Dover, Del. (Mar. 2) --- The Delaware State Lady Hornets are defeated by the Norfolk State Spartans 68-57 on Senior Night. This is DSU's third straight loss. They fall to 12-16 overall and 8-7 in the conference.
Delaware State opens the first quarter on a 9-2 run. Senior guard Lanayjha Ashe got the run started in her final home game as she hits a jumper. On the next possession fellow senior, Genell Addison hits a step back three from the left corner. Then Ashe steals the ball and scores on the Fastbreak layup. DeMaurea Moore caps off the run, after setting a pick and rolling to the rim. Ashe finds Moore with a pass and the forward finishes with the layup at the 6:55 mark of the quarter.
The Lady Hornets would lead by as many as eight points in the quarter, as graduate student Tierra Floyd also in her final home game, drills a deep three pointer at the 5:12 mark.
Despite the fast start to the game, the Lady Hornets hold just a 22-20 lead, as Spartans guard Chanette Hicks knocks down a three at the buzzer.
After a missed three-pointer DSU guard Lyric Turner grabs the offensive rebound and passes it to Sharajah Collins who dishes it to Naomi Shorts for three. On the way down the court, Collins steals the ball and drives in for a layup, extending their lead to 27-20 with 9:08 left in the first half.
The Spartans respond with a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game since the 8:47 mark of the first quarter.
Norfolk State's lead would be a brief one. DSU guard Janasia Law drives into the lane and converts the layup despite the foul. Law completes the three-point play by making the free throw giving DSU a 30-29 lead with 4:51 left in the second.
Mikaela Jones hits a jumper with 8:43 left in the third quarter, tying the game at 37.
On the next Spartan possession Hicks gives them a 39-37 lead after knocking down a jumper.
Tierra Floyd answers back immediately as she drains another three-pointer to put DSU back up at 40-39 with 6:59 left in the third.
Floyd finishes the game with a team high 15 points, two rebounds and two steals.
Mikaela Jones hits a jumper putting the Spartans back up one with 6:36 remaining.
At the 5:33 mark Lady Hornets forward DeMaurea Moore gets a steal and outlets a pass to Collins for the Fastbreak layup. Collins basket gives DSU a 42-41.
With 4:33 remaining Hicks hits a mid-range jumper to give the Spartans the lead, on the following possession she hits another jumper, extending the lead to three.
Down 48-44 DeMaurea Moore commits her fourth foul with 2:16 left in the third quarter. The foul trouble of her and Tierra Floyd who has three fouls of her own leaves the Lady Hornets without a defensive post presence (DSU forward Zoe Holmes missed the game due to injury).
The Spartans take advantage by scoring six points in the paint, in the final 2 minutes of the quarter. Hicks layup with :22 seconds left in the third, gives the Spartans a 54-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Chanette Hicks finishes with a game high 22 points, five rebounds, three blocks (also a game high) and two steals.
Delaware State never recovered. The Spartans increased their lead to as many as 16 points in the final quarter.
The Lady Hornets shot 21-of-56 (37.5%) from the field and just 5-of-23 (21.7%) on their three-point attempts.
Sharajah Collins records 10 points and two assists.
Lanayjha Ashe adds nine points, five steals (career high) and two assists.
Norfolk State shoots an efficient 25-of-52 (48.1%) including 6-of-12 (50.0%) on three-pointers.
Mikaela Jones and La'Deja James combined for 26 points for the Spartans.
DSU STARTERS
#03 Sharajah Collins
#04 Genell Addison
#14 DeMaurea Moore
#23 Janasia Law
#31 Tierra Floyd
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Norfolk State outscores DSU 32-24 in points in the paint.
2. DSU shoot just 21.7% from three-point range.
Up Next
The Lady Hornets wrap up their regular season at Howard University on Thursday, Mar. 5th. Tip-of starts at 5:30 pm.
