University of Delaware Athletics
#11 Delaware Heads to Pittsburgh to Take on Duquesne in WNIT Consolation Round Wednesday
11/12/2012 9:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The University of Delaware women's basketball team will be looking to get back on the winning track this Wednesday, Nov. 14, as the Blue Hens head to western Pennsylvania to take on host Duquesne in the consolation round of the Pre-Season Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
The game will be played at 7 p.m. at the A.J. Palumbo Center with a live radio broadcast on The Ticket AM 1290. Live stats are also available and can be accessed off a link on the Delaware athletics website - www.bluehens.com. The game will mark the final WNIT Tournament game for both teams as the winner does not advance in the consolation bracket.
Both teams will be looking to pick up victories after easily winning their WNIT first round games and falling in the second round to teams on the cusp of the Top 25 rankings.
Delaware, which is ranked No. 11 nationally by the Associated Press and No. 12 by USA Today, defeated Sam Houston State 63-31 on Friday night before falling to Big East contender Georgetown 62-56 in the second round on Sunday.
The loss snapped Delaware's 15-game home winning streak at the Bob Carpenter Center and its 18-game regular season win streak. The Hens have won 10 straight games on an opponent's home floor since an 85-76 setback at then No. 5 Maryland last December 29.
Delaware played both games without All-American and 2012 NCAA scoring leader Elena Delle Donne (28.1 points per game) who is battling the effects of Lyme Disease and is listed as day to day. Leading the Blue Hens are senior guard Lauren Carra (15.5 ppg/at right) and senior forward Danielle Parker (10.0 ppg, 11.0 rebounds per game).
Duquesne, which went 20-12 a year ago and lost in the first round of the post-season WNIT, opened the season with a 63-46 home victory over Liberty Friday night before falling to host North Carolina 62-58 on Sunday. The Dukes are led by junior guard Orsi Szecsi (13.0 ppg, 10.0 rebounds per game), freshman guard April Robinson (12.0 ppg), and sophomore guard Belma Nurkic (11.0 ppg).
Delaware and Duquesne may play again later this season as both will take part in the Dartmouth Tournament Dec. 29-30 in Hanover, N.H. Delaware will play Villanova in the first round while the Dukes will face the host Big Green at that tournament.
Following the Duquesne game, Delaware will return home and continue action Nov. 20 vs. Providence at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center.
