Dover, Del. (Dec. 5) --- Delaware State Lady Hornets open their season with a 58-51 victory over the Rider Broncos. This marks the Lady Hornets first opening game win since the 80-32 victory over Wilmington (Del.) University on Nov. 12, 2011.
DSU guard Janasia Law knocked down a long two-pointer, during the fourth possession of the game, for the Lady Hornets first two points of the 2020-21 season.

Not much scoring in the first few minutes of the game. DSU led 4-3 with 4:00 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Reserve seniors Melissa Sam and Miajah Bullock spearheaded a 9-0 DSU run to end the quarter. Bullock found Sam in transition for a layup with 2:59 remaining in the first quarter. On the next possession DSU's Lyric Turner dished the ball to Sam in transition who scored the hoop despite the harm, she made the ensuing free throw to complete the 'three-point play.' On the following possession DSU forward Kiana Coomber missed a three, Sam grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to Miajah Bullock for the jumper, extending the Lady Hornets lead to eight.  On the ensuing play, senior guard Daije Harris passes the ball to Melissa Sam who caps off the run with a midrange jumper, pushing the lead into double digits at 13-3 with 1:06 left in the first quarter of play.

Melissa Sam finished tied with a game high 11 points (seven points in the first quarter) and five rebounds.
That would remain the score, heading into the second quarter, as Rider made just one field goal in the first ten minutes of play, shooting 1-of-14 from the floor. The three points the Broncos scored in the first quarter is the fewest by a DSU opponent since women's basketball went to quarters in the 2015-2016 season.

"We dug in and guarded for the most part… I'm proud of the effort" exclaimed Dave Caputo.

DSU's All-MEAC guard Sharajah Collins got into the action in the second quarter, as she hit back to back jumpers, extending the Lady Hornets lead to their largest of the game, at 13 with 7:30 remaining in the half. Collins finished the game tied with a game high 11 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals.

The Broncos went on a 12-2 run, closing the deficit to just three at 19-16, after a layup from their guard Daija Moses, with 3:35 left in the half.  The Lady Hornets responded with a 10-0 run to regain their 13-point lead. It started with a steal and transition layup from Miajah Bullock with :53 seconds left in the first half and ended with an offensive rebound and put back from Kiana Coomber, which gave the Lady Hornets a 29-16 lead with 7:12 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos cut the lead down to as low as five with 8:30 left in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to get any closer.  Delaware State never trailed in the game and led the contest for 38 minutes-and-04 seconds (38:04).

Lady Hornets forward DeMaurea Moore scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. Zoe Holmes led all players with 10 rebounds, she added seven points.

DSU shot 24-0f-60 from the field (40.0%) and 6-of-11 (54.5%) from the free throw line.

RU made 21-of-48 field goal attempts (43.8%) and 7-of-11 from the charity stripe (63.8%).

I was so thankful that we got to play in a game, said coach Dave Caputo with a sigh of relief these kids have improved so much… so just to play the game and defeat the defending MAAC Champs, shorthanded without some key players,… I'm super proud of my girls.

KEYS TO THE GAME
1. The Lady Hornets held the Broncos to just one made field goal in the first quarter.
2. DSU had 17 assists on 24 made field goals.
3. Delaware State outrebounded Rider 41-26.

STINGERS
Freshman Christy Ojide played in her first collegiate game, she recorded one block in eight minutes of action.

Up Next
The Lady Hornets have 11 days off before they take on Lincoln University, Wednesday Dec. 16^th at Memorial Hall. Tip-off starts at 1:00 PM.