Parker goes Double-Double and Acker Blocks Six as Hens Win 59-48 over La Salle
Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Boxscore
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PHILADELPHIA -- Off to a 5-0 start for the first time since the 1992-93 season, the University of Delaware women’s basketball team got a big game from Danielle Parker and Sarah Acker to pick up a 59-48 win at La Salle University’s Tom Gola Arena Sunday afternoon.
“The nice thing about Sarah is that she plays very very physical and tough,” said Delaware head coach Tina Martin, whose team was ranked No. 12 in last week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll. “She can score around the basket, she also rebounds the ball well."
Acker (at right), a 6-4 lefty, swatted away six Explorer (2-4) shots, tying her in fourth for a single game, while also grabbing eight rebounds and putting up 10 points. Parker posted her third double-double of the season with 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, grabbing 11 on defense. Parker’s rebound total was the highest for a Blue Hen since sophomore All-American Elena Delle Donne snagged 15 last season.
The Hens used several small runs in the first half to control the game, never relinquishing the lead after a pair of free throws from Jocelyn Bailey put Delaware up 4-2 just two minutes into the game. Delaware was without Delle Done, who was ill and played just six minutes.
After both teams traded two-point plays, the Hens used perfect free throw shooting in the first half to distance themselves from the Explorers. Delaware broke the game open, building to a nine-point lead in the first half with 2:18 left in the period.
Delaware continued to put up points in the second half, building up to a 21 point advantage midway through the period.
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But La Salle rallied back, pulling to within seven as Ashley Gale knocked down her third three pointer of the period. The Hens got four points from Acker and sophomore guard Lauren Carra to regain control of the game and put Delaware up by 11.
“Our other bigs played well tonight. I thought Danielle Parker (at left) did a nice job on the rebounds,” said Martin of her top performers of the day. “And our young guards. I’ve got sophomores running around out there and they’re under a lot of pressure. They played well and made the right reads when they needed to.”
Carra finished the game with a season-high 14 points, just one short of her career mark, going three of seven from the field, including a pair of three pointers. Carra was a big part of the Hens hitting 25 of their 33 free throws, going for a team-best six of eight.
Bailey joined Carra in double figures, posting 11 points of her own and coming up with two steals. Junior guard Meghan McLean also snagged two steals and pulled down two rebounds.
Delaware was a force on the boards, outrebounding the Explorers 50-35, with 16 coming on the offensive glass, resulting in 13 second-chance points. The Hens also enjoyed solid play from the bench; picking up 16 points from the substitutes, including Acker’s eight.
The Hens return to their home court on Wednesday when Delaware hosts Princeton University. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. in the Bob Carpenter Center.
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