The state of Norfolk entered Saturday’s confrontation against Maryland in the NCAA Women’s Tournament as considerable helpless. But the Spartans pushed the Terrapins to the last quarter before losing 82-69.
The first round game had a surprising start with Norfolk State, scoring the first seven points of the game. The historically black university located in Virginia also entered the locker room with an advantage of 32-30 in the part-time.
The Spartans Stardag lost only four points at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Despite losing to Maryland, the former head coach of Norfolk, Larry Vickers, said his team showed that he deserved better.
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Norfolk’s head coach, Larry Vickers, during the second half against Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, March 22, 2025 in College Park, MD. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
“This group won 30 games this year, 27 games last year, 26 games the previous year, and we still enter these things having to obtain respect from the three people on the floor,” said Norfolk’s state coach. “I’m not going to complain about officiating. That is not what I’m going to do. But when everyone sees these Spartan heads in your gym, I think we should have a little more respect for what we have.”
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Maryland had a strong third quarter, making the 12 free throws.
“I am not saying that we were not missing because it was a big moment. We were probably dirty. I have to see the movie,” he said. “But you can’t send equipment to the free throw line, especially as good shooters as they were.”
Norfolk State Guard, Diamond Johnson (3), shoots on Maryland’s guard Sarah Te-Biasu (1) during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament in College Park, Maryland. Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
For the game, the state of Norfolk was whistled by 21 fouls at the 12 of Maryland, and the Terps were 23 of 25 from the line. That was a significant factor, although Vickers suggested that his team deserved some of the guilt.
A game ball with the Marness March logo during the first round of the NCAA 2025 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2025 in Baton Rouge. (Photos of Beau Brune/NCAA through Getty Images)
“I’m not saying that arbitration has lost that game,” he said. “We committed a foul. And we committed a foul. And we committed a foul. And we committed a foul. And we committed a lack of jumping shooters, and we committed a lack of jumping shooters a little more.”
Vickers also praised Guard Diamond Johnson, who scored 18 points on Saturday and withdrew against his perceived that gave the WNBA draft stock.
“I have seen her go from the seventh in the first round, when she came to me, and fall and drop, and I don’t know why,” said Vickers. “She needs to be in each finalist list of mid -principles, each finalist list of the Dawn Staley Award, every Nancy Lieberman’s finalist list. It is super special.”
Vickers, who spent the last nine seasons in the state of Norfolk, was asked about his training future after all the success he has achieved in school. About that, I was not offering much information.
“We all have visions and objectives,” he said. “I don’t know. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
