The Game
With eight conference games remaining in the regular season, the Delaware State women's basketball team (6-14, 1-7 MEAC) will look to climb the MEAC standings this Saturday (2 p.m.) when it takes on the South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-14, 3-6 MEAC).
Promotions
*Fans, faculty and staff are asked to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
Media Coverage
» Live Broadcast (Free): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUhfYFAx5ng
» Live Stats: http://www.dsuhornets.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?&&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=12900
» Twitter: @DSUwbb - @ DSUAthletics
The Opponent
» South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-14, 3-6 MEAC)
The Bulldogs come into Saturday on a five-game losing skid, with their last victory occurring at home against FAMU on Jan. 18. Averaging a team best 17.8 points per contest, guard Kourtney Williams sits sixth in the MEAC in scoring, whereas guard Mykala Jones (9.8 ppg) and Cabriel Duren (9.7 ppg) are third and fourth on the team in scoring, respectively. Duren, however, leads SCSU in assists (72) and sits in a three-way tie for first on the squad in steals (42).
» The Head Coach: Doug Robertson, Jr. is in his fifth season with the South Carolina State women's basketball program. Throughout his tenure, the Lady Bulldogs have a compiled a 70-98 overall record.
» The Series: Delaware State is 29-30 all-time against South Carolina State. Last season, the Bulldogs defeated the Hornets at home in their lone matchup, 76-52.
A Win Would Mean…
» DSU's first victory over SCSU since March 1, 2012.
» Delaware State's second conference win of the season, its first at home.
» The Lady Hornets would be 5-4 at home this season.
Last Time Out…
The Lady Hornets fell 81-54 on the road to Coppin State this past Monday. With only seven players dressed, Delaware State shot 39 percent (20-of-51) from the floor, committed 22 turnovers and was out-rebounded, 44-35. Guard/forward Deanna Harmon finished with a team-high 18 points (6-of-9), whereas guard Diamond Williams tallied a career-high 15 points (5-of-15) and four assists off the bench. Guard Jade Washington also finished the game in double figures with a season-high 10 points (4-of-6).
Bankston, Harmon Earn Weekly MEAC Player of the Week Awards
On Monday, freshman Raven Bankston was named MEAC Player of the Week for the first time in her career, while senior Deanna Harmon tallied her first ever MEAC Defensive Player of the Week award. In two games, Bankston averaged 31.5 points, four rebounds and three assists per game, headlined by a career-high 35 points (13-of-23) in DSU's blowout victory at Morgan State. Harmon, on the other hand, averaged 16.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest, to go along with three steals. Against Wesley, she pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds and totaled five steals.
Can't Shake the Injury Bug
Throughout the season, the Lady Hornets have been hit hard on the injury front. Before playing a game, center Janay Carter and guard Aaliyah Davis both suffered season-ending knee injuries, whereas guard Raine Bankston also went down with a season-ending knee injury after starting five games.
Later in the year, guard Diamond Williams (ankle) missed three games before returning to action against NCCU (Jan. 18), while leading scorer and rebounder Tierra Hawkins re-aggravated a shoulder injury in practice and has missed the last three games. Hawkins originally suffered the injury in the first half against Coppin State (Dec. 7) and missed the next two games before returning at Marshall (Dec. 21). More recently, guard Raven Bankston suffered a sprained ankle in practice the day before the Coppin State game and did not suit up in DSU's loss to the Eagles for the first time this season.
At This Point Last Season…
The Lady Hornets were 8-21 and 5-2 in MEAC play, coming off a 75-53 loss at to North Carolina A&T.
Coming Up Next…
Delaware State will welcome the Savannah State Tigers to Memorial Hall this Monday evening (5:30 p.m.).
