DOVER, Del. – For the second straight contest, the Delaware State women’s basketball team (0-2) got off to a slow start on the offensive end, this time totaling 10 points on 4-for-28 (.143) shooting in the opening stanza on its way to falling 54-41 at home to the Mount St. Mary’s Mounts (1-1) Wednesday evening.

With this defeat, the Lady Hornets dropped their 11th straight contest dating back to last season, whereas the Mounts picked up their first win, after falling 76-74 at home to William & Mary last week.

Down 16 at the 9:24 mark, Delaware State used a 15-6 run over the next seven minutes to make it a 46-39 ball game, capped off by guard Ivana Negron splitting a pair at the charity stripe.  However, the Mounts’ next possession featured guard Jessica Harris draining two of three treys of the night to put her squad backup by 10 with 1:44.

DSU responded on its next possession with freshman NaJai Pollard finishing in the paint after pulling down one of her team-high seven boards to cut the deficit to single digits. Nevertheless, Mount St. Mary’s responded once again, this time with guard Kayla Bates hitting two free throws to make it a 51-41 ball game with 1:02 remaining.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Lady Hornets shot just 22 percent (14-of-63) from the field, whereas guard Mikah Aldridge poured in a team-high 11 points (4-of-18).  Mount St. Mary’s, on the other hand, featured three players scoring in double figures, led by guard Alexis Carter’s 17 points (5-of-8).  Carter also pulled down a game-high nine boards.

Delaware State will head to the Steel City to face the Pitt Panthers this Friday night (5:30 p.m.).  Last season, DSU suffered a 93-58 loss at Pitt, whereas the Panthers are 2-0 all-time against the Lady Hornets.