NEWARK, Delaware – Junior guard Samone DeFreese scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Delaware surged past UNCW for a 65-53 victory in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action at the Bob Carpenter Center on Friday afternoon.
 
The win elevated the Blue Hens' record to 7-11 overall and 2-4 in the CAA. UNCW, meanwhile, saw an end to its three-game win streak and dropped to 11-6 on the season, including a 4-2 mark against league foes.
 
DeFreese made 10-of-19 shots from the floor and all six of her free throws as the Blue Hens earned their seventh consecutive victory over the Seahawks. Graduate student forward Makeda Nicholas added 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 at the free throw line.
 
Redshirt junior guard GiGi Smith paced the Seahawks in the loss with 20 points with nine rebounds. The Norfolk, Va., product sank 9-of-18 field goal attempts en route to her fourth 20-point game of the season.
 
Redshirt senior guard Shrita Parker contributed 10 points for the Seahawks in the loss, marking her 16th double-digit scoring effort of the season.    
 
Key Moment: Delaware pulled away in the final 3:17 of the third quarter by scoring eight of the quarter's final 10 points, including back-to-back baskets by DeFreese, for a 47-39 advantage the Blue Hens did not relinquish.  
 
Up Next: UNCW completes its weekend road swing on Sunday, Jan. 27, with a 2 p.m. contest at Drexel.

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