CAA notebook: How Hampton’s significant victory over Georgia is providing strength

Well, sort of.

The Hampton University 5’7 sophomore guard had never made a game-winning basketball shot in her career — until Sunday, Dec. 1. That day, her shot swished through the net as the buzzer sounded to secure Hampton’s thrilling come-from-behind 76-74 overtime road victory over Georgia at Stegeman Coliseum. Trusting her instincts, she delivered a moment of triumph that sent waves of jubilation through her teammates as they celebrated a shining achievement.

“All I remember is we got the rebound,” Kennedy said. “It’s about four seconds left, but Lee got [the ball], and CeCe and I were just off to the races. I got the ball, and I was like, okay, am I going to pass it up, or am I just going to take it … I was thinking, okay, shoot it because if it goes in, we win, and if not, then we go to double overtime. So, it went in, and it was great.”

Kennedy’s parents and grandparents were in attendance, making the memory even sweeter. Her phone exploded with numerous congratulatory text messages. However, there was one thing left to do for the Pirates before flying back to campus.

“We were all like, okay, we’re going to throw the water, right?” said Jenae Dublin, a 6’2 senior guard laughing at the memory. “We didn’t want to mess up her hair. I was like, don’t mess up her hair. Then, we were like, no, we just beat Georgia, we have to do something. So, we just poured the water on her, and she was screaming. We even got on some of our assistant coaches with water … It was very exciting. We couldn’t stop talking about it. I mean, we beat Georgia. The mindset we had coming in was that we were locked in, focused, and ready for the game. We were proud of ourselves on the bus back to the airport.”

This was Hampton’s first comeback of 15 or more points for a victory since beating James Madison 72-65 on Nov. 20, 2018. The Lady Pirates trailed, 46-31, with 3:11 in the third quarter. It was Hampton’s first win over a Power Four opponent since defeating Alabama 64-61 on Nov. 9, 2019, at Alabama.

---

The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.

---

For Hampton, the victory was a definite step in the right direction under first-year head coach Tamisha Augustin. She continues to lay a foundation of excellence for the Lady Pirates. Augustin has been a leader for Hampton, weaving a culture of trust and respect that proudly empowers her players to conquer adversity and embrace conflict as an opportunity for collaborative problem-solving.

Hampton’s resilience and character were on full display as they celebrated a fourth-quarter rally to remember. While these qualities may not be part of a program’s public roster, they made a significant difference, as did Hampton’s sticky defense.

How Hampton stunned Georgia

During the fourth quarter, Hampton transformed 11 Georgia turnovers into 14 points. After the Bulldogs opened the final frame by making two of their first three shots over the first two minutes, Hampton’s defense limited Georgia to 10 consecutive scoreless possessions. Georgia made one of its final six shot attempts in regulation.

Georgia had shot 50 percent or better in each of the first three quarters before going a combined 4-of-14 in the final frame and overtime. Hampton also forced six turnovers during that span, which allowed it to slowly slice a 67-55 deficit to 67-66 with less than 90 seconds remaining.

“We were very aggressive on defense, especially in the fourth quarter,” Dublin said. “We weren’t putting our heads down when we made a mistake. And we were trying to keep the pace going. We pressured them as well. And we also tried to rebound with them more and compete better on the boards. I would say overall, we just kept going. Like, after our mistakes, we just kept going.”

Hampton outscored Georgia, 22-8, in the fourth quarter, and 5’9 senior guard Amyah Reaves had the same number of points as the hosts. She made two enormous baskets in the fourth quarter, a 3-pointer that sliced Hampton’s deficit to 13 points, 22 seconds after Georgia opened a 16-point bulge and the game-tying 3-pointer from the corner that tied the game with four seconds remaining, making Hampton’s hard work and determined effort pay off.

“Tyra, who shot it initially, and then Le’Asia [Foreman] got the rebound,” Reaves recalled. “I tried to kick it back to her to get another shot. They closed out tight there. I had one more in the corner, and we got to shoot it right with time running out. Our motto for this season has been all in. And I think everybody was all in this last game against Georgia. Everybody bought into their roles individually. And once you string those roles together, great things happen.”

