DOVER — For the first time this year, the Delaware State University women’s basketball team has a winning streak.
And the Hornets are starting to make their home floor a …
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DOVER — For the first time this year, the Delaware State University women’s basketball team has a winning streak.
And the Hornets are starting to make their home floor a fortress.
Delaware State edged Norfolk State University 59-56 on Monday night for its second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in a row. The Hornets moved to 5-10 in the MEAC and 7-19 overall.
Delaware State fell to Norfolk State 63-50 in the first MEAC game of the season on Jan. 5.
For first-year coach David Caputo, that shows how far the Hornets have come this year.
“We’re starting to get some confidence and are grinding out wins late,” Caputo said. “We’re defending better. We’re taking charges, guarding the ball better, guarding the post better and rebounding better. We tell them if you defend and rebound you’ll eventually break through.”
NaJai Pollard paced the Hornets on Monday with 21 points and six rebounds. Lanayjha Ashe added 17 points and scored six points in the final 2:04.
Pollard scored the go-ahead layup with 1:29 left. Ashe then went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
“We were able to get it to our best free throw shooter,” Caputo said. “We executed those inbounds plays.”
The Hornets have now won three home games in a row. That’s the largest home winning streak since they won 10 home games in a row in the 2008-2009 season.
It was also the first time DelState won back-to-back games since Jan. 27 last season.
Norfolk State dropped to 9-6 in the MEAC and 14-14 overall.
MEN, Norfolk State 74, Delaware State 66: The Hornets made it a one-possession game late but fell to the MEAC’s top team.
It was the sixth-straight win for Norfolk State who improved to 14-1 in MEAC play.
Jonathan Mitchell had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Hornets (5-23, 2-13). Kevin Larkin added 12 points. Ameer Bennett had 12 points.
Saleik Edwards, who was second on the Hornets in scoring heading into the contest with 11 points per game, shot only 20 percent for the game (2 of 10).
The Spartans improve to 2-0 against the Hornets this season. Norfolk State defeated Delaware State 77-63 on Jan. 5.
Staff writer Tim Mastro can be reached at tmastro@newszap.com or 741-8224.
Follow @TimMastroDSN on Twitter.