Delaware Pulls Away From UNCW, Advances To CAA Semifinals

Thursday, March 11

Elon, N.C.

2:30 p.m.

University of Delaware

20-3,16-2CAA

#9 UNCW

7-14,3-10CAA

UNCW

Delaware

Photo by: Tim Cowie

Delaware Pulls Away From UNCW, Advances To CAA Semifinals

3/11/2021 5:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jewel Smalls sparks the Blue Hens with 19 points off the bench

ELON, N.C. – Delaware advanced to the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Basketball Tournament after pulling away from UNCW, 70-52, Thursday afternoon inside the Schar Center.

After the Seahawks (7-14) took a 42-36 lead midway through the third quarter, the Blue Hens (20-3) closed the frame on a 13-4 run, then outscored UNCW 21-6 in the fourth.

Junior guards Jewel Smalls and Jasmine Dickey paced the Blue Hens with 19 points apiece, while freshman guard Tyi Skinner and redshirt junior forward Ty Battle rounded out Delaware's double-figure scorers with 12 and 10, respectively.

Dickey and Battle both recorded double-doubles with 13 rebounds each, helping pace a dominant team performance on the boards. Delaware out-rebounded UNCW by a 48-29 margin, including 24 offensive rebounds against the Seahawks' 23 defensive boards.

That advantage led to the Blue Hens taking 72 shots, compared to just 44 field goal attempts from UNCW. Delaware also shot 81.3% (13-16) from the free throw line, highlighted by a 7-of-8 performance from Dickey.

One down 👏 #BlueHens #AOW 🎥🎥 pic.twitter.com/T6UdIIoQLe
— Delaware Women's Basketball (@DelawareWBB) March 11, 2021

Delaware held a slim 30-29 lead after a back-and-forth first half, before UNCW went ahead after an 11-4 Seahawk run to open the third.

Four straight made free throws from Dickey gave Delaware the lead back, 46-44, late in the third quarter before senior guard Tee Johnson completed the traditional three-point play, knocking down a jumper through a foul and sinking the free throw, to make it a two-possession game.

After a single made free throw from the Seahawks' Carol-Anne Obusek to open the final quarter, the Blue Hens went on a 13-0 tear across 5:30 of game time. Smalls hit her fourth and fifth treys of the game before Dickey picked the pocket of Dazia Powell and deposited a fast break lay-up.

The run continued with great ball movement to find an open Smalls for an easy bucket, then Battle knocked down a jumper to put Delaware ahead 62-47 with 4:07 left that effectively sealed the game.

Delaware totaled 13 assists on 25 made baskets, bolstered by a season-high five dimes from Battle. Defensively, the Blue Hens forced UNCW into 20 turnovers, including 10 steals. Junior point guard Paris McBride tied a career high with four steals.

Delaware outscored the Seahawks in points off turnovers 17-5, second chance points 14-5, and bench points 36-12.

The Blue Hens face fifth-seeded Hofstra in the semifinals tomorrow, March 12, at 2:30 p.m. inside the Schar Center. Every game of the tournament will be streamed on FloHoops.