Delaware St. 55, Morgan St. 42

3/10/2007 5:06 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -Delaware State finally wrapped up a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament with a smile.

The Hornets claimed their first NCAA tournament berth and won their first conference title in seven tries with a 55-42 victory over Morgan State on Saturday in the MEAC championship game.

``For the past three years, just working hard to reach this goal,'' junior guard Raquel Collier said. ``We accomplished it finally, but this isn't the end for us.''

Katreem Palmer had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Collier had 15 points for the second-seeded Hornets (20-12).

Collier added 15 points, Ashlee Burbage had 11 and Thea Littlepage had 13 rebounds for Delaware State, which played in the league title game for the fifth time in seven seasons.

Coach Ed Davis, who guided Bowie State to three NCAA Division II tournaments before coming to Delaware State in 2000, said a rough nonconference schedule that included games against nationally ranked Texas A&M and North Carolina prepared the Hornets for the NCAA tournament.

``We played the No. 1 team in the nation, North Carolina, and actually led that game for a minute,'' Davis said. ``The kids understand the atmosphere because they've played in it. ... We know what the upper-level opponents can do.''

Delaware State dominated the first half, shooting nearly 45 percent while holding fourth-seeded Morgan State to under 18 percent shooting and taking a 27-18 halftime lead. The Hornets only briefly trailed in the game's opening moments.

The Hornets held Morgan State's starting lineup to a combined 9-of-39 shooting.

Whitney Johnson had 11 points to lead the Bears (18-13), who were denied their first conference title and have lost 11 of 12 meetings with the Hornets. Leading scorer Corin Adams, who entered the tournament averaging 13.4 points, finished the title game with nine points on 2-of-15 shooting.

``If you want it, you want it, bottom line,'' Johnson said. ``They wanted it more.''

Delaware State held a 44-41 rebounding advantage and was overwhelming defensively, forcing Morgan State into 1-of-11 shooting from 3-point range.

``They only scored 50 points, but they play defense,'' coach Donald Beasley said.

The Bears, who knocked off top-seeded Coppin State in the semifinals, reached the conference title game for the first time since 1985.