Women’s Basketball Falls To In-State Rival Delaware State

Thursday, December 21

Dover, Del.

2 PM

University of Delaware

4-7,0-0CAA

Delaware State

4-8,0-0MEAC

Delaware

Delaware St.

Photo by: NIC TERRY PRODUCTIONS

Women’s Basketball Falls To In-State Rival Delaware State

12/21/2023 4:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

DOVER, Del. – The University of Delaware women's basketball saw its road non-conference and three-game road trip come to a close Thursday afternoon against in-state foe Delaware State inside Memorial Hall. Despite witnessing a strong outing from Tara Cousins and Rebecca Demeke, the Blue Hens (4-7) woes continues as the squad dropped a 69-66 decision to the Hornets (4-8), extending the losing streak to four games.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

Cousins finished with 22 points (7-17 FG, 5-13 3FG) and five rebounds to pace the Blue Hens.
Demeke followed with a career-best 19 points (7-14 FG, 5-12 3FG) and four rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.
Nakiyah Mays-Prince, who made her first start of the season, pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds, in 34 minutes of action.
Delaware finished the afternoon shooting 38.5 percent (25-65) from the field, 33.3 percent (11-33) from beyond the arc and 55.6 percent (5-9) from the free throw line. The Blue Hens pulled down 43 to Delaware State's 36 rebounds, scoring two second-chance points off of 13 offensive boards.
The Blue Hens finished with 12 assists, a block, a steal, 24 points in the paint, 11 fast break points, 28 bench points and scored eight points off of 14 Hornet miscues.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter: Delaware State 17, Delaware 15

After Delaware State opened the game with five straight points, the Blue Hens scored six straight points with baskets from Klarke Sconiers and Cousins.
Neither team was able to hold a lead larger than three points for the remainder of the quarter.

Second Quarter: Delaware State 37, Delaware 35

The Blue Hens opened the quarter with baskets from Demeke and Arantxa Portalez to take a 20-17 lead.
Delaware State responded with a 16-5 run to take a 33-25 lead.
The Hens fought their way back thanks to a 10-2 run to tie the game up at 35 a piece. The run was started by a Cousins 3-point basket.

Third Quarter: Delaware 57, Delaware State 52

Despite Delaware State taking an early third quarter lead, the Blue Hens responded with an 11-2 run to take a 49-44 lead with less than four minutes to play.
Demeke and Cousins combined to score all 11 points during the run.
The Hornets quickly responded scoring the next five points to tie the game.
However, the Blue Hens closed the quarter with an 8-3 run to take the 57-52 advantage into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter: Delaware State 69, Delaware 66

Heading into the final quarter, Delaware remained in the driver's seat holding on to the narrow advantage.
After Delaware State made it a 59-all game with 5:09 showing on the clock, Demeke and Klarke Sconiers scored the Blue Hens next five buckets to build the five point cushion, 64-59.
The Hornets turned the tide on the Blue Hens using a 12-1 run over the next 3:27 to secure the lead for good, 69-65.
Cousins knocked in a freebie for Delaware that would settle the 69-66 final.

GAME NOTES

As part of the Route 1 Rivalry, sponsored by DE529, Delaware State for the second time over the last five seasons has hoisted up the trophy and has in-state bragging rights.
Thursday was the 15th all-time matchup between Delaware and Delaware State.
This is the first time Delaware lost to Delaware State in Dover and the last time UD lost to the Hornets was during the 2019-20 campaign.
The Blue Hens own a 13-2 series advantage.
For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Blue Hens are currently in a four-game slump.
Cousins has scored in double figures for the eighth time this season and posted her fifth 20+ points outing.
Demeke scoring five triples is a career-best as the team took a season-high 33 three-pointers.

UP NEXT
The Blue Hens return to the campus 10 days from today on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, when they welcome Harvard inside Bob Carpenter Center. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on FloHoops.

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