Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. -- Senior Marc Egerson (at right) and sophomore Tesia Harris each earned Blue Hen Basketball Club Outstanding Achievement Awards at the 24th Annual University of Delaware Men’s and Women’s Basketball Banquet held Thursday night at Clayton Hall.

Additionally for the Blue Hen men’s team sophomore D.J. Boney earned the Sportsmanship Award, junior Brian Johnson was given the Most Improved Award, and freshman Samer Madarani earned the Team Loyalty Award.

Also for the women’s team junior Corinthia Benison earned the Defensive Player Award, while sophomore Eva Riddick earned the Most Improved Player Award.

Egerson, who was named to the NABC Division I All-District 10 and All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team last month, started all 32 games this season while leading the Blue Hens with 15.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. One of only 17 players in Division I to average a double-double, Egerson led the CAA and ranked 15th in the nation with 10.3 rebounds per game. He also led the conference with 14 double-doubles, 8.6 defensive rebounds per game and 36.4 minutes played per game.

Boney, who has now earned the Sportsmanship Award for the second consecutive season, appeared in 29 games while starting two. He averaged 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game this year, reached double figures four times, and drilled a game-winning three-pointer with four seconds remaining in Delaware’s 70-68 victory at Boston University on December 21.

Johnson started all 32 games for the Blue Hens this season, and has started all 94 during his first three seasons. He ranked second in the CAA with 5.0 assists per game, fourth with a 2.0 assist/turnover ratio, and sixth with 34.3 minutes played per game. Johnson reached double figures in 16 contests, including eight in a row from February 4 through February 28.

Madarani appeared in six games as a freshman for the Blue Hens, and he scored a point in the final minute of the Blue Hens’ 79-65 victory over James Madison in the regular season finale.

Harris appeared in all 30 games while starting 29 this season, and led the team while ranking eighth in the CAA with 13.6 points per game. A third team All-CAA selection, Harris was named the Most Valuable Player of the Loyola Marymount Tournament after leading the Blue Hens to the title. She reached double figures in 20 games, including a career-high 29 points in a 64-59 overtime win over Towson on February 1.

Benison, who also played in all 30 contests and started 29, poured in 9.3 points per game while leading the Blue Hens with 77 assists and 77 steals. She ranked second in the league with 2.6 steals per game and 13th with 2.6 assists per game, and reached double figures in scoring 15 times including 12 of the last 14 games.

Riddick appeared in all 30 games while starting 27, and averaged 3.1 points and 4.7 boards on the year. She blocked a team-high 35 shots, while her 1.2 blocks per game ranked ninth in the conference. Riddick narrowly missed a double-double by scoring a career-high 10 points and grabbing nine rebounds at Towson, and she collected a career-best 10 boards at Old Dominion.

The Blue Hen men’s team went 13-19 this season and finished ninth in the CAA standings, while the UD women were 15-15 and also finished ninth in the league.