(Baltimore, Md.) – Despite playing with only eight players, the Delaware State women's basketball team (7-17, 4-7 MEAC) put forth a valiant effort Monday evening on the road, highlighted by forward NaJai Pollard scoring 14 of her career-high 26 points (8-of-19) in the fourth quarter, but the Coppin State Eagles (8-15, 5-6 MEAC) managed to hold on for a high-scoring 84-79 victory.

With this defeat, the Hornets not only dropped their fourth in a row for the second time this season, but it resulted in DSU's sixth straight loss to the Eagles.  Coppin State, meanwhile, snapped a four-game skid to pick up its first win since defeating Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe UMES at home on Jan. 30, 61-54.

Neck-and-neck throughout most of the evening, guard Aaliyah Davis found forward/center Nikkei Blackburn in the paint to tie the game up for the ninth time (49-49) with 2:24 left in the third quarter.  The Eagles, on the other hand, took matters into their hands by closing the quarter on a thunderous 13-0 run, capped off guard Genesis Lucas finding backcourt mate Keena Samuels on the break for a layup at the buzzer for one of her game-high eight assists.  At quarter's end, Coppin State outscored the Lady Hornets, 26-12, thanks to going 11-for-17 (.647) from the charity stripe.

The Eagles, who were in the second contest of a season-long four-game homestand, led by as many as 18 on two separate occasions in the fourth quarter, with the last occurring thanks to forward Jordan Swails swishing a pair at the free throw line at the 7:28 mark.

Seemed as if they were dead in the water, the Lady Hornets battled back to outscore Coppin State 10-4 in the final 1:49, sparked by Pollard securing her career-best fifth assist with guard Aliah Stinnett draining a deuce.  Delaware State actually cut CSU's lead all the way down to three (82-79), after Davis drained one of her career-high four 3-pointers with five seconds left.  Nevertheless, guard Amber Griffin nailed two free throws on the ensuing possession to push the Eagles to 4-1 at home in conference play this season.

When the two squads shook hands, Pollard's monster night not only included totaling 12 boards for her team-leading fifth double-double of the season, but it was her seventh double-digit rebounding performance.  The Richmond, Va., native, who played the majority of the second half with four fouls, also went a career-best 10-for-11 (.909) from the charity stripe and swatted a game-high four shots.  Davis, meanwhile, poured in a career-high 20 points (7-of-13), along with totaling eight boards and collecting a game-high three steals.

For Coppin State, forward Janelle Lane finished with a team-high 23 points (9-of-15), whereas off the bench, Swails (16) and forward Tanaysa Henderson (11) combined for 27 points (8-of-15), respectively.  As a team, DSU allowed its second highest rebounding total of the season (53), thanks to forward Omaah Tayong (13), Swails (10) and Lane (9) on the glass.

Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will return to action this Saturday for a two-game homestand, beginning this Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.) against Norfolk State.  Last year, DSU dropped both meetings to NSU, including a blowout loss in the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament to end its season.

Stingers

DSU totaled a season-high nine blocks… The Hornets shot 34 percent (26-of-76) for the game, while CSU went 28-of-69 (.406)… DSU's N'Kayah Kersey also scored in double figures (14), in addition to draining three 3-pointers to push her career total to 86… Despite losing the battle on the boards, DSU pulled down 47 rebounds, which was its third highest mark this season… The Lady Hornets shot 86 percent (19-of-22) from the charity stripe, while CSU went 25-for-38 (.658)… The Eagles outscored the Hornets in points of the bench, 27-6… DSU is now 2-11 away from Memorial Hall this season… Coppin State now leads the all-time series with DSU, 38-25.