Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware's season came to a disappointing end Thursday night as the Blue Hens fell behind by 18 points at halftime and could never catch up in dropping a 67-49 decision to Richmond in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Blue Hens, now winless in five trips to the WNIT, found life in the second half and closed the gap to 13 points but could never get closer. Delaware closed out the season with a mark of 21-12, marking the team's eighth 20-win total in the last 11 seasons.

Richmond (20-12), which now advances to the second round to play Syracuse, shot a sizzling 54 percent from the field (28 of 52) and got a balanced scoring effort as Brittani Shells, a Delaware native, and Abby Oliver each scored a team-high 18 points and Danielle Bell chipped in with 15 points.

Bell and Shells combined to knock down 14 of 20 shots from the field and hit five three-pointers as the Spiders drained 9 of 16 shots from beyond three-point arc. Crystal Goring did the job for Richmond inside as she pulled a game-high 13 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Delaware freshman All-American candidate Elena Delle Donne (bottom left) capped one of the finest seasons in Blue Hen history as she scored 19 of her team-high 25 points in the second half to lead the Hens.

Delle Donne was ill, did not take part in warm-ups, and did not start the game. She started slow and hit just 1 of 7 first half shots in the first half but connected on 6 of 10 shots in the second half and drained four three-pointers to finish with her 25th 20-point effort of the season. She finished the season with a school and Colonial Athletic Association record 774 points and a 26.7 point scoring average.

Freshman guard Jaquetta May (top right) was a spark for the Hens with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds but no other Delaware player scored more than four points.

The Hens, playing in the WNIT for the first time since 2006, were hurt by a tough shooting night that saw them convert just 15 of 52 shots (28.8 percent) from the field, including connecting on just 7 of 27 shots in the opening 20 minutes.

“This was a disappointing way to end the season,” said Delaware head coach Tina Martin, whose team surpassed last year’s 15-victory season despite a roster that included six freshmen and sophomores filling the top eight spots. “Our kids battled hard the whole year, but it seemed like they had the wind taken out of their sails. Richmond was well-rested (10 days off since the Atlantic 10 Tournament) but give them credit. They are a veteran team that shot the ball very well today. Twenty-one wins for a team as young as ours is a great thing.”

Richmond broke the game open late in the first half as the Spiders ran away from a five-point lead at 21-16 with 6:42 left in the opening stanza by outscoring the Hens 19-6 to end the half. Delaware converted just one field goal over the final 11 minutes of the half and went the final 6:42 of the stanza without one as they missed their final six attempts and 10 of their last 11. Richmond, which hit 16 of 27 first-half field goal attempts, cruised into intermission up 40-22.

The Spiders pushed the lead to as many as 25 points at 51-26 four minutes into the second half but the Hens never gave up, chipping the lead down to 13 points at 56-43 with 7:18 left after Delle Donne drained consecutive three-pointers from the top of the key. But Richmond responded with a three-pointer by Rachael Bilney and a jumper by Oliver and the Hens never got closer.

“There is nothing like coming on the road and winning the first round of the WNIT,” said Richmond head coach Michael Shafer. “We executed our game plan perfectly against Delle Donne and Delaware. We were able to rebound the basketball and when we are able to run we can score. We have great shooters.”