The Delaware State Hornets are the eighteen sports teams representing Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware in intercollegiate athletics, including men and women's basketball, cross country running, tennis, and track and field; women's-only bowling, softball, and volleyball; and men's-only baseball.
| Delaware State Hornets | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Delaware State University |
| Conference | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (primary) Northeast Conference (baseball, women's golf, women's lacrosse, women's soccer) ECAC (equestrian) |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Scott Gines |
| Location | Dover, Delaware |
| Varsity teams | 18 |
| Football stadium | Alumni Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Memorial Hall |
| Baseball stadium | Soldier Field |
| Nickname | Hornets |
| Colors | Columbia blue and red[1] |
| Website | www |
History
editThe Hornets complete in NCAA Division I; they have been members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference since 1970.[2] While most teams play in the MEAC, the women's equestrian team plays in the ECAC/National Collegiate Equestrian Association, and the baseball, women's soccer, women's lacrosse and women's golf teams all compete in the Northeast Conference.[3]
The university's Department of Intramural Sports provides a wide variety of quality recreational programs for students, faculty and staff.
In 2024, Delaware State announced the school would field a women's wrestling program, the first for an HBCU. The program would begin competition in 2025 when women's collegiate wrestling becomes an official NCAA sport. The Hornets had a men's program until 2009.
Teams
editA member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Delaware State sponsors teams in six men's and twelve women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[4]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Bowling |
| Cross country | Cross country |
| Football | Equestrian |
| Track and field† | Golf |
| Lacrosse | |
| Soccer | |
| Softball | |
| Tennis | |
| Track and field† | |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor | |
Basketball
editThe university has both men's and women's basketball teams.
Its men's basketball team won the 2005 MEAC championship and earned a berth in the 2005 NCAA tournament. Playing as a sixteen-seed, the Hornets lost 57–46 in the opening round to one-seed Duke University.[5] The Hornets also have made back to back National Invitation Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007.
The women's basketball team won the 2006 MEAC championship and earned a berth in the 2006 NCAA tournament. Playing as a fifteen-seed, the Lady Hornets kept the game close down by only three until nine minutes remained in the game, but lost 62–47 in the opening round to two-seed Vanderbilt University.[6]
References
edit- ^ Delaware State University Branding & Communications Tool Kit (PDF). Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ "Member Institutions - MEACsports.com - the Official Site of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference". Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ "NEC & MEAC Announce Three-Sport Associate Member Partnership" (Press release). Northeast Conference. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ "Delaware State University Hornets". Delaware State University. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ "Coach K Ties Smith for Most NCAA Tourney Wins". ESPN. Associated Press. March 18, 2005. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
- ^ "Woman's Basketball – Delaware St. vs. Vanderbilt". USA Today. Associated Press. April 18, 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
External links
edit
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