Thanks to established star Kierra Wheeler and star newcomer Diamond Johnson, the Norfolk State women made a stirring comeback Monday night and went on to win 85-71 in overtime at High Point.
On the brink of defeat, NSU outscored the Pointers 27-4 without yielding a field goal in the last seven minutes, including 18-4 in the five-minute OT period.
Wheeler had 33 points and 17 rebounds, both career highs, as well as a career-high five assists. She made 11 of 19 shots from the floor and 10 of 13 free throws.
Johnson, in her second game since a West Virginia judge ruled multi-time transfers such as her eligible for the remainder of the season, had 20 points and 11 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. The former Phoebus High, Rutgers and North Carolina State guard made critical late shots as NSU (8-4) handed the Pointers (4-7) their first home loss in five games.
Lauren Bevis had 29 points for High Point. She was 6 of 14 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 at the free-throw line.
After High Point overcame a 14-6 deficit, the game was close throughout until the Pointers went on a 9-0 burst for a 67-58 lead, capped by Callie Scheier’s 3-pointer with 2:04 left in regulation.
But NSU responded in breathtaking fashion. Johnson hit 1 of 2 free throws, Anjanae Richardson made a layup and Johnson drilled a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left, pulling the Spartans to 67-64.
After a High Point turnover and an NSU offensive rebound, Johnson sank a tying 3-pointer with 30 seconds left. The Pointers held for one shot but committed another turnover, setting up overtime.
The momentum continued. Two Wheeler free throws, a Niya Fields jumper and a Johnson long-range basket gave NSU a 74-67 lead, finishing a 16-0 avalanche. After three Bevis free throws at 2:36, Johnson sank yet another 3 for a 77-70 lead at 2:25.
NSU won’t play again until its Dec. 28 home clash against UNC Wilmington.
More women
Bryant & Stratton 66, Catawba Valley Community College 50: Bryant & Stratton improved to 11-1 with a victory in Atlantic Shores’ gym.
Lakeland High alumna Jaelyn Brown scored 18 points, Norview graduate Rakyla Jones had 16 points, eight steals and six assists, and Latanya Berry had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats, who outscored the visitors from western North Carolina 24-11 in the fourth quarter to break open a close game.
Yvette Sandifer, from Tallwood High, added nine points and seven assists for Bryant & Stratton, which has won seven consecutive games since a 60-59 loss Nov. 18 at Cape Fear Community College. The Bobcats — whose head coach is former Maury and Virginia Cavaliers standout Cornel Parker — are 9-1 in Region 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division II.
No. 2 UCLA 77, No. 13 Ohio State 71: Charisma Osborne had 19 points and Lauren Betts had 17 for the Bruins in Columbus, Ohio.
UCLA (10-0) overcame a sluggish first half and dominated the boards. Ohio State (9-2) began the game leading 7-0, shooting 3 of 4 and forcing two turnovers, but the Bruins battled back.
Jacy Sheldon had a game-high 30 points and Taylor Thierry added 20 for the Buckeyes.
No. 6 Southern California 93, Cal State Fullerton 44: JuJu Watkins had 23 points, six rebounds and six assists for the host Trojans (9-0) as they beat the Titans (4-5). McKenzie Forbes added 17 points and Taylor Bigby had 15 points, hitting a career-high five 3-pointers.
West Virginia 77, Wright State 72: Junior guard JJ Quinerly, a Lake Taylor High graduate, produced a career-high 30 points to help the host Mountaineers (10-0) overcome a 60-55 deficit to the Raiders (6-5).
Before fouling out with the score tied at 65, she added six steals in her fifth consecutive game withat least 20 points.
East Carolina 65, George Mason 44: Sophomore Amiya Joyner had a career-high 27 points, 16 rebounds, six blocks, three assists and three steals as the Pirates (6-3) breezed past the Patriots (8-2) in Greenville, North Carolina.
Lake Taylor alumna Jazmyn Doster led George Mason with nine rebounds and scored two points. Mason’s Kennedy Harris, a freshman from Hampton High, had seven points.
Hokies climb one spot in poll: Virginia Tech (8-2) rose one spot to No. 15 on the AP list after dominating at Rutgers on Sunday.
The other ranked ACC teams were: No. 3 North Carolina State, No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 19 Louisville, co-No. 21 Florida State and No. 24 North Carolina. Next for the Wolfpack (11-0) is the Anne Donovan Classic at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Old Dominion.
Men
Wake Forest 88, Delaware State 59: Hunter Sallis scored 19 points, Andrew Carr added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and the Demon Deacons (7-3) cruised past the Hornets (6-8) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake has won five in a row, all by double digits.
Martaz Robinson had 15 points and eight rebounds for DSU.
JMU, UVA hold firm: James Madison (10-0) held at No. 20 and Virginia (9-1) remained at No. 22 in Monday’s Associated Press Top 25.
The Dukes and Cavaliers sandwiched No. 21 Duke (7-3) for the second consecutive week. UVA’s foe Tuesday night, Memphis (8-2), climbed into the rankings after recent victories at VCU and Texas A&M and at home against then-No. 13 Clemson.
Besides UVA and Duke, the Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the Top 25 were No. 11 North Carolina and No. 18 Clemson. Miami barely fell out, dropping to first among “others receiving votes.”
In the coaches’ poll, new No. 20 UVA and new No. 21 JMU flipped spots from last week, while Clemson was 18th and Duke 19th. UNC was 13th, but the coaches’ top five mirrored the AP’s: Purdue, Kansas, Houston, Arizona and Connecticut.
