Sconiers Shines in Career Day as Women’s Basketball Return to Winning Ways at Lehigh

Sunday, December 18

Bethlehem, Pa.

2 PM

University of Delaware

6-4,0-0CAA

Lehigh

3-7,0-0Patriot

Delaware

Lehigh

Sconiers Shines in Career Day as Women’s Basketball Return to Winning Ways at Lehigh

12/18/2022 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The University of Delaware women's basketball team closed out its non-conference road slate Sunday afternoon in Bethlehem, Pa. against Lehigh. Behind Klarke Sconiers' career-best 29 points on 10-12 efficient shooting from the field, the Blue Hens (6-4) returned to winning ways by capturing the 79-67 victory over the Mountain Hawks (3-7). With the win, Delaware has now won nine consecutive games against Lehigh dating back to 1990 and the first time claiming victory after trailing at the half (Feb. 9, 2022 at Towson 34-36 - W, 81-76).

With the scoreboard reading 23-all after the opening quarter, Lehigh used an 8-3 run to build a five-point cushion (31-26) with 6:54 left in the second quarter. Jewel Smalls found Sconiers in the paint to lay in two for Delaware to pull within three, 38-35, with 2:14 remaining. The Mountain Hawks went on another 8-2 spurt to extend their lead to nine, 46-37, before Makayla Pippin's driving layup with 10 seconds left sent the Blue Hens into the break trailing by seven, 46-39.

Delaware turned up the intensity coming out the half, outscoring Lehigh 24-13, with Sconiers leading the charge scoring 17 of her 29 points in the third quarter. Sconiers drained a pair of free throws at the 5:31 mark to ignite an 11-5 run to take the five-point advantage, 58-53. Ella Stemmer knocked down back-to-back triples for the Mountain Hawks to take their last lead of the afternoon, 59-58. To close out the quarter, Tara Cousins responded by scoring five-unanswered points to give the Blue Hens the lead for good, 63-59.

The Blue Hens remained in the driver's seat throughout the final period, with Sconiers' scoring point 29 at the 1:42 mark to extend the lead to a game-high 14 points (79-65). Frannie Hottinger poured in a two free throws for Lehigh to settle the 79-67 final.

Delaware shot 46.2 percent (30-65) from the field, 45.5 percent (5-11) from the beyond the arc, and 73.7 precent (14-19) from the free throw line. Lehigh connected on 34.9 percent (22-63) from the field, 26.8 percent (11-41) from three-point territory, and 70.6 percent (12-17) from the charity stripe. The Blue Hens outplayed Lehigh in rebounds (47-36), assists (16-15), steals (9-8), second chance points (12-8), and points in the paint (46-12).

Along with her career-high 29 points, Sconiers pulled down 11 rebounds to post her first double-double on the season. The Queens, N.Y. native's 29-point, 10 field goals made and nine free throws made performance were all season-highs for a Delaware player this season. Cousins followed with 15 points and seven rebounds while Pippin chipped in 14 points and 13 rebounds to register her third double-double on the season. Smalls poured in 13 points, three three-pointers in a game for the sixth time this season, and nabbed two steals. This was the first game two Delaware players had a double-double in the same game since March 12, 2022 against Towson (Jasmine Dickey, Ty Battle).

Hottinger paced Lehigh with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Stemmer, Mackenzie Kramer and Jamie Behar scored 14, 11, 10 points, respectively.

WHAT'S NEXT
Delaware will return to the First State to close out their non-conference schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 21 when they welcome American inside Bob Carpenter Center. Opening tip is slated for 2 p.m.

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