The Game

The Delaware State women's basketball team (3-9, 0-2 MEAC) will look to get back on track Tuesday evening (5:30 p.m.) when it takes on the NJIT Highlanders (4-14), in what will be the first contest of a three-game homestand.

Media Coverage

» Live Stats: http://www.dsuhornets.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=12900 

» Twitter: @DSUwbb - @ DSUAthletics

The Opponent

» NJIT Highlanders (4-14)

NJIT heads into Tuesday's contest coming off a 1-3 mark during a four-game home stretch.  On the road, the Highlanders are just 1-8 this season with their lone victory occurring at LIU Brooklyn on Nov. 20.

As a team, NJIT is averaging 56 points per game with guard Shakia Robinson (10.9 ppg) as their leading scorer. Down low, forward Uju Nwankwo leads the squad in rebounding (9.4 rpg) and blocks (28), while averaging 8.9 points per contest.

» The Head Coach: Steve Lampher is in his second season with the Highlanders.  Last year, he led NJIT to a 16-15 overall record, including a 6-2 mark in the program's final season as members of the Great West Conference.

» The Series: The Lady Hornets are 1-2 all-time against NJIT.  Last season, DSU fell 55-42 on the road to the Highlanders, behind Uju Nwankwo's 19-point and 10-rebound performance. The lone win for DSU occurred on Nov. 24, 2011 at home in overtime, 82-74. 

A Win Would Mean…

» The Lady Hornets would snap a season-long six-game losing streak.

» DSU's second victory over NJIT in team history.

» Delaware State's third home victory of the season, snapping a two-game slide.

» The Hornets would be 4-9 overall for the first time since 2010-11.

Last Time Out…

The Lady Hornets fell 70-64 on the road to MEAC foe Howard last Tuesday, despite double-double performances by forward Tierra Hawkins and guard/forward Deanna Harmon.

When the final buzzer sounded, DSU shot 41 percent (25-of-60) from the floor, whereas HU finished the game at 35 percent (24-of-69).  On the glass, Delaware State out-rebound the Bison, 50-37, but the difference turned out to be the turnovers with the Lady Hornets committing 27, compared to Howard's 15.  

Individually, Hawkins led all scorers with 26 points (10-of-18) and totaled a career-high 16 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season, whereas Harmon (5-of-7) and guard Raven Bankston (6-of-21) both poured in 15 points and dished out three assists. Harmon also pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds and collected a game-high five steals.

Howard, on the other hand, had three players score in double figures, led by guard Te'Shya Heslip's 22-point (8-of-13) and seven-assist performance.  Along with scoring 15 points (6-of-15), Shavonne Duckett tallied 11 rebounds, while Cheyenne Brown finished with 10 points (3-of-12), six rebounds and a game-high two blocks.

Hawkins Named MEAC Player of the Week for the Second Time

Monday, junior Tierra Hawkins was named MEAC Player of the Week for the second time this season, which also marks the second time in her stellar career she's received this honor.

Despite DSU's 70-64 loss at MEAC foe Howard this past Tuesday, Hawkins totaled a game-high 26 points (10-of-18) and a career-high 16 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. 

She also went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw, and added two assists, one steal and one block while playing all 40 minutes against HU.

Home Cookin' on the Menu

The Lady Hornets' contest against NJIT will begin a stretch of three straight home games.  In four games at Memorial Hall, Delaware State is 2-2 and averaging 77 points per game on 39 percent shooting, while forcing 24 turnovers and 11 steals per contest on the defensive end.

Both Ends Slipping

In the first six games this season, the Lady Hornets scored at least 65 points and averaged 77 points per contest on 42 percent shooting.  Also, during this stretch, Delaware State forced 23 turnovers per game, including 11 steals, and averaged 23 points off those miscues.

However, the Lady Hornets have seen both their offensive and defensive production decline of late.

In the last five games, DSU is averaging 51.4 points per game on shooting 33 percent shooting from the field, including 14 percent from three-point range.  Additionally, opponents are forcing 22 turnovers per game, including nine steals, while DSU is giving up 80 points on 45 percent shooting from the floor.

Bankston Looking to Shake Slump

Despite sitting second (18.5 ppg) on the team and fourth in the MEAC in scoring, guard Raven Bankston has struggled of late.

In her last six games, Bankston is averaging 18 points per game on just 32 percent (41-of-130), including 14 percent (4-of-29) from long distance and 69 percent (20-of-29) from the free throw line.  Assist wise, she has totaled eight (1.3 apg), compared to 22 turnovers.  Defensively, she has four steals and one block.

Moving Up the Career List, Milestone Watch

After scoring 26 points in back-to-back games, forward Tierra Hawkins now sits ninth (1,194) all-time on DSU's scoring list.

Senior Deanna Harmon, meanwhile, only needs seven assists to move into third (232) all-time on DSU's assist list.  

At This Point Last Season…

The Lady Hornets were 2-10 overall and 0-2 in the MEAC, coming off a 76-54 loss to Central Connecticut.

Coming Up Next…

DSU will welcome the Hampton Pirates this Saturday at 2 p.m.