Dover, Del. (Dec. 1, 2012) --- Sophomore Tierra Hawkins tied her career high with 28 points to lead Delaware State to a 67-52 win over UMES in the MEAC opener for each team in Memorial Hall this afternoon. Hawkins was 12-for-15 from the field in the contest. She also led the Lady Hornets with seven rebounds.
DSU won its second straight game to improve to 2-3 on the season. The Lady Hornets also snapped a four-game losing streak to UMES, defeating the Hawks for the first time since Jan. 12, 2011.
Tasia Bristow (jr.) and Deanna Harmon (jr.) added 13 points each, while Keyanna Tate (so.) contributed 11 points, two assists, two blocks and two steals for DSU. Harmon (6-6), Tate (5-5) and Bristow (4-4) were a combined 15-for-15 at the free throw line in the game.
Hawkins has scored 20-or-more points in back-to-back games and three times in the Lady Hornets' five contests this season. She matched her career high first set in DSU's season opener at nationally ranked Kentucky on Nov. 10.
A 2012-13 preseason All-MEAC First Team selection, Hawkins is averaging 22.2 points per game on 43-of-84 shooting from the field this season (51.2%).
Delaware State opened up a 17-9 lead on two free throws by Harmon with 9:48 left in the first half. UMES answered with an 11-2 run, and pulled ahead for the first time since the first possession of the game, 19-18, on a three-pointer by Sha-Kyka Finney with 6:41 remaining in the half.
The score was 27-27 when Bristow hit a running jumper at the first half buzzer to give the Lady Hornets a 29-27 lead at the break.
Delaware State was 11-of-23 from the field (47.8%), while holding UMES to 11-of-35 shooting in the first half (31.4%).
After the Lady Hawks scored the first basket of the second half to tie the game at 29-29, Delaware State answered with a 13-4 run to take control of the game.
Bristow capped off the run with a three-point shot to give the Lady Hornets a 42-33 lead with 14:14 left in the second half.
Hawkins scored six points and Tate four during the DSU spurt.
Delaware State opened up its first double-digit lead of the game, 49-38, on a three-point play by Hawkins with 10:43 left.
UMES could get no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
The Lady Hornets were 12-for-21 from the field in the second half (57.1%) to finish 23-of-44 for the game (52.3%).
The Delaware State defense forced UMES into 18-of-60 shooting from the field for the game (30.0%).
Delaware State returns to action on Monday at home against Howard. Game time is 5:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall. A win over Howard would give the Lady Hornets their first 2-0 MEAC start since the 2008-09 season.
STINGERS
Hawkins has connected on 21 of her last 29 shots from the field (72.4%) ... Jade Washington (so.) had a career-high six assists to lead all players in the game.
