Delaware State used a powerful second half on Saturday afternoon to surge past Bethune-Cookman, 71-51 in a MEAC affair at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Despite trailing by just three points at the half, B-CU (3-14, 0-6 MEAC) seemed to be further away from the striking distance they had to their counterparts from Dover, Del. than the scoreboard indicated.

The huge burst for the Lady Hornets of DSU (8-10, 3-1 MEAC) happened over the course of a powerful run to start ... and finish the second half. B-CU was held to just nine (9) points scoring through the first 11 minutes and 58 seconds of the second half.

In that time, DSU's Raquel Collier, went to work for 10 of her game-high 20 points. Collier and teammate Katreem Palmer were seemingly unstoppable as they worked for 29 points off B-CU turnovers in the game--as a team, for the Lady Hornets.

Trailing 55-39 with 8:02 showing on the clock, B-CU newcomer Deneen Bell connected for three points to trim the lead down to 55-40. That is as close as the Lady Wildcats would come, however, as DSU would once again take a commanding lead down the stretch.

Bethune-Cookman did, in fact, get a great game from freshman Demetria Frank as she poured in a team-high 16 points, grabbed in six rebounds and handed out six assists. For the Miami native, it was her fifth time in six games touching double-digits in scoring.

The first half seemed to be all for the home team as the Lady Wildcats took an early 9-3 advantage behind baskets from Natasha Ferguson and Frank. The Lady Wildcats led for most of the first half until a three-pointer from Keyhana Wakefield for the Lady Hornets gave them a 28-27 lead with 57 ticks left on the clock in the opening stanza.

DSU was led in scoring on the night by Collier's 20-point performance, as well as Wakefield with 16 points of her own. Also touching double-figures in scoring was Palmer (12).

As for the Lady Wildcats, they were led by Frank with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Bell added 11 points, while Ferguson collected her seventh double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the game. Ferguson also had four assists and three blocked shots for the Lady Wildcats.

The Lady Wildcats will look to break their current seven-game losing skid--including 10 against conference opponents, on Monday night when they host Maryland Eastern Shore in Moore Gymnasium at 5:30 pm.

UMES happens to be the last team B-CU defeated as a conference member in regular-season play back on Feb. 19, 2007 by a count of 47-46 at the Ocean Center.

Bethune-Cookman has not won a league game at home inside Moore Gymnasium since defeating Norfolk State, 66-58 back on Jan. 8, 2007.

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