BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a season defined by narrow defeats and offensive struggles, the Delaware State women’s basketball team found a decisive path to victory Saturday, led by a dominant performance from Jermesha Frierson. The Hornets avenged a narrow loss from earlier in the season by defeating Morgan State 74-59 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Hill Field House.

Delaware State, which entered the contest with a 4-21 record and had lost five straight, including a 61-59 heartbreaker to these same Bears just over a month ago, controlled the game from the opening tip. The Hornets established an early lead and never trailed, methodically building their advantage to secure only their fifth win of the season.

The most critical phase of the game was its inception. Delaware State stormed out of the gates with a 10-0 run in the first three minutes, setting an immediate tone of control. Nykesha Sanders opened the scoring with a layup, followed by a three-pointer from Frierson and a jump shot from Ericka Huggins. Morgan State, struggling to find any offensive rhythm, did not score until a Kailyn Nash jumper at the 7:44 mark. By the end of the first quarter, the Hornets led 21-13, capitalizing on early Morgan State turnovers and inefficient shooting.

Frierson, a 5-foot-7 guard from Shreveport, Louisiana, was the engine for Delaware State. She played 37 minutes and finished with a game-high 20 points, adding three assists and two steals. Her backcourt partner, Amya Scott, provided a crucial spark off the bench, contributing 15 points in just 20 minutes of action. Sanders, from Detroit, orchestrated the offense effectively, dishing out six assists to go with eight points.

Morgan State, which fell to 4-23, was led by Jael Butler’s 16 points and Nash’s 13. However, the Bears were plagued by poor shooting and an inability to generate easy baskets. They shot just 41.7% from the field and a dismal 21.4% from three-point range. Furthermore, their offense was stagnant, managing only three total assists as a team. While they forced 14 Delaware State turnovers, converting them into 19 points, they could not consistently string together stops to mount a serious comeback.

Delaware State’s offensive efficiency proved to be the difference. The Hornets scored 74 points on 69 possessions, an offensive rating of 107.3, while Morgan State managed only 59 points on 66 possessions for a rating of 89.0. Delaware State dominated inside, outscoring Morgan State 40-28 in the paint, and shot 52.7% from the floor overall despite connecting on only 4 of 15 three-point attempts.

The Bears made several pushes to cut into the lead, particularly in the third quarter where they outscored Delaware State 19-17, but each time the Hornets had an answer, often from Frierson or Scott. A key sequence early in the fourth quarter sealed the outcome. With Delaware State leading 49-47, Frierson stole the ball from Morgan State’s Mihjae Hayes and converted a layup while being fouled. She completed the three-point play, and after a Morgan State timeout, the Hornets extended the lead back to double digits, where it remained for the rest of the contest.

The win breaks a prolonged slump for Delaware State, which had not won since Jan. 22. For Morgan State, the loss extends a difficult season, highlighting ongoing challenges on both ends of the floor. The announced attendance was 753.

Delaware State next hosts South Carolina State on Thursday. Morgan State will look to regroup when it hosts Norfolk State, also on Thursday.