Boxscore

PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware women’s basketball team shot a season-low 22.5 percent and scored a season-low 33 as the Colonial Athletic Association’s top team, Drexel coasted to a 54-33 win and a season sweep of the Blue Hens.

The Blue Hens, who had 21 turnovers and just nine field goals, were so frustrated on offense that it sometimes led to let-downs on defense, according to head coach Tina Martin.

“Our effort offensively dictated how we played defensively, and that just can’t happen,” Martin said. “When you’re playing the no. 1 team in the league, you can’t give up wide open shots, and we did. Right now we just have to dust ourselves off and get back at it.”

Delaware (12-13, 4-10 CAA), who was without its leading rebounder Ariene Jenkins for the second straight game because of a concussion she suffered in the win over Willaim & Mary on Feb. 11, got outrebounded 42-33. The Blue Hens surrendered 20 offensive rebounds and 19 second chance points to the Dragons, who came into the game ranked last in the league in rebounding offense. The Blue Hens also lost the turnover battle 21-15, and Drexel took advantage by scoring 24 points off those Blue Hen miscues.

Drexel (17-8, 12-2 CAA) jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead on a three-pointer by Jasmina Rosseel and a jumper by the pre-season CAA player of the year Gabriela Marginean, but Delaware answered right back with a three by sophomore guard Tesia Harris and a jumper by freshman Jocelyn Bailey to tie the score, 5-5 at the 15:08 mark.

After the Dragons grabbed a 9-5 lead, Bailey made another jumper to bring the Hens back within two, 9-7 at the 10:53 mark, but after that, Delaware would go without a field goal for over eight and a half minutes and Drexel went on a 13-0 run in that span led by eight consecutive points by Marginean. Bailey, who scored all six of her points in the first half, would stop the bleeding at the 2:20 mark with a jumper off an assist from junior guard Corinthia Benison. Delaware finished the half 5-of-20 shooting and went into halftime down 26-13.

Drexel did not let up after the break as they went on a 7-0 run to start the half and took a commanding 33-13 lead. A jumper by sophomore forward Eva Riddick closed the gap to 16 at the 12:43 mark, but that was the closest Delaware would get.

Marginean, who scored just two points in Drexel’s 56-40 win at Delaware on Jan. 4, finished the night with her sixth double-double of the year (21st of her career) on 25 points and 11 rebounds. She is the first Blue Hen opponent to score 25 points since Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry scored 32 on Nov. 23, 2007.

Delaware was again led by Benison, its only double-figure scorer with 10 points to go with team-highs of seven rebounds and four assists. Harris posted seven points, two blocks and a steal. Her two three-point field goals on the night moved her past Kyle DeHaven (‘08) for ninth place on the all-time three-point field goal list with 60.

Delaware’s 33 points was the lowest scoring output since Mar. 2, 2008 when the Hens were also held to 33 points by VCU.

The Blue Hens go on the road again for the third straight game as they face CAA rival Towson on Sunday at 2 p.m.

AGATE:

DELAWARE (12-13, 4-10)
Riddick, 1-4 0-0 2; Thomas, 0-0 0-1 1; Kabongo, 1-10 3-4 5; Benison, 1-5 8-8 10; Harris, 2-13 1-4 7; Bailey, 3-7 0-0 6; Gibson, 0-0 0-0 0; McLean, 1-1 0-0 3; Totals, 9-40 12-17 33.

DREXEL (17-8, 12-2)
Stjarnstrom, 2-5 0-90 4; Hester, 2-7 0-0 5; Marginean, 9-18 5-6 25; Peterson, 1-5 0-0 2; Rosseel, 2-10 0-0 6; Lupariello, 1-3 0-0 3; Crane, 2-5 0-0 4; Lee, 2-2 1-1 5; Nacickaite, 0-6 0-0 0; Totals, 21-61 6-7 42.

Halftime Score: Drexel 26, Delaware 13; Three-Point Field Goals: UD – 3-9 (Harris 2-7), Drexel – 6-25 (Rosseel, Marginean 2); Rebounds: UD – 33 (Benison 7), Drexel – 42 (Marginean 11). Assists: UD – 6 (Benison 4), Drexel – 13 (Peterson 3). Total Fouls: UD – 12, Drexel – 16. Attendance – 538.