The Norfolk State women’s basketball team will spend their Thanksgiving holiday in Puerto Rico.
“I want to thank Dr. J and Dr. Webb for funding this expensive trip that it’s about to be,” Vickers said last week, referring to NSU president Javaune Adams-Gaston and athletic director Melody Webb. “Our guarantees aren’t the same as the men’s guarantees. So the men can play a guarantee and go every year, but our administration really kind of financially backed us to go out here for a week.”
The Spartans are playing in the Discover Puerto Rico Shootout and will face three quality opponents in Washington State, Wyoming and Green Bay.
“We have three tough teams,” NSU head coach Larry Vickers said. “I mean, if you checked at the beginning of the year, we were projected to lose all three of these games. So we have to refocus. But I’m happy to go out to Puerto Rico, go to another country with my team. We got two days, well, a day and a half, where we can kind of really do some things and enjoy the country. But I’m not taking my family because it’s a business trip.”
Norfolk State (6-1) is currently riding a three-game win streak and coming off a win in its most recent outing against UNC Wilmington. A 20-point performance from Diamond Johnson helped the Spartans to a 71-52 win.
Opponents
after dropping its two most recent games to Texas Tech and Iowa. The Cougars made the WBIT last season and advanced to the tournament’s semifinals before falling to Illinois. Washington State was picked No. 2 in the West Coast Conference’s preseason poll. The Cougars are led by Eleonora Villa and Tara Wallack in scoring. Villa is averaging 13.4 points per game and Wallack is averaging 12.2 points per game while also leading the team with 6.6 rebounds per game. “]
Wyoming, 1:30 p.m. Friday (FloSports): Wyoming is 2-3, with all three losses coming by an average of 10 points and both of its wins coming against non-division I opponents. The Cowboys were picked No. 2 in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll after making the WNIT last season. Wyoming returns center Allyson Fertig, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season. The 6-foot-4 senior, who was named the MWC Preseason Co-Player of the Year, hasn’t skipped a beat this season and is currently averaging a double-double with 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
Green Bay, 11 a.m. Saturday (FloSports): After starting the season with two straight losses, Green Bay heads to Puerto Rico on a three-game winning streak. The Phoenix (3-2) are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, the program’s first since the 2017-2018 season. Green Bay was selected No. 2 in the Horizon League preseason poll and had three players tabbed to all-conference preseason teams. Guard Natalie McNeal was one of those players. The senior led the Phoenix in scoring last season and is currently doing so again with 13.4 points per game so far this season.
Michael Sauls, (757) 803-5774, michael.sauls@virginiamedia.com
