University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Marist
Delaware Bounces Back With 70-60 Win Over #rv Marist
11/16/2014 5:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEWARK, Del. – After dropping the season opener in disappointing fashion and then losing a teammate to injury, the University of Delaware women's basketball team had all the motivation in the world Sunday afternoon as the Blue Hens picked up a 70-60 win over #rv Marist in the home opener at the Bob Carpenter Center.
The mood was somber throughout the Bob following the end of the first half as junior Alecia Bell (Newport News, Va./Woodside) left the game on a stretcher. Bell went down with a gruesome left leg injury after landing wrong off a blocked layup attempt with the Hens up, 23-16. She is out indefinitely.
Bell's teammates would not
let this get them down, as they knew they had to 'win for Alecia.'
Delaware (1-1) finished out the remaining four minutes of the half and led, 37-24, at the break.
The Blue Hens went up by as much as 16 in the second half as sophomore Hannah Jardine (St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada/O'Donel) drained a three-pointer to give UD the 52-36 advantage with just over 11 minutes remaining.
The Red Foxes (0-1) began to chip away at the Delaware lead and brought the game within seven points numerous times win the final five minutes.
The Blue Hens would not let them get any closer as junior Courtni Green (at left; Winchester, Va./Millbrook) sealed the game with a trey of her own with 15 seconds left on the clock.
Sophomore Erika Brown (Haledon, N.J./Paterson Kennedy) led UD with 21 points in addition to three rebounds and three assists.
Green added 13 points and five rebounds while freshman Chastity Taylor (below right; Islandia, N.Y./St. Anthony's) made her Delaware debut with an impressive 12 points, thr
ee rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Senior Joy Caracciolo (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) brought down a game-best 13 rebounds while chipping in eight points.
Tina Martin[On Alecia Bell's injury]: “Our first thoughts are with Alecia Bell and her family. She is one of our captains, so everyone respects her and I think it was hard for them to see her in so much pain. I just told them to keep their composure and that Alecia needs for us to win for her.”
[On the win]: This was a bounce back day for us. The kids played really well and I thought they followed the defensive game plan, which I've been harping on. We did a great job of keeping Marist in front of us, which is really important. We needed this win. This is a very young team we've got here and I was happy to see individuals step up and play much better.”
Sophomore Erika Brown
“Our defense has been lacking, but I think we played really good defense this afternoon and that's what really kept us ahead of them. We have to keep reminding ourselves that we can actually play defense and get stops because we can definitely score.”
[On Alecia Bell's injury]: “We brought it in and said 'we gotta win this one for Alecia.' She is a huge part of this team and I was definitely playing for her. It was a terrible injury to witness and I knew we had to win for her.”
Freshman Chastity Taylor
“We knew we needed to work together today and the result was a lot better than Friday. I was nervous at first since this was my first collegiate game, but I ju
st try to do what I've been doing in practice and keep my confidence up.”
HEN SCRATCHINGS
· After opening the season Friday scoreless from behind the arc, the Blue Hens tallied nine three-pointers against Marist.
· Since starting play at the Bob Carpenter Center in 1992, Delaware is 20-3 all-time in home openers and 204-82 (.713) overall.
· The last time Delaware beat a team that was ranked or receiving votes came on March 26, 2013 when the Blue Hens defeated No. 13 North Carolina, 78-69, at the Bob during the NCAA Tournament.
· Senior Joy Caracciolo (at left) has recorded double figure rebounds in six of the last seven games.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
· Friday, November 21 – Delaware at East Carolina – 11:30 a.m. – Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum (Greenville, N.C.)
· Tuesday, November 25 – Fordham at Delaware – 7 p.m. – Bob Carpenter Center (Newark, Del.)
· Saturday, November 29 – Delaware at Vermont – 1 p.m. – Patrick Gymnasium (Burlington, Vt.)
