Dover (Jan. 26, 2009) ---  The Delaware State women's basketball team used balance scoring and solid defense to defeat Florida A&M 62-31 in Memorial Hall Monday evening.

The Lady Hornets won for the sixth time in the last seven games to improve to 9-10 overall and 5-1 in the MEAC. The Rattlers have lost four straight to fall to 7-10 and 3-4.

Delaware State has also won nine in a row over Florida A&M, and nine straight against the Rattlers in Memorial Hall.

DSU put the game away with a 29-2 second-half run.

Freshman Sonia Johnson came off the bench to lead the Lady Hornets with 12 points. She also had a team-high six rebounds.

Jameka Smith and Selena Galloway added eight points each for Delaware State.

Stephanie Foster was high scorer for Florida A&M with nine points. Qiana Donald had nine points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Rattlers.

Delaware State's defense forced Florida A&M into 10-of-52 shooting from the field (19.2%), including 0-for-10 from three-point territory. The Rattlers also committed 28 turnovers.

“This was one of our better all-around efforts,” said Delaware State head coach Ed Davis, who improved to 101-46 in MEAC regular season games at DSU. “We were able to get some quality time on the floor for a number of players, which will help improve our depth,”

Davis started five players who usually come off the bench. As a result, Delaware State outscored Florida A&M 43-17 in points by reserves.

Delaware State led 21-15 at the half, but Florida A&M pulled to within 23-19 on a basket by Foster with 15:53 left.

The Lady Hornets responded by scoring 29 of the next 31 points to turn the game into a rout. Galloway capped off the run with a three-pointer to give DSU a 52-21 lead with 7:05 remaining. Nine Delaware State players scored during the rally, including eight points by Johnson and six by Galloway.  

Florida A&M misfired on 10-of-11 shots from the floor and committed nine turnovers during the Delaware State spurt.

The Rattlers could get no closer than 25 points the rest of the way.

Florida A&M led 7-6 before Delaware State surged ahead. The Lady Hornets scored 13 of the next 17 points, and opened up a 19-11 lead after a three-point play by Keyhana Wakefield with 5:50 left in the half. Florida A&M committed six turnovers during the Delaware State run. The Lady Rattlers turned the ball over 13 times in the half.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half.

Delaware State was 9-for-30 from the field (30%), including 0-for-6 from three-point territory, while Florida A&M hit just 5-of-25 shots from the floor, including all five from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.  

Florida A&M's point total was the lowest by a Delaware State opponent, while the Lady Hornets enjoyed their biggest margin of victory this season. 

Delaware State returns to action on Saturday (Jan. 31) at home against defending MEAC champion Coppin State. Game time is 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall.