NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware women’s basketball team used a key 14-3 run midway through the second half and pulled away for a 56-51 Colonial Athletic Association win over UNC Wilmington Friday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Blue Hens, who avenged a 55-41 loss in Wilmington on January 6, improved to 17-4 overall and remained tied for second place in the league standings with James Madison with a 9-3 mark. The Seahawks fell to 12-9 overall and 6-6 in the conference.

Delaware, which improved to 9-0 at the Carpenter Center this season, overcame 33.3 percent shooting (20 of 60) for the game, by causing 27 turnovers and holding a 31-16 advantage in points off turnovers. Junior Tyresa Smith (right) narrowly missed a double-double as she posted team-highs of 15 points and nine rebounds for Delaware, while Melissa Czorniewy and Chrissy Fisher each chipped in nine points.

The Blue Hens shot just 8 of 31 (25.8 percent) from the field in the first half and went into halftime trailing 27-25. The Seahawks still led 32-31 with 14:43 remaining after Sahsha Taylor converted a layup, but Amanda Blackstone hit a three-pointer from the corner with 12:23 left to put Delaware up for good.

The Hens still led by just one at 35-34 with 10:47 to play, but Delaware exploded on a 14-3 run over the next four minutes to take control. Alena Koshansky ignited the spurt with a three-pointer and a layup, and after Denise Lawrence hit a three-pointer to bring the Seahawks within three, Czorniewy knocked in a three-pointer and a jumper to make it a 45-37 game with 8:04 on the clock. Blackstone and Fisher each added jumpers to close the run and give Delaware a 49-37 advantage with 6:35 to play, and the Seahawks would not get closer than the final margin.

Koshansky finished with eight points, five assists and five steals while Blackstone added eight points and four rebounds for Delaware, which recorded 19 steals on the night. Taylor led all scorers with 16 points for UNCW, while Alex Stewart and Candace Walker each added 10 and Lori Drake pulled down a game-best 10 rebounds.

The Seahawks went up by as many as six points early in the first half as the Blue Hens hit just 2 of their first 13 shots from the field. Delaware took its first lead of the game at 21-20 on a jumper by Fisher with 2:26 remaining, but Stewart and Drake answered with baskets and UNCW carried the two-point lead into the break.

Delaware returns to action on Sunday when the Blue Hens travel to Hempstead, NY to take on Hofstra at 2 p.m.

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