Of course, the Lady Pirates are still a work in progress, but a win over a Power Four program accelerates the growth and enhances belief that great things are possible this season despite being picked to finish last in the CAA preseason poll. Augustin has enjoyed seeing the development of her team since she took over.

While many outside of the Hampton program believed the victory was an Everest-like accomplishment, Augustin wasn’t shocked at the result. How it was achieved by overcoming a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter may not have been ideal, but Hampton’s roster with the eight new players is experienced, highlighted by 5 ‘ 8 graduate guard Temple transfer Jasha Clinton, who scored a game-high 20 points – a performance that earned her CAA Player of the Week recognition.

“That win over Georgia gave them confidence at the right time,” Augustin said. “Coach A does a great job, but I knew that her team was young, and the reality was that we have experienced guards. Jasha played at Temple for four years. CeCe started out at Penn State. Kiya is a voice on a bench and started at Missouri. Janae is in her fifth year of college.

“In my mind, what they didn’t tell you is, as we talked about how we can win that game, and if they do these things, they will win. Even though we got down by 16, we stopped doing what was working, and when we went back to what was working, they told us they felt like that. They were always in a good spot, and they knew that the mistakes that were made were in their control.” 

The Lady Pirates are a close team and are having fun learning to succeed under Augustin. And off the court, they are just as impressive. Kennedy is majoring in psychology and wants to become a sports psychologist. Reaves is majoring in finance. Dublin, majoring in liberal studies, wants to be an entrepreneur. She does hair and wants to sell it as well, and she’s interested in graphic design.

Hampton finishes December with a home game against Gardner Webb on Tuesday before competing in the Florida International tournament against Florida International on Dec. 20 and George Washington on Dec. 21. The Lady Pirates finish the month with a road game at Delaware State on Dec. 30.

“At the end of some of our practices, we say sisterhood,” Kennedy said. “I think that carries a lot of weight because we’re with each other daily, and they become your sisters. We hold each other accountable and get on each other, but it’s all tough love.”

Monmouth Soaring

Damaris Rodriguez has always been driven to excel.

“My dad motivates me,” Rodriguez said. “I lost my dad when I was 10, but that’s my motivation to keep going. He believed in me when nobody else did. So that’s the reason why I keep going. I have a tattoo of a butterfly on my stomach, and it says we ‘play to win’ because that’s what my dad would always say to me.”

Rodriguez vividly remembers early morning training sessions with her dad and chasing the ball down the street after the boys blocked her shots. Those challenges built her resilience and fortified her character.

A 5’3 ball of energy, the Monmouth senior guard has always had to prove herself since she started playing basketball at age four. She’s had to show she belonged on the court with bigger and older boys. Rodriguez had to demonstrate she was worthy of making an impact at Division III New Jersey City, which she more than did as she departed as the Gothic Knights’ all-time leading scorer with 1,918 points.

She’s doing the same thing for the Hawks, proving that great blessings come in small packages. Rodriguez is off to a flying start and helping the Hawks soar as their leading scorer at 13.1 points per game, which is eighth in the CAA. She’s also third in the CAA in field goal percentage (38.2%) and eighth in assists (3.3).

She’s scored in double figures seven times this season. During a 27-point performance against Saint Peter’s, Rodriguez scored the 2,000th point of her college career.

---

Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.

---

Rodriguez and 6’0 senior forward Taisha Exanor have helped Monmouth conquer early-season adversity that saw it lose its first six games under first-year head coach Cait Wetmore. The Hawks have won four straight games after beating in-state foe NJIT. Their defense has been suffocating during this stretch, holding opponents to 31% shooting.

Rodriguez never doubted she belonged playing at the highest level of college basketball when she decided to transfer for her final year of eligibility. The New Jersey native is built tough and competes with tenacity. She knew that everything she experienced built her for the opportunity of playing for the Hawks.

“Coming from Division III, I knew there would be some adjustments,” Rodriguez said. “For me, it’s just the pace; it’s a lot faster. Coach has always shared about buying in, showing up every day, practicing, and believing in my teammates. Their belief in me has helped me a tremendous amount. My coaches also really helped me with believing in myself. Coming here wouldn’t be easy, but nothing good ever comes easy.”

