Blue Hens Women’s Basketball Hoists Up Third Colonial Athletic Association Title
March 14, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The University of Delaware women’s basketball team dethroned Drexel (26-5) Sunday afternoon in the 2022 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women’s Basketball Championship, presented by Primis with a 63-59 victory inside Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Blue Hens (24-7) hoisted up their third conference title for the first time since the 2013 season as Jasmine Dickey was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Delaware Guard JASMINE DICKEY (20) Drexel Guard MAURA HENDRIXSON (22) defends during the Women’s Colonial Athletic Association Championship game between No. 2 Delaware and No. 1 Drexel Sunday, March 13, 2022; at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center in Wilmington, DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
“We finished the job. We talked about this since last year. Every day we worked. We said the road back to here was going to be the hardest road. As long as we stayed the course. As long as we stayed together. Everything along the journey was going to prepare us for this day,” said head coach Natash Adair. “When you have such a veteran group. A group of leaders. From day one they believed. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young women. Not only for the win but also for their commitment.”
Delaware Women’s Head coach NATASHA ADAIR addresses the media after defeating No. 1 Drexel in the Women’s Colonial Athletic Association Championship game Sunday, March 13, 2022; at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center in Wilmington, DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
Delaware opened the championship game on an 11-2 spurt with Ty Battle and Tyi Skinner leading the charge combining for seven points. Drexel answered back with a run of their own to close the gap to four points, 16-12, with 2:09 left in the opening quarter. Paris McBride knocked down a timely three-pointer to put the Blue Hens up by seven, 19-12, before Maura Hendrixson responded with a triple of her own to close the quarter, 19-15.
Delaware Guard TYI SKINNER (3) drives to the basket as Drexel Forward MARIAH LEONARD (30) defends during the Women’s Colonial Athletic Association Championship game between No. 2 Delaware and No. 1 Drexel Sunday, March 13, 2022; at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center in Wilmington, DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
The Blue Hens remained poised as the Dragons got in as close as two after Mariah Leonard’s layup at the 7:46 mark. Delaware watched its lead balloon to eight after Dickey found a set Jewel Smalls hanging out beyond the arc, 31-23, with 2:05 left. Drexel sliced the deficit to four, thanks to Keishana Washington’s layup, to send the 35-31 game into the break.
After the half, the Blue Hens went on a scoring streak in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Dickey opened up the streak with a three, followed by layups from Lizzie Oleary and McBride. Delaware made three free throws at the end of the hot streak to push a 14 point lead, 45-31. The Dragons got in one three-pointer before the Blue Hens went on a scoring streak once again making four free throws followed by a Dickey layup, drawing a 51-34 lead. Drexel tacked on four more points and Dickey closed the quarter with another layup to make it a 52-38 game entering the fourth quarter.
Delaware Forward LIZZIE OLEARY (12) shoot the ball as Drexel Forward TESSA BRUGLER (3) defends during the Women’s Colonial Athletic Association Championship game between No. 2 Delaware and No. 1 Drexel Sunday, March 13, 2022; at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center in Wilmington, DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
Drexel did not give up easily, as the Dragons pushed out 21 points in the fourth quarter to try and shake the Blue Hens. While the Dragons’ effort was evident, the Blue Hens switched gears and turned it up a notch to keep Drexel at bay and clinch the four-point win en route to a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Dickey finished with 27 points and 18 rebounds to post her 18th double-double of the year. Battle, a CAA All-Tournament honoree, pulled down 11 rebounds and scored eight points. Skinner added 10 points.
Delaware players celebrate on the court after defeating No. 1 Drexel in the Women’s Colonial Athletic Association Championship game Sunday, March 13, 2022; at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center in Wilmington, DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
Delaware women’s basketball left it all on the floor as they punched their ticket to the Big Dance in front of a blue and gold crowd that cheered them on to victory!
The 2022 NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship bracket was revealed during the Selection Show Sunday, March 13.
Source: Delaware Athletics