HEMPSTEAD, NY -- The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse team will travel to Hempstead, NY, to compete in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Blue Hens, who were ranked No. 20 in this week’s Nike/Inside Lacrosse Top 20 poll will take on James Madison, which was ranked No. 17 in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Poll.

The Blue Hens (11-5), who have won two straight games and five of their last six outings, fell to James Madison on the road April 8, 19-16. The Dukes, who were ranked No. 8 in the country last week before falling at Hofstra and William & Mary, ended the regular season with a 12-4 overall record. Both Delaware and James Madison finished the season at 5-2 in CAA play but the Dukes garner the No. 2 seed based on their head-to-head victory over the Hens.

Delaware will be making its fifth appearance in the CAA Tournament. The Hens have never won the conference title and have not competed in the tournament since 2005. No. 16 Hofstra, the top seed and host, will take on No. 4 seed Old Dominion in the other semifinal game at 5 p.m. The winners will advance to Sunday’s title game at 1 p.m. with the winner earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Delaware improved from five wins last season to 11 this year, the most since the 2000 team which made the NCAA Tournament. The Hens will be led by a balanced attack in which five players have posted over 30 goals. The Duke Blue Devils are the only other team in the country to also have five players with over 30 goals.

Nicole Flego leads the Hens in both points with 53 and assists with 20, while sophomore Debbie Sloan leads the Hens in goals with 36. Senior Katie Muth is tied with Sloan for second on the team with 47 points and after missing the first two games of the season, junior Cassie McCrudden has tallied 45 points on 32 goals and 13 assists. Freshman Courtney Aburn has also played extremely well posting 42 points on 33 goals and nine assists.

The Dukes are led by outstanding junior Annie Wagner, who leads the league in goals per game and has posted a league-high 55 goals this season. In addition, senior Kelly Berger leads Madison with 62 points on 38 goals and 24 assists.