(Washington, D.C.) – Monday evening, the Delaware State women's basketball team (2-11, 1-1 MEAC) came away with a 58-50 road victory over the Howard Bison (2-15, 2-2 MEAC) for its first MEAC win of the season, led by the frontline tandem of Amber Bogard and Tierra Hawkins finishing with a combined 39 points (17-of-30) and 18 rebounds.
“Amber and Tierra are probably the most versatile post players in the conference and their just a force to be reckoned with,” said head coach Tamika Louis after the game. “We're extremely lucky to have them on our squad and they did an excellent job of leading us to a win.”
With this victory, Delaware State not only snapped a season-long eight-game losing skid, but it was the Lady Hornets' first road win of the season, making it only the third time in the last 31 tries dating back to the 2012-13 season.
In the first half, both teams struggled from the field to go a combined 21-for-58 (.266) from the field. However, HU took a 25-22 lead into the locker room, after Jasmine Hill banked in the stanza's lone 3-pointer as time expired. Coming into tonight's contest, Howard had only seven players active, in addition to being without leading scorer Te'Shya Helsip (14.8 ppg).
For Delaware State, Bogard (10 points) and Hawkins (eight points), led the way offensively, whereas Hawkins picked up three fouls to hamper an already thin frontline.
“I just told myself before the game that every time I get the ball just go up strong and finish, because I felt nobody on their team could stop me,” said Bogard, who finished the evening with 18 points (8-of-16), seven rebounds, three steals and one block.
The second half, on the other hand, featured the Lady Hornets opening the period on an 11-2 run to take a 33-27 lead at the 17:06 mark. Nevertheless, the Bison answered with a 7-0 run of their own to take a one-point lead with just over 13 minutes to play.
Thankfully for the Lady Hornets, Hawkins scored the next eight points to give her squad a 41-34 lead with 8:20 to play. After Hawkins' surge, DSU never trailed again and led by as many as 13, headlined by guard Bri Justice finding fellow freshman Mikah Aldridge on the right wing for the team's lone trey of the night that made it a 51-40 contest with 3:16 remaining.
Hawkins, who tallied her second consecutive double-double with 21 points (9-of-14) and 11 rebounds, expressed how good it felt to shake off her early foul trouble woes.
“I was frustrated to be honest, but Coach (Louis) sat me down and she talked to me and I came back did what I had to do.”
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will look to make it a two in a row this Wednesday evening (7 p.m.) against in-state foe Wilmington, in what will be the first of a season-long three-game homestand.
Stingers
DSU allowed its lowest point total of the season (50)… Tonight's win marked the Lady Hornets' first since defeating Millersville at home on Nov. 24… Delaware State outscored HU 42-26 in the paint… Both squads committed 23 turnovers… The Hornets won the battle on the boards, 39-32, including a game-high seven offensive rebounds by Tierra Hawkins.
