Morgan State University Athletics

BALTIMORE, Md. (Sept. 12, 2026)--Nia Thompson (match-high 20 kills) and Kiera Hamilton combined for 35 total kills to lead the visiting Patriots past Morgan State, 3-1 (25-21, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21) in Saturday's Battle of the Beltway matchup at Hill Field House.
 
The win marks the fourth straight victory for the Patriots over Morgan. George Mason improved to 6-2 on the season, while the Bears dropped to 1-7.
 
Both teams began the first set trading blows, with neither program gaining a clear advantage. The Bears then jumped out to a 13-10 lead, powered by Michaela Panekova, who recorded four kills in the first set. The Patriots responded with a 5-1 run of their own behind Thompson, who scored six kills of her own on a .316 hit percentage, helping George Mason win the first 25-21.
 
George Mason started the second frame strong, carving out a two-point advantage led by Thompson. Then the Patriots exploded, scoring nine straight kills to give them a 10-point advantage they would enjoy for the remainder of the set. The Bears would attempt to storm back, but the deficit would prove too much, as George Mason cruised to a 25-14 second set victory.
 
As the third set came around, the Lady Bears were poised not to be swept on their home floor for the second straight day. The set started off electric, with just two points separating these teams halfway through the third. As the set continued, the Bears found themselves down six points and their backs against the wall. Then Jada Williams and Isabelle Brown took over, becoming the catalyst for a 13-7 run, giving the Bears their first set win of the evening (25-23).
 
After securing victory in the third set, the Bears' energy was at an all-time high, but the Patriots came ready. Behind a solo 5-0 by Thompson and a couple big defensive plays from Meredith Brown, the Patriots held an early nine-point lead 15-6. The Bears would battle back, though, cutting the deficit to just two behind some big plays from reserve Zayda Thomas and the Bear defense. This would be as close as Morgan would get, as the lead would prove too much, with George Mason taking the set 25-21.
 
Morgan State was paced by Panekova, who finished with a double-double with 18 kills and 12 digs, both team highs. Tameary Wardlaw finished with 11 digs and Brown had 23 assists, six kills and a match-high three solo blocks. Williams, who had eight kills and eight digs, also tallied three blocks, including one solo to give her 314 career blocks and move her into fourth all-time at Morgan State.
 
Ava Cheney tallied a match-high 41 assists for the Patriots and Autumn Martinez-Robinson had a match-best 18 digs. Hamilton added 11 digs to record a double-double.
 
George Mason hit .215 as a team with 55 kills, while Morgan State recorded 42 kills and had a hitting percentage of .134. The Bears held an 11.0-8.0 advantage over George Mason in blocks.
 
The Bears will wrap up the Battle of the Beltway tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. as they take on George Washington (2-5). The Revolutionaries are coming off a 3-1 win at Loyola Maryland on Friday. GW will visit UMBC later this evening.
 
 
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
Instagram: /MorganStateBears
 
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.