University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
College of Charleston
Hens Cruise to 80-49 Win Over Cougars
1/22/2015 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware women's basketball squad had its best offensive effort this season as the Blue Hens defeated the College of Charleston, 80-49, Thursday evening at the Bob Carpenter Center.
Delaware bounced back from a disappointing loss to William & Mary in which the Hens led by 15 points at h
alftime but fell after scoring just 11 points in the second half Sunday.
The Blue Hens (8-10, 3-4 Colonial Athletic Association) had five players score in double figures and were led by sophomore Erika Brown (Haledon, N.J./Paterson Kennedy), who tallied 19 points for the fourth straight game.
Junior Courtni Green (below left Winchester, Va./Millbrook) and sophomore Hannah Jardine (St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada/O'Donel) added 13 points apiece while senior Joy Caracciolo (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) contributed 12 of her own. Freshman Makeda Nicholas (at left; North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) also got in on the scoring affair by tying a season-high 10 points.
Caracciolo and Nicholas each collected eight rebounds in the win while Jardine dished out a game-high five assists.
Delaware led, 36-22, at halftime and put the cruise control on in the second half and outscored the Cougars (4-14, 2-5 CAA), 44-27, en route to victory.
Jackie Luna-Castro led Charleston with 14 points and five rebounds.
“Tonight was a very good night for everyone. I want to build on this no
w; I don't want this roller coaster that this season has been to continue. I want us to stabilize ourselves and play more consistently. This group has been very different, and for me, that's been a challenge. Today they stepped up and showed what they can do.”Senior Joy Caracciolo
“We've been in the gym really working on our shots and they fell today. When they didn't, we were strong on the defensive end. Being focused was definitely harped on us all week at practice. Sunday's game [against William & Mary] was unacceptable, so we just had to focus on scoring and getting shots, even if we were up as much as we were.”
Sophomore Hannah Jardine
“We are really happy with our effort tonight. It was such a hard game against William & Mary, to be up by so much and then to lose it in the second half. We really wanted to make a statement in this game that we're not going to stay down. This shows that we have a lot of heart and we can bounce back.”
· Tonight's win was the largest margin of victory since Delaware defeated Georgia State, 70-38, on Jan. 31, 2013.
· UD's 80 points is the most since an 85-71 win over Charleston on Feb. 14, 2014.
· Delaware led by as much as 33 in the win.
· UD shot a season-best 54.7 percent (29-53) from the field.
· Delaware avenged a 55-49 loss at Charleston on Jan. 6.
· The Blue Hens took a 3-2 series advantage over the Cougars. Each team has won on its own home court, with Delaware picking up an additional victory in last year's CAA semifinals.
· Brenna Williams made her first appearance this season and collected her first career rebound for the Blue Hens.
· Alexis Sears scored her first career points off of two free throws while Kiersten West knocked down her first career three-pointer in the final minutes.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
· Sunday, January 25 – Delaware at Drexel* - 2 p.m. – Daskalakis Athletic Center (Philadelphia, Pa.)
· Thursday, January 29 – Towson at Delaware* - 7 p.m. – Bob Carpenter Center (Newark, Del.)
· Sunday, February 1 – Delaware at Hofstra* - 2 p.m. – Mack Sports Complex (Hempstead, N.Y.)
