(Dover, Del.) – Monday evening, the Delaware State women's basketball team (4-11, 0-4 MEAC) managed to erase an 11-point halftime deficit, but it could not hold off the visiting Norfolk State Spartans (7-8, 3-1 MEAC) to fall, 57-48.

With this loss, it marked the second time in three seasons DSU has started conference play with four consecutive losses, while NSU finished its five-game road trip at 3-2 to move two games above .500 in MEAC action.  

In the first half, guard N'Kayah Kersey, who got the start instead guard Raven Bankston (shoulder), carried the load offensively by scoring the first 11 points for Delaware State, including draining three attempts from beyond the arc.     

As the half progressed, the Hornets led 16-14 at the 8:07 mark after a layup by forward Tylinn Carter.  Unfortunately for DSU, it would be its last bucket of the stanza as the Lady Spartans closed the period on a thunderous 13-0 run to take a 27-16 lead into the locker room.

At the break, neither squad turned in a solid offensive performance with NSU going 11-for-32 (.344) from the field.  In the paint, the Spartans tallied 16 points, recorded 14 points off nine DSU turnovers and managed 11 second-chance points.  Leading the way was forward Rachel Gordon with seven points and eight of NSU's 27 rebounds while going 5-for-6 (.833) from the charity stripe

Delaware State shot just 22 percent (6-of-27) with leading scorer and rebounder Tierra Hawkins totaling three points (1-of-5) and five rebounds, to go along with picking up two fouls. Despite not starting, Bankston came off the bench, but missed all five attempts to go scoreless.

After intermission, the Lady Hornets quickly got back in the game with a 10-2 run to make it a 29-26 ball game within the first four minutes.  During this stretch, Hawkins scored six points and guard/forward Deanna Harmon chipped in with four.

With NSU holding on to a five-point lead, Delaware State scored six unanswered points by way of two Hawkins buckets and a long deuce by guard Jade Washington to give the Lady Hornets a 32-31 advantage at the 14:14 mark, which forced a Spartan 20-second timeout. 

Over the next four minutes, both teams went scoreless until Gordon drained two of her game-high 11 free throws, which sparked an 8-0 run to put the Spartans up by seven with 8:11 to play in regulation.

The Lady Hornets did battle back to make it a 45-41 contest with a little over four minutes to play after back-to-back buckets by Hawkins.  Yet, DSU's comeback took a major hit when she picked up her fifth foul at the 2:53 mark to finish the game with a team-high 17 points (8-of-12) and 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Hawkins also recorded two steals and two blocks.

The rest of the way, Delaware State never got within five as the Spartans held on for the victory.

At game's end, Gordon tallied 17 points (3-of-10) and shot 92 percent (11-of-12) from the charity stripe, to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds.   Guard Rae Corbo also scored in double figures with 12 points (4-of-9) and added three rebounds, three assists and one block.

As a team, the Spartans shot 38 percent (19-of-51), but went 19-for-27 (.704) from the free throw line, including a 14-for-17 (.824) output in the second half. From long distance, the Spartans were shutout on just three attempts, while they won the battle on the boards (43-39).

In the case of Delaware State, Kersey cooled down after her hot start to finish with 16 points (6-of-21) with 18 of her 21 shot attempts coming from beyond the arc.  Bankston, who was named MEAC Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season on Monday, was held to a season-low three points (1-of-12).    

Collectively, the Hornets shot 32 percent (20-of-63) and hoisted a season-high 27 attempts from long distance while hitting just four.  From the line, DSU totaled season-lows in makes (4) and attempts (6).  

Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will head south for two games, beginning with North Carolina Central this Saturday (2 p.m.), followed by North Carolina A&T on Monday (6 p.m.).