(Orangeburg, S.C.) – Forward Amber Bogard scored 11 of her game-high 19 points (8-of-11) in the opening quarter to give the Delaware State women's basketball team (4-12, 1-2 MEAC) a three-point advantage Saturday afternoon on the road, but the South Carolina Bulldogs (7-8, 3-2 MEAC) lived up to their billing on the defensive end by limiting the Lady Hornets to just 27 percent (13-of-48) the rest of the way to pull out a 61-48 victory.

With this loss, DSU dropped its fifth in a row on the road, in addition to falling to the Bulldogs for the sixth consecutive time.  SCSU, meanwhile, bounced back from its 57-54 loss at home to North Carolina A&T on Monday to pick up its third win in the last four games.

After the Lady Hornets' strong start, a Mikah Aldridge layup at the 9:49 mark made it a 17-12 ball game in the second quarter.  Unfortunately for DSU, its next bucket did not come until forward NaJai Pollard drained a jumper inside the arc with 43 seconds left until the halftime buzzer sounded.  SCSU, on the other hand, ripped off 16 unanswered during Delaware State's drought, as it took a 30-19 lead into the locker room.  

As the second half played out, the Bulldogs built their lead all the way to 15, after leading scorer Brittany Drumgoole (9.3 ppg) connected from long distance to make it a 43-28 ball game with 47 seconds left in the third.  The Lady Hornets stayed within striking distance, but could only cut SCSU's lead to as low as eight, thanks to a Pollard layup at the 3:02 mark in the fourth quarter.

At game's end, the physical Bulldogs dominated on the boards to outrebound the Lady Hornets, 58-29.  Leading the way for SCSU on the glass was forward Jasmine Coleman recording a double-double of 10 points (5-of-12) and 14 rebounds, whereas four other Bulldogs pulled down five or more boards.  

DSU on the offensive end were limited to just 32 percent (20-of-63) shooting from the floor, headlined by a dismal 3-for-22 (.136) output from long distance.  Coming in, the Bulldogs ranked second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in scoring defense (57.6 ppg) and field goal percentage allowed (.377).

Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will look to upend the Savannah State Tigers this Monday evening (6 p.m.) on the road.  Last season, the two squads met twice, with DSU falling 75-46 at home.

Stingers

Two of DSU's top three leading scorers, guard Mikah Aldridge (11.9  ppg) and forward NaJai Pollard (10.1 ppg), went a combined 6-for-23 (.260) from the field… Forward Amber Bogard extended her streak of scoring in double figures to nine… The Bulldogs' 58 rebounds is the most DSU has allowed in a game this season… SCSU committed 22 turnovers, thanks to 12 DSU steals… The Bulldogs outscored DSU in points off the bench (27-14)… Freshman Bobbi Floyd pulled down a team-high six boards for the Lady Hornets… DSU is now 29-34 all-time against the Bulldogs.