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Norfolk State women’s basketball is set to start a home-and-home series with the University of North Carolina starting next season. Per a release by the MEAC, the Lady Spartans will travel to UNC on December 21, 2026, with the Lady Tar Heels making the trip up to Norfolk State in the 2027-2028 season.
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“This home-and-home series with North Carolina is another important step for our women’s basketball program and the university,” Norfolk State athletic director Dr. Melody Webb said. “Competing against a nationally ranked program like UNC reflects our commitment to elevating Norfolk State Athletics and providing our student-athletes the opportunity to play at the highest level. We are also excited to bring that level of competition to Echols Hall for our fans and campus community.”
Norfolk State head women’s basketball coach Jermaine Woods added, “I would like to express my gratitude to coach Banghart for her ongoing dedication to scheduling HBCU games on the road. This provides our team with valuable opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents at home, significantly enhancing our revenue prospects.”
Norfolk State women’s basketball has consistently been one of the premier programs in HBCU women’s basketball. Coach Larry Vickers, before his departure to coach Auburn in 2025, led the Spartans to consecutive March Madness tournament appearances. Under Woods, the Lady Spartans finished with an 18-15 record and clinched a bid to the MEAC Championship game. The team ultimately lost to Howard University in the championship, 53-46, but was invited to the WNIT, where they lost to Loyola Chicago, 58-54.
They now have the opportunity to test their competitiveness against a UNC women’s basketball team that is among the best in the ACC, as the Tar Heels finished with a 28-8 overall record and a 14-4 conference record. They beat Virginia Tech 85-68 in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament before being beaten by No. 12 Louisville 65-57. They eventually made the NCAA March Madness tournament, beating Western Illinois 82-51 in the first round and Maryland 74-66 in the second, but were ultimately eliminated by UConn 63-42.
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