Boxscore

AMHERST, Mass. -- Sophomore guard Tesia Harris (at right) scored a team leading 13 points and sophomore forward Ariene Jenkins nearly posted her second straight double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds as the University of Delaware women’s basketball team posted its third straight double-digit win with a 56-42 win over Massachusetts at the Mullins Center Wednesday night.

“Great win on the road. I thought we defended UMass very well and executed when we needed to," said Delaware head coach Tina Martin, whose team has won three straight for the first time since the 2006-07 season. "Defensively we were able to control their guards off of dribble penetration which was a huge key to our win.”

Delaware (5-3) held UMass (5-5) to 21.2 points below its season average (63.2), as the Minutewomen made just 16-59 from the field and 5-23 from three-point range. The Blue Hens also forced 24 UMass turnovers which they scored 19 points off of on the night.

Jenkins was a force on the offensive glass (six offensive rebounds) along with Jocelyn Bailey (three offensive rebounds) and they helped Delaware to 16 second-chance points on the night.

Junior Corinthia Benison pulled down a career-high eight rebounds (all defensive) from her guard position and freshman forward Danielle Parker secured four as the Hens allowed just eight second-chance points.

The Blue Hens fell down 5-0 to start the game and did not take their first lead until Harris’ jumper at 13:20 put them up 8-7.The Minutewomen were led in the first half by center Teya Wright, who scored seven points on 3-3 from the field and 1-2 at the foul line.

Delaware responded with three three-point field goals in the first half, including two back-to-back by freshman guard, Megan McLean who tied a season-high with six points, and the Hens took a 27-20 lead into intermission.

Teya Wright would make a lay-up for UMass 20 seconds into the half to bring the Minutewomen within five at 27-22. That would be the closest UMass would get.

Benison’s three-point field goal at 16:08 gave Delaware a 10-point lead, 36-26, and Harris’ jumper at 14:19 put Delaware back up 38-28.

UMass’s Cerie Mosgrove (11 points on 3-10 from three-point range) connected on a three-point shot to bring the Minutewomen within nine, 44-35, at 8:56. But Parker’s lay-up at 6:26 put Delaware up 46-35, and UMass would never get within 10 again the rest of the game.

With the win, Delaware is 2-0 against Atlantic 10 teams, having earlier defeated LaSalle by a 71-57 score back on Nov. 19.

The Blue Hens are off for final exams for the next 12 days and will return to action Dec. 22 when they travel to Big East opponent Villanova.