Dover, Del. (Mar. 4) --- The Delaware State Lady Hornets defeat the Norfolk State Lady Spartans in their final home game of the season 59-56.
Lady Spartans guard Dana Echols' three-pointer as time expired missed the mark.
Lanayjha Ashe made two free throws to extend the lead back to three with four seconds left.
Echols made a step back jumper with five seconds left cutting the deficit to one.
Ashe hits two free throws giving DSU a 57-54 lead with nine seconds left.
Lanayjha Ashe finished the game with 17 points, 14 points in the fourth quarter alone including 4-4 on free throws late in the game to put it away. “There was a lot of pressure” Ashe sighed. “but I knew (the free throws) would win the game so I did what I had to do.”
Norfolk State guard Raven Russell converts on a layup with 13 seconds cutting the deficit to one.
Shonnyvelle Regalado pump faked to get free of a defender and the stepped into a pull-up jumper as the shot clock expired, giving DSU a three-point lead with 24 seconds left.
NaJai Pollard made a layup over the outstretched arms of the nation's third best shot blocker Khadedra Croker to give DSU a one-point lead with 1:29 left in the game. DSU trailed by as many as five points in the fourth quarter.
Delaware State trailed 38-31 with 2:30 left in the third quarter, their 7-2 run cut the deficit to just two points heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
The Lady Hornets led by seven with 9:17 left in the quarter, before the Lady Spartans went on a 13-0 run, including three-made three-pointers. Delaware State switched from their man-to-man defense in the first quarter to a 1-3-1 zone in the second quarter.
The Lady Spartans exploited the zone with the three-point shot. Norfolk State led 32-29 heading into halftime.
Delaware State trailed 7-2 early in the first quarter. Coach Caputo settled the team down with a timeout and DSU went on a 16-6 flurry to end the first ten minutes of play.
The Lady Hornets shot 19-of-41 (46.3%) from the field, including 8-of-21 (38.1%) on three-pointers. They shot a near perfect 13-of-14 (92.9%) from the free throw line.
Senior NaJai Pollard had 21 points, six rebounds three steals, and two blocks, in her senior day game.
Fellow Senior Keke Barber scored nine points (3-of-4 on three-pointers) and had three steals.
Norfolk State made just 22-of-60 (36.7%) from the field, 4-of-15 (26.7) from beyond-the-arc. They made 8-of-10 (80.0%) from the charity stripe.
Khadedra Croker led three Spartans in double figures with 14 points.
The Lady Hornets still have one more regular season game left before the tournament. They take on Maryland Eastern Shore March 7th at 5:30 pm. However, when asked about how confident the team is heading into the MEAC Championships, Pollard had a very brief but poignant statement “All confidence, no doubt.”
