Dover, Del. (Feb. 17) --- The Delaware State Lady Hornets fall to the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 66-55 at the Memorial Hall Gymnasium, Monday night. Delaware State entered the game with a chance to become .500 for the season, instead their overall record drops to 11-13. The Lady Hornets conference record falls to 7-4.
DSU is now 3.5 games back of the Wildcats for 1st place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Delaware State is just 1-4 vs. the top four MEAC teams so far this season. DSU's lone win against the top four, was in the conference opener when they defeated Morgan State at home 69-61 on January 4th.
Bethune Cookman opens the game on a 7-0 run. The opening spurt ends after Wildcats guard Daniella Hatcher scores in the paint.
DSU guard Janasia Law scores the first points of the game for DSU after grabbing an offensive rebound and laying the ball in with 6:07 left in the first quarter. On the next possession Law hits a three-pointer from the top of the arc, cutting the deficit to just two points.
Unfortunately for the Hornets, BCU ends the first quarter on a 11-4 run, and the Hornets trail 18-9 after the first ten minutes of play.
Delaware State does not make any inroad during the second quarter. In fact, the Lady Hornets are outscored 14-11 and trail 32-20 heading into halftime.
At the 4:22 mark in the third quarter, Janasia Law intercepts a pass and finishes with a pullup jumper in transition, cutting the deficit to just nine at 37-28.
The Wildcats answer with a 11-0 run, BCU guard Tatum Hayes caps off the run with a triple. The Hayes three-pointer increases the deficit to 20 at 48-28 with :42 seconds left in the third.
Trailing by 22 points midway through the fourth quarter, Delaware State goes on a run of their own. Collins starts the run as she hop steps through the Wildcats' defense and finishes strong at the rim despite foul. Collins hits the ensuing free throw to complete the 3-point play. After a miss from the Wildcats Ashe snatches the defensive rebound and goes coast to coast for the layup.
The pressure defense by Lady Hornets guards Janasia Law and Naomi Shorts force a 10 second back court violation. On the following possession Lanayjha Ashe drills a three-pointer from the top of the key, cutting the deficit to 14 with 5:20 remaining in the game.
Two minutes later (after a BCU basket and one free throw from DSU) Sharajah Collins grabs a defensive rebound pushes the ball in transition and dishes it to Ashe who buries her second three-pointer of the quarter, cutting the deficit to 12 with 3:25 left in the game.
The Lady Hornets cut the deficit down to 11 on two occasions, but they were unable to get any closer.
Delaware State shot 21-of-62 (33.9%) from the field, including the 4-of-19 (22.2%) on three-point attempts.
Janasia Law led all scorers with 13 points, the diminutive point guard also adds four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Tierra Floyd and Sharajah Collins score 11 points each and Lanayjha Ashe adds 9 points (all in the 4th quarter).
Bethune Cookman shoots 27-of-62 (43.5%) from the field, but just 4-of-21 (19.0%) on their three-pointers.
Amaya Scott, Daniella Hatcher and Armani Walker combine for 33 of the 66 BCU points.
DSU STARTERS
#14 DeMaurea Moore
#23 Janasia Law
#24 Lyric Turner
#31 Tierra Floyd
#34 Lanayjha Ashe
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. BCU shoots 43.5% from the field (DSU just 33.9%).
2. Delaware State records just six assists.
3. BCU outscores DSU by six in points and the paint and by six in bench points.
UP NEXT
The next three games for DSU is on the road, starting with Coppin State Saturday on Mar. 22. Tipoff for that contest begins at 2:00 pm. The Lady Hornets will not return home until Mar. 2 when they will host Norfolk State for their Senior Night contest.
