Erin Hawkins' lone field goal was a three-pointer with 4.2 remaining, to give Morgan a 53-52 win at Delaware State on Saturday.
DOVER, Del. (Feb. 20, 2010)-Erin Hawkins made one field goal all game out of five attempts, but for Morgan State it was the most important one of the afternoon, as Hawkins' three-pointer lifted the visiting Lady Bears past Delaware State, 53-52 in a MEAC game on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Hall.
Delaware State (5-21, 3-10 MEAC) which trailed by as much as six points in the second half (39-33), used an 8-2 run, capped off with two free throws by Selena Galloway (four points on 0-for-9 shooting), giving the hosts a 52-50 lead with 14.9 to play.
Morgan State's Corin Adams received the inbound pass and the Hornets quickly began to pressure Adams, who was forced to give up the ball to Theresa Davis. Davis dribbled alongside the right sideline and was trapped near half-court before eventually finding Hawkins (five points), who continued to dribble down the right side, before draining the game winning trey from the right wing with 4.2 left on the clock.
With the win, Morgan State (14-11, 9-3 MEAC) swept the season series for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. The victory also earned head coach Donald Beasley his first win at the Hornets' Nest in four tries and was the program's first win in Dover since the 2000-01 season.
More importantly, Morgan's win coupled by Hampton's 62-53 loss at Bethune-Cookman today, moved the Lady Bears back into sole possession of second-place in the league standings with four games to play.
Adams led the Lady Bears with a game-high 14 points, while Brittany Dodson came off the bench and scored 11 points. Davis chipped in with eight points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Delaware State (5-21, 3-10 MEAC), which has dropped its last two games, was led by Kianna D'Oliveira, who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Alexis Abraham added 10 points. Brittany Washington came off the bench to score eight points and had a game-high 10 rebounds.
Morgan State, which entered this afternoon's contest in third in the league standings, fell behind 8-2, before getting back into the game on a jumper in the lane by Dodson to bring the guests within 12-10 with 12:18 left in the opening half. The Hornets then used an 11-2 spurt to take their largest lead of the game at 23-12, after a jumper by Tonya Clark at the 6:49 mark.
The Lady Bears went on a 14-2 run of their own to close out the half and take a 26-25 lead at the break. Morgan began the run scoring 10 straight to pull within 23-22. A Delaware State basket by Washington ended the Hornets' drought, before Adams scored on a layup. The Hornets would turn the ball over on the ensuing inbound and Adams, who was fouled, knocked down both free throws to give Morgan State its first lead of the game and a 26-25 lead at the break.
Morgan State, which had shot 51 percent or better in its previous two games, shot 40 percent (18-of-45). The hosts shot 33.8 percent on 22-of-65 shooting. The Lady Bears notched seven blocks, with Georgien Williams, Kristina Rosario and Adams all recording two blocks apiece.
Delaware State tallied 14 steals and forced 26 Morgan State turnovers, scoring 24 points off of the Lady Bears' miscues. Morgan State finished with seven steals and turned 19 Hornet turnovers into 15 points. The Hornets also held a 41-33 rebounding advantage.
The Lady Bears travel to Princess Anne, Md. to take on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in a MEAC game on Monday, Feb. 22. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. at the Hytche Center. The Lady Hawks are coming off a 76-56 homecoming win over Coppin State on Saturday.
