Women’s Basketball Takes Down Illinois

Saturday, November 26

Daytona Beach, Fla.

3:30 PM

University of Delaware

4-2,0-0CAA

Illinois

6-1,0-0Big Ten

Illinois

Delaware

11/26/2022 7:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The University of Delaware women's basketball team displayed resiliency Saturday afternoon against a tough Big Ten opponent in Illinois to conclude the 2022 Daytona Beach Invitational inside Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Fightin' Blue Hens (4-2) defeated Goliath by capturing the 83-80 victory to snap the Fighting Illini (6-1) six-game winning streak. This win marks the third time in three seasons that Delaware walked away with a win over a Power 5 school. The last time Delaware reached this feat was during the 2020-21 season, when the Blue Hens claimed the 87-74 win over Clemson on Mar. 20 as part of the WNIT run.

Hey, @COACH_SCJ22… Challenge, ACCEPTED!

Great win for @DelawareWBB to close out Daytona Beach Invitational, defeating Illinois 83-80. #CAAHoops pic.twitter.com/9AXjnYXy0Q
— CAA Basketball (@CAABasketball) November 26, 2022

Illinois opened the game with a 10-2 run forcing Delaware to call time out with 6:49 showing on the clock. The Blue Hens had a sense of urgency to close the gap and thanks to a pair of Klarke Sconiers free throws ignited a much-needed 19-11 run to make it a 21-all game. Adalia McKenzie knocked down a free throw to put Illinois up by one point, 22-21.

The Fighting Illini pushed their lead up to five points courtesy of Brynn Shoup-Hill's jumper at the 3:22 mark, 35-31. Tara Cousins drained a jumper with 2:06 left to kickstart the Blue Hens' 7-0 run to take the 40-36 lead into the break.

Illinois opened the third scoring 10 unanswered points to regain the lead, 46-40. Michelle Ojo laid in two with 5:49 left on the clock for the Blue Hens to answer right back with a 10-2 spurt to take the slight two-point edge, 50-48. After the Fighting Illini knotted the game at 50, Nakiyah Mays-Prince found a running Kharis Idom who planted herself beyond the arc and drained the triple with horn sounding off to put the Blue Hens up, 53-50, heading into the final quarter of play.

The fourth quarter saw 60 points scored between both teams as the toe-to-toe battle for the advantage commenced. With 1:59 left, Makayla Pippin and Mays-Prince combined for the Blue Hens' 10 points to build the eight-point cushion, 81-73. Illinois feeling the pressure trimmed the deficit to one point after using at 7-0 run with six second left, 81-80. The fouling game started and benefited the Blue & Gold as the rookie Mays-Prince showed the clutch gene knocking down a pair of free throws to secure the 83-80 win.

Pippin finished with career-bests of 18 points (8-11 FT) and 18 rebounds to lead the way in Delaware's win. The Indianapolis, Ind. native 18-rebound performance is the most by a CAA player this season and the most by a UD player since Jasmine Dickey had 18 in the 2022 CAA Conference Championship Game on March 13. Sconiers added her name to the mix with a career-best 18 points (7-11 FG) while Idom, Cousins (four assists, two steals) and Mays-Prince poured in 12, 11 and 11 points, respectively. The Blue Hens had five different players score at least 10 points for the first time since Jan. 4, 2021, an 86-59 road victory over Northeastern.

McKenzie paced Illinois with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Genesis Bryant followed with 18 points off the bench while Makira Cook chipped in with 16 points and 10 assists. Jada Peebles added 11 points off the pine.

Delaware shot 45.9 percent (28-61) from the field, 46.2 percent (6-13) from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent (21-28) from the free throw line. Illinois connected on 42.4 percent (28-66) from the field, 43.8 percent (7-16) from three-point territory, and 77.3 percent (17-22) from the charity stripe. The Blue Hens outplayed Illinois in steals (7-6), fast break points (12-3) while scoring 15 points off of 13 Fighting Illini turnovers as compared to them scoring 12 points on just 10 Delaware turnovers. Delaware's 13 assists were a new season-best, and their 10 turnovers were their fewest in a game this season.

WHAT'S NEXT
Delaware will return to campus Wednesday, Nov. 30 and will play host to in-state foe Delaware State at 7 p.m. inside Bob Carpenter Center, as part of the Route 1 Rivalry.
Promotions: Delaware Night | Free UDairy ice cream for the first 150 fans. Tickets: All tickets are only $3.02!

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