NORFOLK — Da’Brya Clark couldn’t miss. And once she started rolling, Norfolk State followed.
The junior guard poured in 30 points behind a barrage of 3-pointers Saturday afternoon, headlining another dominant effort as the Spartans continued to surge through MEAC play with a 69-58 victory over Coppin State at Echols Hall.
It was the Spartans’ fourth straight conference win.
Clark finished with eight 3-pointers — the second-most in program history, which trailed only her own record of nine set last week against South Carolina State. She also had six rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
“I’m just letting it fly,” Clark said. “If they’re going to continue to leave me open … I’m going to keep shooting and knocking it down.”
That shooting surge has mirrored the Spartans’ hot start to conference play. NSU (10-11, 5-1) has built its hot start on a league-leading defense. The team ranks No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, opponent field-goal percentage and 3-pointers per game.
The key for the Spartans is the offense is catching up.
“I told everybody that once we got to MEAC play, we’ll start finding the rhythm,” head coach Jermaine Woods said. “We’ve been at the top of the MEAC in defense, even in nonconference. Now we’re at the top of the MEAC in offensive categories as well. Once the offense clicks, we’re gonna be hard to beat.”
“A lot of people counted us out super early because of those offensive mishaps earlier in the season, but we haven’t arrived,” Clark added. “We’re still not all the way there, but we’re coming.”
Saturday didn’t begin that way. Reflecting the frigid conditions outside, NSU missed its first 12 shots, falling into a 7-0 hole. The Spartans didn’t score until the 3:30 mark of the first quarter.
Once the lid came off, the game flipped. Sparked by a Jasha Clinton layup and three Clark triples, NSU ignited a 19-3 run to take a 19-10 lead in the second quarter. The Spartans extended the lead with a 13-2 run later in the quarter.
After the 0-for-12 start, the Spartans shot a blistering 12 of 17 (70.6%) through the rest of the half to lead 34-21 at the break after holding CSU to 20% shooting.
The lead ballooned to 27 in the third quarter before Coppin State closed the game on a 18-5 run, drawing frustration from Woods.
“I didn’t like the way we finished,” Woods said. “We have to set a tone … but a win is a win.”
The matchup was Woods’ first against Coppin State since leaving that program for the NSU job this season. While two players — Niyah Gaston and Cire Worley — followed him to Norfolk, Woods insisted the reunion wasn’t on his mind.
“I didn’t think about that all week,” Woods said. “We just focused on us. We didn’t even bring up my former team. I forgot it was my former team, to be honest. But they were good to me when I was there. So, very appreciative of my time there with President (Anthony) Jenkins and (athletic director Derek) Carter. But it was just about us.”
Richardson added 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Clinton finished with six points, eight assists and two steals.
Norfolk State closes the month at Howard on Jan. 31.
