(Newark, N.J.) – In what was its final non-conference contest of the season, the Delaware State women's basketball team (4-16) snapped a five-game skid Tuesday evening with a 56-54 overtime victory over the NJIT Highlanders (8-15), behind forward/center Nikkei Blackburn sinking a free throw to complete an old fashion 3-point play with 26 seconds left to give the Hornets a one-point advantage in the extra period.
With this win, it marked DSU's second road victory of the season, whereas the Highlanders were handed their fifth consecutive loss. This was also the second consecutive season these two teams have gone into overtime, as the Lady Hornets pulled out a 75-72 win at home last year.
“This was a good road win for us because we haven't won one on the road in a while,” said head coach Tamika Louis. “We started off a little discombobulated in the first half, but once we settled in, we were able to put together some plays and come away with the win.”
The first half featured both teams struggling to find its groove on the offensive end going a combined 14-for-56 (.267) from the field, in addition to committing 18 turnovers. Nevertheless, the Highlanders took a 22-19 lead into the locker room at the break, led by center Nicole Maticka's 12 points (4-of-7).
In the second stanza, NJIT's Alyssa Albanese found running mate Alana Dudley for a jumper that made it a 30-28 contest with 13:41 left, as the Highlanders led over the next six minutes. Guard N'Kayah Kersey, however, drained DSU's first trey of the night to put the Hornets on top by one (39-38) with 7:26 to play, although NJIT answered on its next possession with a Leah Horton jumper.
Down the stretch, the Lady Hornets found themselves on top again, this time with forward Tierra Hawkins feeding fellow frontcourt mate Amber Bogard down low to make it a 45-43 ball game with 1:47 left in regulation.
With under 30 seconds to play, same score, Delaware State failed to come away with a defensive rebound after multiple NJIT attempts, resulting in an Albanese offensive board and putback to knot the game at 45 while drawing a Hawkins foul with 14 seconds left. Thankfully for DSU, Albanese missed the ensuing free throw, whereas Hawkins redeemed herself on the other end with a rebound and putback layup with five seconds to play.
Yet, after a 30-second NJIT timeout, Albanese drove the length of the court and hit a running floater in the paint to tie the game at 47, sending the game into overtime with 00.2 seconds left.
Coming into tonight's matchup, the Highlanders were 1-1 on the season in overtime games, while DSU had yet to take part in one.
In the overtime portion, the Highlanders scored the first five points, capped off by an Albanese trey at the 2:41 mark. However, the Lady Hornets stormed back, beginning with Kersey hitting 3-pointer of her own on DSU's next possession, in addition to hitting a pair of free throws to make it a 54-52 ball game with 1:11 remaining.
With under 30 seconds to play, same score, Blackburn's offensive rebound and putback, followed by a free throw to complete the 3-point play gave the Lady Hornets the lead. On NJIT's next possession, DSU forced an Albanese miss, resulting in Blackburn pulling down her game-high 16th rebound and getting fouled in the process.
After hitting the first free throw, Blackburn missed the second, but NJIT was an unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded as the Hornets held on for the close win.
At game's end, Hawkins tallied her team-leading eighth double-double of the season with 16 points (7-of-16) and 10 rebounds, while Blackburn added nine points (3-of-8) to her 16-rebound night. Kersey, a Newark, N.J. product, finished with 11 points and drained DSU's lone two 3-pointers of the game.
“It felt real good to come out to have the game I had today in front of my friends and family,” said Kersey. “My team gives me a lot of confidence and they're really good at finding me in open spots on the floor.”
For NJIT, Albanese finished with 16 points (6-of-18) five assists and four steals, whereas Horton recorded a double-double with 12 points (6-of-13) and 16 rebounds.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will return home for the first time since Jan. 19 to face MEAC foe Bethune-Cookman this Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.). Last season, DSU suffered a 80-51 road loss to the Wildcats.
Stingers
With her 16-point effort, Tierra Hawkins (1,612) became the fourth player in DSU history to eclipse the 1,600-career point mark… Forward Amber Bogard also finished the night in double figures with 11 points (5-of-15)… DSU shot 33 percent (20-of-60), compared to NJIT's 30 percent (21-of-70)… The Lady Hornets won the battle on the boards, 49-48… Nikkei Blackburn's 16 rebounds not only marked a season-high, but it was the most by any Hornet this season… Guard Mikah Aldridge went 0-for-3 from 3-point range, snapping her streak of hitting trey in 14 consecutive games.
