LEIPSIC, Del. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant third-quarter surge and a frantic final minute, the Morgan State women’s basketball team held off a furious Delaware State rally to secure a 61-59 victory in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest Saturday at Memorial Hall.

The Bears, who improved to 3-17 overall, appeared to seize control with a 25-point third quarter, turning a narrow 26-21 halftime lead into a commanding 51-38 advantage entering the final period. However, the Hornets, now 3-16, mounted a relentless comeback in the fourth, outscoring Morgan State 21-10 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 13 seconds. With Morgan State clinging to a 59-57 lead, Delaware State’s Ericka Huggins, who finished with a game-high 28 points, drove for a layup to tie the score at 59. The Bears inbounded the ball and, without calling a timeout, worked it to forward Kailyn Nash. The 5-foot-10 junior from Muskegon, Michigan, hit a mid-range jump shot with just seconds remaining to put Morgan State back on top.

Delaware State had one final opportunity, but a turnover sealed the outcome, giving the Bears their second conference win of the season.

Morgan State’s victory was anchored by its performance coming out of halftime. After a sluggish first half where both teams struggled offensively, the Bears found their rhythm. They shot efficiently in the third period, capitalizing on Delaware State turnovers and getting key contributions across the roster. Guard Mihjae Hayes of Philadelphia orchestrated the offense, dishing out six assists to go with 12 points. Jala Bannerman of Windsor Mill, Maryland, and Gabrielle Johnson of Baltimore each added 12 and 11 points, respectively, with much of their production fueling the pivotal third-quarter run.

Nash’s final line of 11 points, including the decisive basket, was crucial, as was her defensive presence with a block and multiple rebounds.

Despite the loss, Delaware State was carried by the outstanding performance of Huggins. The 6-foot sophomore from Wilmington, Delaware, was a force throughout, adding two blocks to her 28-point effort. Guard Jermesha Frierson of Shreveport, Louisiana, provided steady playmaking with six assists and seven points over 37 minutes. The Hornets dominated scoring in the paint, holding a 30-16 advantage, but were ultimately undone by 18 turnovers, which Morgan State converted into 22 points.

The Bears also won the game at the free-throw line, making 15 of 17 attempts compared to Delaware State’s 6-of-9 shooting. Morgan State’s ability to capitalize on those opportunities proved vital in such a tight contest.

Statistically, the game was a matchup of inefficient offenses, as Morgan State posted an offensive rating of 88.3 points per 100 possessions and Delaware State finished at 91.8. Both teams committed 18 turnovers. The Hornets actually shot better from the field, hitting 48 percent on 24-of-50 shooting, while the Bears managed just 38.9 percent on 21-of-54 shooting. Morgan State’s edge came from beyond the arc and at the charity stripe.

The game drew an announced crowd of 239 to Memorial Hall.

Entering the contest, national statistical projections heavily favored Morgan State with a 70.3 percent probability to win, a prediction the Bears narrowly fulfilled with their late-game execution.

Morgan State will look to build on the win when it travels to face Norfolk State on Thursday. Delaware State aims to regroup on the road at South Carolina State, also on Thursday.