(Dover, Del.) – The Delaware State women's basketball team (3-4, 0-1 MEAC) were denied its third consecutive victory Saturday afternoon at home after MEAC foe Coppin State (4-4, 1-0 MEAC) came away with a 80-75 victory, in what the first conference test for both squads.

In the first half with the Lady Hornets leading, 16-13, at the 11:02 mark, DSU leading scorer and top rebounder, Tierra Hawkins, injured her shoulder battling for a rebound.  Unfortunately for the Lady Hornets, she did not return and finished the afternoon with nine points (4-of-4) and three rebounds.

Despite losing Hawkins, Delaware State built a 26-16 lead by way of a 10-0 run with forward Deanna Harmon scoring six points during this span.

As the half progressed, the Eagles chipped away at the lead to go into the locker room down, 43-37.  In what was a foul heavy first period, both teams were called for 14, while DSU starters Tylinn Carter, guard Raven Bankston and Harmon all had three at the break.  In spite of the foul trouble, the Lady Hornets shot 48 percent (15-of-31), led by Harmon pouring in 10 points (4-of-5).

Coppin State's Kyra Coleman, meanwhile, led all scorers with 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting (.555), including a 7-for-11 (.636) output at the line.  

After intermission, the Eagles battled back to take their first lead of the game, 47-45, after two free throws by Coleman with 16:45 left in regulation.  Unluckily for the Hornets, Carter picked up her fourth foul in the process, forcing head coach Tamika Louis to make a substitution.

With the score tied at 47 after a bucket Harmon, she unfortunately picked up her fourth foul on Coppin State's ensuing possession at the 14:13 mark.  Taking no chances, Louis sat the lone senior for DSU.

Later in the stanza, after a layup by DSU's Jade Washington to knot the contest at 51 with 13:34 left, both squads went scoreless over the next four minutes.  Breaking the drought was a Coleman layup, yet forward Mi'Queara Lewis tied the game with a bucket in the paint, assisted by guard Diamond Williams, on DSU's following possession. 

However, CSU scored nine answered points to go up, 62-53, with a little over six minutes to play. 

DSU's comeback attempt later took a hit at 4:01 mark when Washington picked her fifth and final foul, which resulted in forward Larissa Carter making two free throws to put the Eagles up, 66-56. Washington finished the afternoon with six points (2-of-6), three assists and a game-high four steals.

The rest of the way, the Lady Hornets did not go away quietly as they were able to make it a 76-72 ball game with 14 seconds left after two free throws by Harmon. On the next trip down, DSU's Carter fouled Keena Samuels to stop the clock, but it came at a cost as she fouled, finishing with a team-high five rebounds.

After the free throws by Samuels, Delaware State made it a one possession game with an N'Kayah Kersey three with four seconds left to make it a 78-75 contest.

Nevertheless, after a foul by guard Coreenah Redden, CSU's Ashle Craig sealed the game by hitting two free throws.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Eagles outrebounded the Lady Hornets, 53-29, despite committing 28 turnovers, compared to DSU's 13. The Lady Eagles also added 21 second- chance points.

At the charity stripe, Coppin State went 33-for-43 (.767), whereas Delaware State shot 74 percent (20-of-27).

In the scoring column, Coleman finished with a game-high 27 points (8-of-14) with 11 coming from the free line (11-of-16).  Coleman also pulled down 11 boards, whereas Carter tallied 20 points (6-of-13) and a game-high 15 rebounds. Carter also shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Delaware State's highest point getter was guard Raven Bankston with 21 points on a tough 7-for-21 (.333) performance from the field. Harmon, on the other hand, finished the afternoon tying a season-high 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting (.750).

Coming up, the Lady Hornets will be back in action next Saturday (7 p.m.) on the road against No. 8 Maryland.