Dover, Del. (Jan. 11) --- The Delaware State Lady Hornets defeat the North Carolina Central Eagles 64-54. DSU improves to 6-9 overall and start conference play 2-0 for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.
I'm proud of them, I know as a coach that it's only two wins and I have to keep them levelheaded, but I want them to celebrate their victories and accomplishments. Coach Caputo said. This is new for Delaware State and this is new for them, so I want them to be happy.
The Lady Hornets trailed early 8-3 in the first quarter. An 8-2 run, capped off by a
Lyric Turner jumper, gave DSU a slim 11-10 lead with 3:04 left in the quarter.
Miajah Bullock nailed a three-pointer with 1:04 left in the first, giving DSU a 16-15 lead.
Delaware State trailed 22-20 midway through the second quarter. The Lady Hornets ripped off a 12-4 run capped off by a three-pointer from
Lyric Turner to lead 32-24 with :36 seconds left in the half.
Turner finished with a game high 24 points, she also added three rebounds and two assists.
The Lady Hornets extended their lead to 11, at 38-27 after a
Sharajah Collins knocked down a three from the corner with 5:54 left in the quarter.
North Carolina Central responded with an 16-2 run to take a 43-41 lead.
"All I said to them is we have to keep defending and rebounding. Caputo said about his speech during a media break. We're eventually going to score we are going to break through and get some layups, we are going to hit a three. We were struggling to score, we were getting opportunities but we were throwing the ball away and traveling, but I knew if we kept defending kept rebounding that we will eventually breakthrough."
Lady Hornets guard
Janasia Law had the play off the day, after the DSU forward
Tierra Floyd secured the defensive rebound, she threw an outlet pass to Law. As Law was tracking the ball down, she tipped the ball high in the air to keep an North Carolina Central player from stealing it. Then she grabbed the ball before it went out of bounds, dribbled past multiple defenders and finished in transition with an up and under despite the foul. She completed the three-point play knocking down the free throw and giving DSU a one-point lead with :15 seconds left in the third quarter.
Delaware State trailed 52-50 with 3:15 left in the game, when
Lyric Turner banked in a three from the left wing giving DSU another one-point lead.
A few possessions later
Lyric Turner's jumper was no good, Eagles forward Paulina Afriye tried to track down the loose ball before it went out of bounds, she jumped in the air to pass the ball to a teammate underneath her own rim, and it was stolen by DSU's opportunistic swingman
Miajah Bullock, who corralled the ball and laid the ball in giving DSU a 55-52 lead with 1:45 left in the game.
Lyric Turner made seven free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach.
"Everybody on the team knows their role and everyone body knows what it takes to win."
Lyric Turner stated. "It's my job to play defense and to be the one to knock down those free throws. When I'm on the line it's just me the ball and the basket, that's all I see."
The Lady Hornets shot 20-of-56 (35.7%) from the field including 6-of-23 (26.1%) on three-point attempts.
Janasia Law scored a season high 14 points. The junior point guard also added three steals, three rebounds and two assists. "I'm very confident, I know I'm a leader on this team. I always had (this ability) but I couldn't bring it out and tonight I just brought it out." Said a smiling
Janasia Law.
Sharajah Collins finished with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Tierra Floyd led the team in rebounding with eight and in steals with four.
North Carolina Central made 21-of-55 (38.2%) field goals, including 6-of-21 (28.6%) on their three-pointers.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. DSU held the Eagles to just 22.2% from the field in the fourth quarter.
2. DSU scored 20 points off turnovers.
3. DSU shot 81.8% from the free throw line, including making 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
STARTERS
#02
Zoe Holmes
#03
Sharajah Collins
#23
Janasia Law
#31
Tierra Floyd
#34
Lanayjha Ashe
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets host North Carolina A&T on Monday at Memorial Hall. Tip-off starts at 5:30 pm.
STINGERS
The Lady Hornets have a chance to start 3-0 for the first time since the 2008-2009 season, when that team went on to win their first four MEAC games to start the conference season.
