Pollard leads Delaware State past Wagner Seahawks for first road win of the season

#22 NaJai Pollard
Forward  Height:5'11"
Year:Sophomore
Hometown:Richmond, Va.
High School:Highland Springs H.S.

STATEN ISLAND, New York -- Delaware State’s NaJai Pollard has already proven she's one of the top players in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The sophomore forward is showing teams in other leagues just how dominant she can be.

Pollard led all players with 27 points and 13 rebounds to propel the Lady Hornets to their first win of the season, 61-49, over Wagner at the Spiro Sports Center this afternoon.

The reigning MEAC Rookie-of-the-Year and Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection was 13-for-17 from the field and three-of-five at the free throw line today. She also had a personal-best five blocks.

Pollard scored a career-high 38 points vs. Lehigh in DSU’s previous outing on Nov. 16.

In the last two games, Pollard has scored 65 points on 26-for-33 shooting from the floor (78.8%), and pulled down 25 rebounds.

She opened the season with a 29-point performance vs. Detroit Mercy on Nov. 11.

Today’s numbers raised Pollard’s season averages to 24.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She is shooting a blistering 61.9% from the field (39-for-63) this season.

Pollard has reached double-figures in points and rebounds in three of the Lady Hornets’ four games this season, and has 11 “double-doubles” in 33 collegiate games. She led the MEAC in scoring entering Sunday’s contest.

DSU trailed 14-11 after the first quarter of today’s contest, but outscored Wagner 18-11 in the second to hold a 29-25 lead at the break. Pollard had 17 points in the opening half.

The Lady Hornets scored the first eight points of the second half and opened up a 37-25 lead on a lay-up by Pollard with 7:58 left in the third quarter.

Aaliyah Davis hit a jumper in the closing minute of the third quarter to give Delaware State 51-41 lead entering the final stanza.

The Lady Hornets used a solid defensive effort to keep Wagner at bay in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks hit just three-of-13 fourth quarter shots (23.1%) , including misses on each of four three-point attempts.

Davis and Ivana Negro added eight points each for DSU.

Freshman Gennell Addison came off the bench to score six points and grab 11 rebounds, each a season-high, for the Lady Hornets.

DSU outrebounded Wagner 51-38 in the contest.

Tanasia Russell was high scorer for the Seahawks with 16 points, while teammate Julia McClure added 10. Wagner fell to 1-3 this season.

The Lady Hornets (1-3) remain in New York for their next contest on Tuesday at Hofstra. Game time is 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS