NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Kierra Wheeler scored 20 points and conference player of the year Diamond Johnson added 18 as Norfolk State cruised to an 81-55 win over eighth-seeded South Carolina State in the quarterfinals of the MEAC women’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Scope Arena.

The Spartans will face the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup between fourth-seeded Coppin State and fifth-seeded North Carolina Central. The women’s semifinal game is set for noon Friday.

Wheeler also added nine rebounds for Norfolk State (28-4), while Johnson also had eight rebounds, six steals and four assists. Makoye Diawara added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Da’Brya Clark registered 13 points and four blocks.

“We played against a fired-up group who didn’t care how many games they won this year, and it showed,” Spartans coach Larry Vickers said.

South Carolina State (2-29) kept the game competitive early, with the first quarter ending at 20-all.

However, Norfolk State outscored the Bulldogs 21-10 in the second quarter, taking a 41-30 lead into halftime, and the Spartans continued to build their advantage, leading 59-38 at the end of the third.

Norfolk State led by as many as 35 points when they led 74-39 with 4:26 left.

South Carolina State was led by Angie Juste-Jean, who scored 20 points and grabbed five steals. Shaunice Reed and Taniya McGowan each contributed nine points.