missouri 57-54 at Mizzou Arena.
It marked the first time the Spartans defeated an SEC program and the first time since 1979-80 that NSU defeated a power-five conference team.
They improved to 3-0 with the win while Missouri fell to 1-2.
Graduate guard Diamond Johnson led NSU with 17 points, four assists, and two steals. Senior forward Kierra Wheeler and graduate guard Niya Fields also added double-digit figures Sunday with 14 points each.
Missouri grabbed a quick 7-3 lead to open the contest, but Norfolk State pulled within one (9-8) with 5:24 left to play in the opening quarter. The Spartans ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to take their first lead, following a three-pointer from Fields with 51 seconds to play.
Wheeler drained her first 3-pointer of the season, giving the Spartans a three-point lead (19-16) early in the second quarter. The Tigers gained the lead heading into the five-minute media timeout at 21-20, following a 5-1 run.
The Spartans gained momentum late in the half behind two points from Fields and a 3-pointer from Anjanae Richardson at 26-21, forcing Missouri to take a timeout with 2:27 left in the half. The Tigers cut the lead by two heading into the locker room at 26-23
NSU never trailed in the third quarter, securing their largest lead of the game early in the half on a fast break layup to the hoop from Wheeler (33-25). They never let UM get within more than five points, before the Tigers went on a 7-2 run to end the quarter, cutting the Spartans' lead to 42-40.
Mizzou tied the game early in the final quarter, while Norfolk State gained its advantage back at 47-42 with 7:45 remaining. Missouri battled back with an 11-5 run to secure the lead with just 5:12 remaining to play (53-51).
The two teams traded advantages late in the contest and the Tigers tied up the game at 54 with just 2:41 to play. Norfolk State used a key layup from Wheeler with just 43 seconds to play, going up for good and securing the 57-54 win.