Rodriguez was one of Wetmore’s first signings when she was hired in April. She saw film of Rodriguez and received glowing reports from NJCU’s assistant coach, who was Wetmore’s college teammate at Adelphi, which meant the intel on Rodriguez came from a respected place.

“She was like, you got to look at this kid, and she’s going on and on about her,” Wetmore said. “I was like, alright, send me the film. Then she raved about her, obviously as a player, but also just as a person. So that made me interested to hear, like, how hungry she was, and, you know, who she was as a person and everything she’s overcome. Then, when we started talking. We clicked, and I felt like I understood her in a way.”

Exanor, a member of the Hawks last season, is second on the team in scoring 12.5 points per game. She leads Monmouth in rebounding with an 8.9 per game average, tied for third in the CAA. During the Hawks’ four-game winning streak, the communications major has posted three double-doubles. Exanor was named CAA Player of the Week on Monday.

She had 14 points, a season-high 13 rebounds against Lafayette, and 17 points and 11 rebounds in the Hawks’ last game. In 32 games last season, Exanor made 11 3-pointers. Through 10 games this season, she already has nine 3-pointers. This season has also been a positive adjustment for Exanor, who works in the Monmouth athletic communications office.

“She’s like a breath of fresh air,” Exanor said of Wetmore. “Coach Cait brings a sense of family to us. She cares about you and always wants to see you do great in life. She’s just great on and off the court, really … I had to adjust to the new coaching staff and the new players coming in just as much as they had to adjust to me. The only thing I had one up on them was the campus. We learn a lot from each other every day.”

With six players from Canada on its roster, Wetmore has established a strong culture of respect, fun, and accountability. Monmouth leads the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in blocked shots (4.4). The Hawks are second in field goal percentage (39.4) and third in rebounding margin (5.5).

The Hawks have gotten contributions from many players during their winning streak. In the win over Rider, the Hawks their opponents to 39 points, the fewest they have allowed in a win since 2015. Divine Dibula set a career-high with 12 points and a season-high with eight rebounds. The Hawks had 49 rebounds, a season high.

In a 60-54 win over Lafayette, 6’3 graduate center Belle Kranbuhl had a season-high 15 points and 13 rebounds. She averages 7.1 points per game and 1.7 blocked shots, which is also fourth in the CAA. Meanwhile, 6’3 junior forward Ella Farrelly scores at a 7.0 point per game clip. She’s sixth in blocked shots (1.2) and seventh in rebounding (7.4) in the conference.

The Hawks conclude their non-conference schedule by hosting American on Dec. 21. Monmouth travels again on Jan. 10 when it visits Towson.

“I feel as though there’s always still room to grow, but we are getting better as a team, and we’re hungry to keep winning,” Rodriguez said. “In the beginning, it wasn’t so good, but we stuck to it. We keep sticking to it, and I feel our chemistry is improving. Individually, we’re all getting better. I’m excited to see where the rest of the season will go.”

William & Mary enjoys a winning weekend

William & Mary won two out of three games at the Shelly Duncan Classic hosted by Longwood over the weekend of Dec. 6-8. The Tribe beat McNeese State, 57-48, and South Carolina State, 70-65 and lost to the host Lancers, 53-44.

The Tribe got strong efforts from several players during the three-day event. William & Mary also used quick starts to set the tone as it outscored its three opponents, 46-21, in the first period.

Leading the Tribe was 6’0 senior forward Anahi-Lee Cauley, who earned a spot on the all-tournament team after averaging 8.7 points and 6.7 rebounds over the three-game tournament. She scored 12 in the Tribe’s opener against McNeese with a career-high nine boards. She added eight boards and nine points against Longwood. 

The Tribe used a career-high 21-point performance from 6’2 junior forward Kayla Rolph to beat South Carolina State. Rolph averaged 9.7 points during the tournament. Throughout the weekend, 5’8 senior guard Bella Nascimento was consistent for the Tribe, averaging 10.7 points over the three games. She has scored in double figures in eight of the Tribe’s games this season. Nascimento opened the season with a pair of 21-point efforts against Norfolk State and Long Beach State.

