Boxscore

BOSTON -- The University of Delaware women’s basketball team got an early lead and pulled away in the final few minutes as the Blue Hens won their second straight Colonial Athletic Association game against Northeastern 65-58 at the Cabot Center on Thursday night.

Delaware (10-9, 2-6) was led by four scorers in double-figures, namely sophomore guard Tesia Harris (at right), who led the Hens with 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field including three three-pointers. Sophomore forward Ariene Jenkins posted her fourth double-double of the year, scoring a career-high 16 points and pulling down 13 boards. Sophomore guard Vanessa Kabongo and junior guard Corinthia Benison each added 10 points on the night, with Benison also dishing out a season-high six assists.

“Tonight was a great team effort,” Head Coach Tina Martin said. “I’m very happy we had four players in double-figures, and I think we did an outstanding job rebounding the basketball.”

Northeastern (7-12, 4-4) outshot Delaware 44.2 percent to 42.1, but turned the ball over 20 times to Delaware’s 14 and also lost the rebounding battle 38-30. The Huskies had three in double figures and were led by freshman guard Brittany Wilson with 15.

The Blue Hens jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, and though Northeastern tied it twice, Delaware never trailed in the first half. Kabongo lead the Hens in the first stanza with seven points, and Delaware took a 28-23 lead into the half.

Early in the second half, the Hens struggled to contain Northeastern’s leading scorer Kim Carr after they had held her to zero points and zero rebounds in the first half. Carr scored eight points in the second stanza, and she helped the Huskies take a one-point lead at 14:53. A jumper by freshman Jocelyn Bailey (four points, five rebounds) at 12:27 gave Delaware the lead for good at 41-40.

Freshman center Jasmine Gibson provided Delaware very valuable minutes as sophomore forward Eva Riddick was in foul trouble for most of the game. Gibson tied her career high with six points and grabbed two rebounds in 15 minutes of action.

At the 8:10 mark, a lay-up by Crew brought Northeastern within one. Delaware held Northeastern on its next two possessions before a foul by NU’s Kendra Walton put Benison on the line shooting two. The junior guard, who leads Delaware in free throws this year, sank both of them and push the lead to three at 6:29. The Huskies then turned the ball over, and Harris came down the floor and hit a three to up the lead to six.

With under four minutes left, Northeastern went to a press, and twice the Hens broke it and found Jenkins open for easy layups. The second of her layups put Delaware up seven with three minutes to go. The Blue Hens then iced the game by shooting 8-of-10 from the line, including four by Benison.

Delaware comes back home to the Bob Carpenter Center on Sunday to take on CAA rival Towson at 1 p.m.

AGATE:

DELAWARE (10-9, 2-6)
Riddick, 1-1 0-0 2; Jenkins, 6-12 4-616; Kabongo, 4-10 2-4 10; Benison, 2-8 6-8 10; Harris, 6-16 2-2 17; Bailey, 2-5 0-2 4; McLean, 0-0 0-0 0; Thomas, 0-1 0-0 0; Gibson, 3-4 0-0 6; Totals, 24-57 14-22 38.

NORTHEASTERN (7-11, 4-3)
Crews, 0-1 0-0 0; Carr, 2-6 4-6 8; Feldman, 4-7 0-0 11; Wilson, 4-8 7-9 15; Crew, 5-12 1-1 11; Walton, 3-4 2-2 9; Mayberry, 1-2 0-0 2; Conroy, 0-1 1-3 1; Iervolino, 0-0 0-0 0; Cannon, 0-2 1-2 1; Totals, 19-43 16-23 30.

Halftime Score: NU 25, Delaware 28; Three-Point Field Goals: D – 3-9 (Harris 3-7), NU – 4-10 (Feldman 3-6); Rebounds: D – 38 (Jenkins 13), NU – 30 (Walton 9). Assists: D – 10 (Beinson 6), NU – 9 (Wilson 3). Total Fouls: D – 16, NU – 16. Attendance – 129.