MEAC roundup: NSU's Gordon named Defensive POW, Hampton keeps pace with FAMU

We were happy to see Norfolk State's Rachel Gordon win the MEAC's Defensive Player of the Week award Monday afternoon, as it took some of the edge off what happened to her Spartans Monday night.

First the good news: Gordon earned the honor after averaging 14 rebounds in two games last week, including a school Division I record-tying 21-rebound performance against Coppin State. The efforts boosted Gordon's season rebounding average to 10.2, tops in the MEAC and 20th in the nation.

Later Monday, Gordon produced 9 points and 9 more rebounds in what for most of the night appears to be an easy NSU victory at Maryland-Eastern Shore. But with the Spartans up 15 midway through the second half, the Hawks closed regulation on a 17-2 run to force overtime, then prevailed in the extra period for a stunning 62-58 victory.

In other MEAC action Monday, Hampton limited Delaware State to just eight field goals and cruised to a 72-33 victory in Dover, Del. Keiara Avant led five Lady Pirates in double figures with a career-high 19 points and star point guard Jericka Jenkins contributed 10 points and 10 assists as Hampton (17-4, 9-1 MEAC) remained one game behind conference-leading Florida A&M (17-5, 10-0). Jenkins leads Division I in assists with 7.9 per game.

Also Monday, Savannah State topped Longwood 53-41 in Savannah. Chelsea Coward had 12 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Lancers (5-20), who were playing in their first game since a Jan. 25 loss at Eastern Kentucky.