William & Mary finishes its non-conference schedule with a visit to unbeaten Maryland on Thursday, Dec. 19. It opens CAA play at home on Jan. 3 against Hampton.

Cousins leading Delaware

It’s easy to notice Delaware guard Tara Cousins because she’s the one dishing sweet dimes to teammates, stepping into passing lanes, making timely baskets and playing with intensity set to 1,000. Cousins is passionate and she’s also a leader for the Blue Hens, who are battling through injury adversity.

“She’s also playing out of position,” Delaware head coach Sarah Jenkins said to The Next. “We don’t have a point guard. She’s playing out of position. And she does whatever we ask and whatever the team needs. She’s doing that for us, and I mean she’s a scorer and she finds ways to score. She’ll be a lot more efficient if she was playing off the ball. I really appreciate it because she’s doing what we’re asking her to do in a tough situation.”

The Blue Hens dropped a 75-65 decision to visiting Villanova last week in a game in which they played with six players. Cousins scored 14 points for the Blue Hens. For the season, she’s averaging 10.3 points per game and 3.4 assists. Yet, her biggest assists are in her future as the biology major is passionate about making a major impact beyond basketball.

---

Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine

Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.

---

Cousins wants to pursue a doctorate degree in global health to make healthcare more accessible, particularly for underserved communities. She’s been a terrific ambassador for Delaware as she is a member of the SAAC and won the CAA’s prestigious Dean Ehlers Leadership Award in 2023. It’s one of the highest individual honors in the conference as its annually presented to a student-athlete who “embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship in conjunction with her academic and athletic achievement.”

“I was a bio major undergrad and an Africana Studies minor,” Cousins shared. “I was learning the hard sciences, but also learning the social sciences part from an African American history standpoint. As an African American woman, you know that resonates with me. Learning the history in the world and our country specifically, I was really inspired to do research to help the Black community and the and underserved communities to get the access they need. Gowing up, I always loved to understand why things happen.”

Jenkins admitted that she expects to cry during Senior Day because of what Cousins has meant to the Delaware program.

“I couldn’t ask for a better captain, a better ambassador for the university,” Jenkins said of Cousins. “Just a great kid. I’m going to cry the last day she puts a jersey on.”

Meanwhile, 5’11 graduate forward Chloe Wilson, who recorded her third-consecutive double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds against Villanova, has also been shining for the Blue Hens. She’s one of four Delaware players averaging double-digits. She averages 10.0 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game, which is tied for third in the CAA. Rebecca Demeke set career-highs in points (21) and steals (4) in a 73-26 win over Delaware State.

The Blue Hens enjoyed an effort to cherish, allowing the fourth fewest points in program history against their in-state rivals. It was also the first time since Jan. 10, 2013, according to CAA weekly notes that Delaware held its opponent under 30 points.

The Blue Hens allowed two points in the first quarter, marking the fewest in school history, and 10 points against in the first half tied the lowest in the history of the Bob Carpenter Center for a women’s game, with the last coming on Feb. 3, 2017, against UNCW.

Cousins was encouraged, despite the loss against Villanova.

“We take that we’re good enough, and we have the fight,” Cousins said. “We just got to clean some stuff up on the defensive end and make a few more shots. Get our get our conditioning up if we’re going to play with six people. I think we take away that we’re good enough to beat any team that we face.”

Delaware has three more non-conference contests, beginning with a trip to Navy on Thursday, Dec. 19.

CAA crossovers

Towson 6’1 freshman forward Khady Leye has won consecutive CAA Rookie of the Week honors … Leye has scored at least 17 points in three straight games for the Tigers, who have two of their last three games after an 0-8 start to the season … Leye had her second double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds) in a win over American … Charleston 6’3 junior center Lara Rohkohl is averaging a double-double with 11.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game … Charleston will compete this weekend in the Saint Joseph’s Hawk Classic and will open against Northwestern on Dec. 20.