NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY Norfolk State 2015-16 Season Preview Coming off its most successful season since 2001-02, the Norfolk State women’s basketball team is aiming to continue its ascent toward the top of the conference standings in 2015-16. The Spartans will have to do it without the top scorer in the program’s Division I era, but do return star forward Kayla Roberts and depth at the guard positions while welcoming in a talented class of recruits. NSU won 14 games last year, including 11 in a MEAC season that ranks as the Spartans’ best since the program’s MEAC championship year of 2001-02. A big reason for that was a memorable year for All-MEAC guard Rae Corbo, who finished her stellar career in 2014-15. She graduated as the school’s No. 6 all-time scorer and scored more points than any Spartan in the Division I era. Corbo averaged 20.8 points per game last season, second in the MEAC, and is the school’s all-time leader in career free-throw percentage (82.6 percent). While NSU won’t necessarily count on one player to replace Corbo’s production this season, the Spartans have a number of players in their frontcourt and backcourt capable of assuming larger roles. Sophomore forward Kayla Roberts became NSU’s first-ever MEAC Rookie of the Year last season, complementing Corbo’s scoring from the outside by averaging 12.2 points and a MEAC-leading 9.6 rebounds per game. Like Corbo, Roberts was a second-team All-MEAC selection. She was also a seven-time MEAC Rookie of the Week award-winner last year. Roberts’ older sister, Nia, was also a key contributor. Nia Roberts, formerly of the University at Buffalo, joined the rotation for the second semester and averaged 6.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Along with the Roberts sisters, NSU also welcomes back some depth up front in the form of junior forwards Amber Brown (3.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and Ronesia Spicer (1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and sophomore center Shayla Tanner (1.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg). La Salle University graduate transfer Siobhan Beslow, who averaged 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Explorers of the Atlantic 10 last year, adds a talented, veteran presence to the NSU frontcourt. Despite Corbo’s loss, the NSU backcourt returns firepower and experience. Junior shooting guard Koryn Lawrence had a breakout year in 2014-15, averaging 9.9 points per game. That figure rose to 11.1 in conference play, as Lawrence proved to be one of the team’s most efficient shooters (43.9 percent from the floor, 90.2 from the free-throw line). Senior Brehanna Daniels (2.3 ppg) and juniors Dominique Harper (1.8 ppg) and Kieera Basey (0.9 ppg) add depth to the NSU backcourt. All proved capable of giving the Spartans key minutes off the bench last season, and will compete for expanded roles this year. NSU’s six-play recruiting class is heavy on guards who are capable of contributing immediately. High school signees Quiera Gilmore, Yazmen Hannah and Alexys Long and junior college additions Kiara Phillips and Ashante Doby add depth in the backcourt. Gilmore and Doby will compete for time at the point guard position, while Hannah, Long and Phillips can provide scoring from the wing. The Spartans’ 26-game regular-season schedule includes dates with Mississippi State of the SEC, the University of Virginia of the ACC and both William & Mary and UNC Wilmington of the CAA. UNCW, Oakland and USC Upstate visit Echols Hall this season as part of the Spartans’ 11-game home slate. 48 @MEACSPORTS MEACSPORTS NSU Team Information 2014-15 Overall 14-16 2014-15 MEAC Record 11-5 2014-15 MEAC Finish 5th Letterwinners Returning/Lost 9/5 Starter Returning/Lost 3/2 Newcomers 6 #21 Kayla Roberts F – 6-1, So. Miami, Fla.
2015-16 MEAC Women's Basketball Yearbook
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