(Dover, Del.) – In an effort to pick up its first MEAC win at home this season, the Delaware State women's basketball team (6-15, 1-8 MEAC) came up short to the visiting South Carolina State Bulldogs (6-14, 4-6 MEAC), 64-60.

With this victory, the Bulldogs snapped a five-game skid, whereas the Lady Hornets dropped their second straight contest.  In addition, leading scorer (20.7 ppg) and rebounder (10.2 rpg) forward Tierra Hawkins (shoulder) missed her fourth consecutive game.

In the first half, Delaware State trailed by as many as 15, but a 14-1 run in the final 2:42, capped off by a Diamond Williams three at the buzzer, made it a 34-32 ball game going into the locker room.  During this span, guard Raven Bankston carried the load by scoring nine points.  

At the break, the Hornets shot 44 percent (12-of-27) from the field, led by Bankston's 16 points (7-of-14), which led all players.  DSU's third leading scorer coming in, guard/forward Deanna Harmon, who was recently named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, picked up three fouls and went 0-for-4 from the field.  Harmon did drain four free throws, dished out three assists and grabbed  three rebounds.

SCSU, meanwhile, went 12-of-31 (.387) from the floor, as guards Cabriel Duren and Mykala Jones both had a team-high eight points.  The team's leading scorer, Kourtney Williams (17.2 ppg), came off the bench and played only five minutes because of a lingering ankle injury.

After intermission, the Lady Hornets stayed within striking distance in the first 10 minutes and managed to knot the game at 47 after two Harmon free throws with 9:39 remaining.

A little under two minutes later, DSU made it a 50-49 ball game after a Bankston deuce, but SCSU answered with an 8-1 run over the next two minutes, capped off by a Chelsea White jumper inside the arc.

Nevertheless, the Lady Hornets did not go down without a fight as they pulled within four (61-57) when guard Jade Washington found Harmon on the break for a layup with 1:39 left.

On Delaware State's next possession, after SCSU's Dayshaun Rainbow missed the front end of a one-and-one, Bankston could not capitalize down low, but Washington was there for the offensive rebound with 57 seconds to play. Unfortunately, Rainbow forced Bankston into a turnover later in the possession, followed by a foul by Washington with 42 seconds remaining on the clock.

About 20 seconds later, same score, Washington did have a chance to make it a one possession game, but missed the first attempt of an one-and one opportunity, which resulted in a SCSU rebound.

Down the stretch, the Bulldogs hit three free throws to seal the deal, despite a Bankston three with two seconds left.  

At game's end, Bankston finished with a game-high 26 points (11-of-28), to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two blocks after missing the previous game because of an ankle injury.  Harmon, meanwhile, finished with 12 points (3-of-9), six rebounds and four assists as the only other Hornet to score in double figures.

As a unit, DSU shot 40 percent (23-of-57) and were out-rebounded, 43-37.  From the charity stripe, the Lady Hornets struggled and went 10-for-18 (.556).   

South Carolina State, on the other hand, was led by Cabriel tallying 21 points (6-of-14), seven rebounds, five assists and four steals effort.  Collectively, the Bulldogs shot 39 percent (22-of-57) and 71 percent (17-of-24) from the free throw line.

Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will welcome Savannah State to Memorial Hall on Monday (5:30 p.m.).