Preview: Delaware State Hornets at North Carolina Central Eagles DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will meet Monday when the Delaware State Hornets visit the North Carolina Central Eagles in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game. The matchup at McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium features programs with nearly identical struggles this season. Delaware State (4-18 overall) enters on a two-game skid, while North Carolina Central (5-15) looks to rebound from a road loss. The Eagles hold a slight edge in the standings and won the most recent meeting last season. Both teams have shown flashes, with each securing a conference win in early February. A key individual matchup will be Delaware State guard Jermesha Frierson against North Carolina Central’s Aniya Finger. Frierson has been a consistent contributor for the Hornets, averaging double figures in scoring over her last four games, including a 13-point, five-rebound performance in a loss to Coppin State on Saturday. Finger is coming off a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds in the Eagles’ loss at Norfolk State on Saturday. She also had a spectacular 30-point outing in a win over Maryland-Eastern Shore just five days ago, demonstrating her high-scoring potential. Delaware State is looking for more offensive support behind Frierson. Kaitlyn Adams led the team with 15 points in the Coppin State loss. The Hornets have lost 10 of their last 11 games. North Carolina Central has found some success at home, including a 103-51 rout of non-Division I William Peace and the 69-62 conference win over Maryland-Eastern Shore last week. Morgan Callahan, who had 13 points and six rebounds against Norfolk State, provides a secondary scoring option. The game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams, with a rematch scheduled at Delaware State on Feb. 28. Following this contest, Delaware State will host Howard on Thursday. North Carolina Central remains at home to face Morgan State on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, in Durham.