Dover, Del (Jan. 4) --- The Lady Hornets defeat the Morgan State Bears 69-61 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener.  Delaware State improves to 5-9 overall and starts MEAC play 1-0.

This is the first time the Lady Hornets have won their MEAC opening game since Dec 1. 2012, when they defeated Maryland Eastern Shore 67-52.

The Bears starts the game, scoring seven straight points. Instead of calling a timeout DSU coach Dave Caputo decides to allow his team to sort their issues out on the court.  "After the Rider game I told my team that loss was on me." Caputo recounts. Late in the game Lyric Turner was trapped in the corner and I could off called a timeout (if we had them) drew up a play and get a basket, but I couldn't I was out (of timeouts). So, I'm about accountability I told them that game was on me and in the next game I will hold on to the timeouts until we absolutely need them."

Zoe Holmes ends the early Morgan State run, with a putback layup. On the following possession Lady Hornets' guard Sharajah Collins dishes the ball to Demaurea Moore for a layup.

A few moments later DSU guard Janasia Law finds Lanayjha Ashe for a three-pointer in transition.

After Morgan State scores, Ashe hit another three-pointer to pull within one with the score at 11-10.

Delaware State forward Tierra Floyd got in the back in the action, after missing several games with a sprained ankle, nailing a deep three from the top of the arc. Floyd's three gives DSU their first lead of the game at 13-11 with 2:57 left in the first quarter.

On the next possession Floyd caps off DSU's 16-4 run. The graduate transfer converts on a three-point play, scoring a layup despite the foul on a beautiful inbounds play, giving DSU a 16-11 advantage.

Floyd finishes the game with ten points and a team high 12 rebounds, securing her first career double-double as a Lady Hornet.
 
With :29 seconds remaining Turner hits a three-pointer, giving DSU a 20-15 lead heading into the second quarter.

Ashe opens the second quarter up by knocking down her third three of the game, and the Hornets lead increases to 23-15.

The senior guard from Roanoke Rapids finishes with 11 points and two rebounds in the contest.

With 8:14 left in the first half Sharajah Collins drills a three-pointer from the right wing despite being fouled. The junior guard sinks in the ensuing free throw to convert the four-point play, pushing the Lady Hornets lead to double digits.

Collins finishes the game with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds.

The onslaught continues, with 6:40 left in the second quarter, DeMaurea Moore converts on a three-point play. Moore's basket extends DSU lead to 32-17.

Janasia Law caps off the Lady Hornets 17-2 run, knocking down a three from the right wing, extending their lead to 20 with 5:17 left in the second quarter.

Late in the half, Lyric Turner crosses by her defender and finishes with the lefty layup in transition, giving DSU a 43-23 lead.

Turner finishes the game with 12 points, four assists, one rebound and one steal.

The Lady Hornets outscores the Bears 23-10 in the second quarter.

Delaware State struggles to put Morgan State away in the second half as the Lady Hornets struggle with the Bears full court press.

With 4:05 remaining in the game, Bears guard Chelsea Mitchell steals the ball and finishes with the layup, cutting the deficit to just seven points at 61-54.

With 2:49 left Mitchell knocks down a pull-up jumper, and the Hornets lead is only at six points.

Chelsea Mitchell ends the game with a game high 25 points and 15 rebounds.

With 50 seconds left Morgan State forward Dahnye Redd hits two free throws, closing the lead to just five points.

The Lady Hornets keep their composer, as Lyric Turner finds Zoe Holmes for a layup on back to back possessions putting the game out of reach.
 
Delaware State shot 24-of-60 (40.0%) including 8-of-21 (38.1%) on three-pointers.

Morgan State shot 23-of-62 (37.1%) and 5-of 16 (31.3%) on their three-point attempts.

KEYS TO THE GAME
1. DSU bench outscored the Bears' 18-2
2. DSU made three more three-pointers than the Bears


DSU STARTERS
#02 Zoe Holmes
#03 Sharajah Collins
#31 Tierra Floyd
#23 Janasia Law
#34 Lanayjha Ashe

UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets are off several days and will not play again until Saturday Jan. 11 when they will host North Carolina Central. Tip-off starts at 4:00 pm.