Fourth-Quarter Surge Allows Delaware To Pull Away From UNCW, 70-52
Rob Washburn
CHAMP CENTRAL | BRACKET | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | DELAWARE PRESS CONFERENCE | UNCW PRESS CONFERENCE | GAMEDAY VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY
ELON, N.C. (March 11, 2021) – Top-seeded Delaware used a fourth-quarter surge to pull away from #9 UNCW and post a 70-52 victory in the quarterfinals of the CAA Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Sonabank on Thursday afternoon at Schar Center.
The Blue Hens (20-3) advance to face #5 Hofstra in Friday’s 2:30 p.m. semifinal game. UNCW fell to 7-14 after the setback.
Delaware junior guard Jewel Smalls came off the bench to drain five three-pointers and score 19 points, while CAA Player of the Year Jasmine Dickey recorded her eighth double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Blue Hens’ forward Ty Battle added 10 points and 13 boards for her league-leading 17
th double-double.
UNCW was paced by senior Carol-Anne Obusek, who scored a team-best 18 points on 8-of-11 FG shooting and added six rebounds and three blocks. Dazia Powell chipped in nine points for the Seahawks.
Delaware held a narrow 49-46 lead after three periods, but opened the fourth quarter on a 13-1 run to take control of a game that had been close throughout. Smalls contributed eight points during the run, including a pair of treys. The Blue Hens held UNCW to just two field goals over the final 10 minutes and outscored the Seahawks 21-6 in the final period.
With the score tied at 13-13 entering the second quarter, Delaware caught fire behind Smalls, who hit three treys and scored 11 points in less than four minutes to help the Blue Hens open up a 30-21 advantage with 3:51 to go in the period. However, the Seahawks got four points apiece from Camille Downs and Dazia Powell and closed the stanza on an 8-0 run to pull within 30-29 at the half.
The Seahawks started fast in the third quarter and took their largest lead of the game, 40-34, on an Obusek layup off a beautiful feed from Camille Downs with 5:39 to go in the stanza. Delaware battled back and closed the period on an 8-1 run to regain a three-point lead.
Delaware, which leads the nation in offensive rebounds, had a 48-29 advantage on the glass. The Hens grabbed 24 offensive rebounds which resulted in 28 extra field goal attempts.
Gallery: (3-11-2021) 2021 WBB Champ: Game 3 Delaware UNCW