HAMPTON, Va. - It wasn't pretty two weeks ago for the Delaware State women's basketball team when the Hampton Lady Pirates traveled to Memorial Hall and the outcome was the same this evening as the reigning-MEAC champion defeated the Lady Hornets, 71-44, at HU's Convocation Center.

Redshirt freshman Tierra Hawkins (Clinton, Md.) led Del State with 12 points on 2-for-10 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.

Both teams started the game slow offensively, with DSU sophomore Deanna Harmon (Owings Mills, Md.) hitting the first field goal, a 3-pointer, at the 12:37 mark.  The Lady Pirates had already knocked down six free throws at that point and responded from Harmon's trey with one of their own from Nicole Hamilton, to go up, 9-3.

Hampton then held the Lady Hornets scoreless for the next seven minutes and took a 20-5 lead after two Hawkins free throws at the 5:23 mark.

Just thirty seconds later, freshman Alexis Thornton (El Paso, Texas) hit a trey for Del State, just their second field goal of the game.  Fellow freshman Nadirah Durr (Avenel, N.J.) recorded the third DSU field goal with a layup at 4:20 to bring things to 22-10 in favor of Hampton.

With 3:32 remaining in the half, junior Kianna D'Oliveira (Newport News, Va.) completed a traditional three-point play to give the Lady Hornets their fourth and final field goal of the first half.  The play also brought DSU within 10 points at 23-13, the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.

The Lady Hornets scored two more points off of free throws, but the Lady Pirates took a commanding 35-15 halftime lead.

Del State shot just 18.2 percent from the field (4-for-22) in the first half compared to 39.3 percent (11-of-28) for Hampton.

The Lady Hornets (5-21, 2-11 MEAC) nearly doubled their first half point total in the second half, scoring 29 points on 30 percent field goal shooting and 64.7 percent from the charity stripe. 

Despite the surge in second half points, the DSU deficit was already too great and the Lady Hornets were unable to make a comeback against HU.

The Lady Pirates (20-4, 12-1 MEAC) were led with double doubles from Keiara Avant (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Choicetta McMillian (11 points, 10 rebounds).  Nicole Hamilton also chipped in 14 points for Hampton.  Jericka Jenkins added nine assists in the effort.

The contest was Delaware State's final regular season road game as they return to Memorial Hall for their final three games of the regular season.  The Lady Hornets host Howard University at 5 p.m. Saturday and Morgan State next Monday at 5:30 p.m.  The regular season will wrap up Thursday, March 1 with a 5:30 p.m. tip against South Carolina State.

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