DOVER, DE -- McKenzie Stewart pulled down 12 rebounds and Ericka Huggins added 12 more, and the Delaware State women's basketball team defeated the Georgian Court Lions 71-44 at home Monday.
Stewart and Huggins' fantastic rebounding performances led the Hornets (1-0) in the contest. Stewart tacked on five points and Huggins added 11 points and three steals. Mahogany Cottingham also helped out with 16 points and three steals.
Huggins pulled down six offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Delaware State, grabbing 21 boards and turning them into 21 second chance points.
Delaware State's defense held Georgian Court to only 29.2 percent shooting from the field, including 21.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Lions did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with five offensive rebounds and managed five second chance points while Delaware State cleared 26 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After falling behind 9-7, Delaware State went on a 7-0 run with 4:17 left in the first quarter to take a 14-9 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Delaware State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 14 points.
Delaware State kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 10-0 run starting at the 8:46 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Cottingham, to increase its lead to 24-9. The Lions cut into that lead, but the Hornets still enjoyed a 34-20 advantage heading into halftime. Delaware State forced six Georgian Court turnovers in the period and turned them into eight points.
Delaware State continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Huggins, to expand its lead further to 47-29 with 3:15 to go in the third. The Hornets held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 51-33 edge. Delaware State took advantage of seven Georgian Court turnovers in the quarter, scoring 10 points off of takeaways.
Delaware State kept widening that lead, expanding it to 65-44 before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Kiarra McElrath's jumper, to grow the lead to 71-44 with 21 seconds to go in the contest, a score which would hold for the rest of the game. Delaware State got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 11 of its 20 total points.
Game Highlights
» Ericka Huggins notched a double-double for the Hornets with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
» The Hornets held the Lions to only 29.2 percent shooting from the field.
» The Delaware State bench came alive by scoring 27 points to its scoring output.
» The Hornets turned 23 turnovers into 31 points on the offensive end.
» Delaware State had a 47-23 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Delaware State defense forced 23 turnovers.
» Delaware State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 21 offensive boards in the game.
Up Next...
The Hornets return action Friday, November 8 when they travel to the University of Dayton. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
