Demeke Fuels Women's Basketball Comeback Win Against Monmouth

Sunday, February 11

West Long Branch, N.J.

2 PM

University of Delaware

9-14,5-6CAA

Monmouth

14-8,7-4CAA

Delaware

Monmouth

Photo by: NIC TERRY PRODUCTIONS

Demeke Fuels Women's Basketball Comeback Win Against Monmouth

2/11/2024 4:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – It has been 12 years since the University of Delaware women's basketball headed up to West Long Branch, N.J., this time its on Super Bowl Sunday and the squad was ready to face the defending CAA Champions Monmouth (14-8, 7-4) inside OceanFirst Bank Center. In a tough battle and a critical bench performance by Rebecca Demeke leading the charge, the Blue Hens (9-14, 5-6 CAA) prevailed with a much-needed 71-67 road victory over the Hawks.

PLAYER QUOTE

[About overcoming adversity and finding a way to win] It honestly feels so good," said Demeke. "Knowing what we have been through, knowing how practices have been, knowing that we have that much potential and haven't been able to finish, this was a huge game for us and for us to toughen it out all the way to the end feels great. [About overcoming scoring woes] I think about my teammates and I know my coach and my team need me to make shots so I try and forget about the last one and think about making the next one.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

Demeke led the Blue Hens with 14 points (5-of-8 FG, 4-of-7 3 FG), two assists and two steals off the bench.
Demeke was one of three Blue Hens, along with Ande'a Cherisier (12 points, 6-of-14 FG, six rebounds), and Grace Sundback (10 points, 3-of-7 FG, 2-of-4 3 FG, four rebounds, two assists, one steal) in double figures.
Sydney Boone led the Blue Hens in assists, and tied her season high with six.
Delaware finished the afternoon shooting 38.7 percent (29-of-75) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from beyond the arc and 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from the free throw line.
The Blue Hens had 40 rebounds and scored 15 second-chance points off of 15 offensive boards.
The Blue & Gold finished the day with 16 assists, 10 steals, 18 fastbreak points, 24 bench points and scored 17 points off 19 Hawk miscues.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter: Monmouth 19, Delaware 15

The Hawks scored the first six points of the game and eventually grew their lead to 12-5 with 3:47 to play.
The Blue Hens cut the Hawks lead down to four and outscored them 10-7 to close out the quarter.
The run was started with a Demeke three-pointer. The Blue Hens also received point contributions from Klarke Sconiers and Sundback to cut the Hawks down to four, 19-15, heading into quarter two.

Second Quarter: Monmouth 38, Delaware 31

Monmouth's lead grew to as large as 26-17 two minutes into the second frame.
Delaware responded with 10 unanswered points to take a 27-26 lead with 4:30 remaining. Headlining the run was the rookie Ande'a Cherisier scoring six of the 10 points during the stretch, along with Tara Cousin and Boone joining the scoring party.
The Blue Hens lead was short-lived as the Hawks once again grew their lead back to nine points at 38-29 with less than a minute remaining. Cherisier's basket to close the half cut the Hawks lead down to 38-31.

Third Quarter: Monmouth 50, Delaware 47

Monmouth held an eight-point lead, 44-36, with 6:02 left in the third quarter before Delaware rallied back using an 11-3 run, headlined by Demeke's five points, to make it a 47-all game with 1:15 remaining.
The Blue Hens were unable to convert two layups to take the lead, which helped the Hawks have the final possession of the quarter. Rosalie Mercille connected from deep with time expiring to send the 50-47 game into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter: Delaware 71, Monmouth 67

A minute and a half into the final frame, the Blue Hens took their first lead of the second half thanks to a three-point basket from Sundback to take a 52-51 lead.
After the Hawks rattled off six unanswered points, the Blue Hens went on a 9-1 run to take a 63-58 lead with two minutes remaining in the game.
When Monmouth cut the lead to three with a second chance jump shot, Cousins hit a clutch-and-1 mid-range jump shot and Demeke hit a huge three-pointer to give the Hens a 69-62 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
The Hawks didn't go down without a fight and rattled off five unanswered points to make it 69-67 with 13 seconds remaining.
Nakiyah Mays-Prince hit two huge free throws to take it a two-possession game and give the Blue Hens one of their biggest conference wins of the season.

GAME NOTES

Kaci Donovan paced Monmouth with 17 points while Ariana Vanderhoop pulled down 10 rebounds. Monmouth finished the afternoon shooting 43.1 percent (25-58) from the field, 30.4 percent (7-23) from the deep and 55.6 percent (10-18) from the free throw line.
It has been 12 years since the Blue Hens and the Hawks faced off in Jersey.
With the win and seven games left in the regular season, Delaware now sits tied in fifth place with Towson and Campbell.

UP NEXT
The Blue Hens return to campus next Sunday, Feb. 18 and will welcome Drexel inside Bob Carpenter Center for a CAA, NGWSD and Play4Kay showdown. Opening tip is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast simultaneously on NBC Philadelphia and FloHoops. Fans are encouraged to attend Sunday's game wearing pink attire.

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