Boxscore

File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Sophomore forward Ariene Jenkins (at right) posted her second double-double of the year and sophomore guard Tesia Harris (12 pts, nine rebounds) had her sixth double-digit scoring performance, leading the University of Delaware women’s basketball team to its fourth straight win, 52-49 at The Pavilion in Villanova, Pa.

Delaware (6-3) was without its second-leading rebounder in freshman forward Danielle Parker for the first time after she suffered a season-ending torn ACL and meniscus injury, but still outrebounded Villanova 47-31. Jenkins led the way with a career high 14, Harris pitched in nine, and Parker’s replacement in the starting line-up, Eva Riddick, pulled down six. Senior Ethlyyne Thomas got into the action as well today, with four points and three rebounds, as Delaware outscored the Wildcats 20-18 in the paint.

“Jenkins, Thomas, and Riddick - who was playing sick, played great in the post, and Jocelyn Bailey gave us a big lift,” Blue Hen head coach Tina Martin said of her freshman guard who pitched in six points, three rebounds and an assist off the bench. “I’m really proud of this team. They came in here and stayed focused, and hopefully we can build on this.”

The Blue Hens, who came into this game ranked eighth in the country in scoring defense, put on a defensive clinic in the first half, allowing just 13 points, the lowest point total in a half allowed by the Hens all year. They held Villanova scoreless for a stretch of 7:34, and took a 22-13 lead into the first half.

Only two Villanova players made a field goal in the first half and they were Laura Kurz (4-6, nine points) and Kyle Dougherty (1-4, two points). As a team, the Wildcats shot 5-27 (18 percent) and 1-14 (7.1 percent) from behind the arc.

Delaware might have pulled away in the first half, but the Blue Hens only shot 32.3 percent from the field in that half, led by Harris and Kabongo who scored six apiece. When Villanova did score, Delaware always seemed to have an answer.

The Wildcats went on a 9-1 run to start the first half and would eventually tie the score at 25 with a three-pointer by Tia Grant (eight points, three assists) with 13:47 left in the game. The two teams would trade baskets for approximately the next three minutes, and one of Laura Kurz’s three three-point field goals brought the Wildcats within one, 32-31 at 9:17. But Jenkins and Bailey would lead Delaware on a 7-0 run to push the lead to 39-31.

Again Villanova would not go away, as Tia Grant’s second three-pointer brought the Wildcats within three at 46-43 with 1:25 left in the game. Delaware, as it did all day, would answer again, as Corinthia Benison connected with Vanessa Kabongo for one of her four assists on the day, and Kabongo made a big and-one at 1:11 to move the lead back up to five.

Jenkins, who shot 7-12 from the line for the day, would make three of four free throws down the stretch to secure the win before Villanova’s Siobhan O’Connor made a lay-up with two seconds remaining to make the final score, 52-49.

After shooting just 18.5 percent in the first half, the Wildcats shot 45.2 percent in the second half. Laura Kurz, who recently reached the 1,000-point mark on Dec. 10, finished the day leading all scorers with 19 and Tia Grant and Lisa Karcic both scored eight.

But Delaware rose to the occasion, shooting 45 percent from the field in the second half also. While Villanova took 29 three-point attempts for the game and made just seven (24.1 percent), Tesia Harris’ one missed attempt was the only three-point shot taken all day by the Blue Hens. Also, Delaware committed just nine fouls to 25 by the Wildcats.

AGATE:

DELAWARE (6-3, 0-0 CAA)
Riddick, 1-1 0-0 2, Jenkins, 4-9 7-12 15, Kabongo, 4-11 1-1 9, Benison, 0-4 3-5 7, Harris, 6-14 0-12, Bailey, 2-7 2-6 6, McLean, 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas, 2-5 0-0 4.

VILLANOVA (6-5, 0-0 Big East)
Kurz, 8-17 0-0 19, Elliot, 0-2 0-0 0, Getty, 1-8 2-2 4, Dougherty, 1-4 0-0 2, Grant, 3-6 0-0 8, Weiss ,1-2 0-0 2, O’Connor, 2-7 2-2 6, Jones, 0-1 0-0 4, Karcic, 3-10 0-0 8, Swiezynski 0-0 0-0 0, Scanlon, 0-1 0-0 0.

Halftime Score: Delaware 22, VU 13; Three-Point Field Goals: D - 0-1 (Harris 0-1) VU - 7-29 (Kurz, 3-7); Rebounds: D - 47 (Jenkins, 14, Harris, 9), VU - 31 (Kurz, 6, Karcic, 6); Assists: D - 8 (Benison 4), VU - 12 (O’Connor, Grant, 3); Fouled Out: Getty -VU, Karcic -VU; Total Fouls: D - 9, VU - 25.