Dec. 6, 2007
Box Score
NEWARK, Del. - Last season the University of Delaware (UD) was an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament. This season they are 1-7 after their game against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) as the Lady Hawks used an inside presence to top the Blue Hens 65-53 in the first road game of the year for Head Coach Fred Batchelor's squad.
The freshmen again played a big role as Casey Morton led UMES (4-3) with 14 points and a career high six assists and no turnovers.
"Our freshmen have to play well for us to win," said Batchelor. "Casey has been doing that. She is a tough kid, she never gets down."
The second leading scorer however was as much of a surprise to UD (1-7) as it was to the Hawk faithful in attendance. Chena Parker hadn't scored all season, but tonight, playing for UMES' big women who were in foul trouble, she stepped in to the tune of 13 points and eight rebounds.
"Her play was huge," said Batchelor. "If she didn't do what she did we wouldn't have won this game. She is a player, the staff knows that, we weren't surprised."
In a contest with eight lead changes and six ties the game was back and forth the entire second half. UMES, down two at the break, started the second half on a Jessica Ayilola lay-in to make it 32-31 after a free throw. Delaware then responded with a Courtney Irving free throw and a pair of throws by Kyle DeHaven. UD was back in front 34-32.
With 17:41 Parker was fouled on a put back attempt and calmly sank both free throws for her first career points to tie the game. Her first field goal came a little less than four minutes later on a pretty lay-up on a pass from Tiffany Reid to cut the lead to one. She continued to be a presence inside playing for Ayilola who finished with three fouls and Kristi Veltkamp who finished with four personals.
"We made high percentage shots tonight and out rebounded them," added Batchelor. "That was the key."
Delaware has been out rebounded on the season by an average of eight boards per game and tonight that held true to form as the Lady Hawks held the edge 46-32, a 14 rebound lead. They also outscored UD in the paint 28-16.
UMES took the lead for good at the 7:22 mark on a Brittany Adkins free throw to make it 51-50. They would end the game on a 14-3 run. With 3:12 remaining in the game UMES played solid defense, rebounded even better and held the ball to secure the win. Adkins wrapped up the game with a pair of free throws to make the difference 12, 65-53.
April McBride recorded the first double double of the year for the Hawks, posting 11 points and 11 rebounds. Ayilola added 11 points to make it four Lady Hawks in double figures. Reid had eight points and nine boards.
In the first half UMES jumped out to a hot start getting two buckets on the inside from Ayilola on pretty assists from Morton. Morton then got into the act herself knocking down a three pointer from the corner. Reid matched that with a three from the top of the key to make it a 10-0 Lady Hawk lead. After a quick Delaware timeout McBride got into the act as well, knocking down a three from the corner making the lead their largest of the game, 13.
After a media timeout the Hawks tried to go back inside to Veltkamp but the lob would go out of bounds and the first Hawks turnover would be costly. Delaware would set-up their offense and get a three from their leading scorer DeHaven. That three-pointer was the first bucket of the game for the Blue Hens, making it 13-3 and coming at the 14:52 mark.
The Hawk defense was solid for the first five minutes, holding their opponent scoreless but once Delaware got the first bucket in they seemed to get hot. Corinthia Benison would sink a pair of free throws to cut the lead to eight. She was a scoring machine, accounting for 11 more points in the half and sparking Delaware to a 9-0 run that would cut the game to a one point UMES advantage 15-14.
McBride would stop the run with a put back in the paint. But three straight baskets, one each from DeHaven, Jamie Mundy and Benison would give Delaware their first lead, 18-17, with 8:44 to play.
The half would go back and forth until under one minute when Reid would get fouled going to the basket after a steal and tie the game at 29 all. It could have remained that way but Mundy would hit a short jumper after three Delaware offensive boards to give the Blue Hens the 31-29 lead at the break.
Delaware was paced by Benison who had 15, 13 coming in the first half. Irving had 14, DeHaven 11, and Mundy 10. They were led on the glass by Irving with eight rebounds.
"This is a huge win," said Batchelor. "They are a well established program."
The Blue Hens have not lost to a school from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) since 1997 and now stand 20-11 against MEAC teams.
