Women's Basketball Game Preview: North Carolina A&T & Hampton

NEWARK, Del. – March is here and the madness will commence as the final two games of the regular season takes place on Thursday, Mar. 2 and Saturday, Mar. 4 for Delaware. The Blue Hens will play host for the final time this season by welcoming North Carolina A&T for a Thursday morning showdown inside Bob Carpenter Center, as part of the Education Day game promotion. Then on Saturday afternoon, Delaware will head to Virginia for a regular-season finale with new CAA foe Hampton inside Convocation Center in Hampton, Va. Opening tip is slated for 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively

What You Need to Know:

Delaware snapped its two-game skid last Sunday, Feb. 26 against new conference foe Stony Brook on the road. Meeting for the first time in 15 years (2008), the Blue Hens captured the narrow 53-51 victory, stopping the Seawolves' four-game winning streak in the lone regular-season matchup of the year.
The statline at Stony Brook: Klarke Sconiers led Delaware with 20 points (8-15 FG), eight of which came in the fourth quarter. Jewel Smalls made five three-pointers to tally 15 points. Kharis Idom had six assists while Makayla Pippin had six rebounds.
With two games remaining in the regular season and 13 teams making up the championship field, Delaware currently sits tied for seventh place in the CAA standings. The Blue Hens will look to defend its conference championship at the 2023 CAA Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Primis as the host Towson will be running the tournament from Wednesday, March 8 through Sunday, March 12 in Towson, Md. inside SECU Arena.
Games played through Feb. 28, Delaware as a unit ranks 33rd in field goal percentage defense (36.7) and 39th in defensive rebounds per game (28.1) among the national leaders. Around the CAA, the Blue Hens lead the way in field goal percentage defense, defensive rebounds per game, rebounds per game (39.78), three-point percentage (33.5). The squad ranks in the top five in blocks per game (2nd, 3.6), field goal percentage (4th, 41.1), rebound margin (4th, 2.1), three-point percentage defense (4th, 30.6), three-point attempts per game (5th, 18.2) and three-point percentage defense (5th, 6.1).
Jewel Smalls ranks 16th in three-point attempts (218), 24th in three-pointers per game (2.78) and 30th in three-pointers (75) among the NCAA while leading the way in three-point attempts among the CAA. Smalls also ranks second in three-pointers, third in three-pointers per game and fifth in three-point percentage (34.4). Makayla Pippin ranks fourth in rebounds per game (7.8) and rebounds (211) while Klarke Sconiers sits third in blocks (42) and blocks per game (1.68).

AGAINST NORTH CAROLINA A&T

This will be the second time in program history that Delaware and North Carolina A&T will be meeting, with the Blue Hens capturing its first-ever win over the Aggies earlier this year. The Blue Hens will enter Thursday's matchup looking to complete the regular-season sweep with hopes of improving in the conference standings.
Delaware and North Carolina A&T met on Jan. 15 as part of UD's three-game road swing. The Blue Hens snapped the Aggies at the time six-game winning streak with a dominating 69-52 road victory. The win was headlined by a quartet of double-digit scorers helped hand A&T its first conference loss of the season.
Idom led all scorers by tying her season-best 18 points (7-9 FG, 4-4 3PT) to go along with five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Smalls followed with 12 points, all from draining four triples, to go with seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Sconiers chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals while Rebecca Demeke poured in a career-best 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-5 3PT) and pulled down four rebounds off the bench. Pippin grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
A&T last time out was last Sunday, Feb. 26 at home against UNCW. The Aggies claimed the dominating 72-44 win behind Jordyn Dorsey's 21 points and six assists. Jazmin Harris and D'Mya Tucker added 19 and 11 points, respectively in the win.
In their inaugural season in the CAA, the Aggies improved to 17-10 overall and 11-5 in conference play. The Aggies are in a four-way tie for second place with Stony Brook, Northeastern and Towson, 1 ½ games behind first-place Drexel, who stands at 13-4.

AGAINST HAMPTON

This will be the first time in program history that Delaware and Hampton will be meeting.
The last time out for Hampton was last Sunday, Feb. 26 on the road against Northeastern where the Pirates suffered a 79-46 loss to the Huskies.
The Pirates are now on a two-game skid while the Huskies extended the winning streak to a conference-leading six games. Nylah Young paced Hampton with 13 points and four steals.
Hampton will remain inside the comforts of Convocation Center and welcome Hofstra Thursday evening before playing host to the Blue Hens Saturday afternoon to close out regular season play.

How to Follow
Thursday vs. North Carolina A&T: Live Stats | Live Video

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Saturday at Hampton: Live Stats | Live Video

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Game Notes: Delaware

Gameday Atmosphere
Promotions: Education Day | Join us as we invite local schools out to the game to take part in educational programming throughout the game!

Up Next: Delaware will await seeding for the 2023 CAA Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Primis.

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Women's Basketball Game Preview: North Carolina A&T & Hampton

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rebecca Demeke

Kharis Idom

Makayla Pippin

Klarke Sconiers

Jewel Smalls

University of Delaware Athletics

Women's Basketball Game Preview: North Carolina A&T & Hampton

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rebecca Demeke

Kharis Idom

Makayla Pippin

Klarke Sconiers

Jewel Smalls

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