WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Redshirt senior guard GiGi Smith has had her share of great moments in two seasons at UNCW, but she may have posted one of her best when her team needed her the most in Friday night's Colonial Athletic Association opener against Delaware.
 
After being limited to just five points in the first 39 minutes of the game, the Norfolk, Va., product scored UNCW's final 12 points, including 10 in overtime, as the Seahawks rallied to edge the Blue Hens, 71-65, inside Trask Coliseum.
 
The victory, which ended the Seahawks' four-game losing streak, elevated their record to 4-8 overall and 1-0 in league play. Delaware dropped to an identical 4-8 overall record with an 0-1 CAA mark after losing for the third time in four games.
 
Smith anchored a group of four UNCW players in double figures with 17 points, including an 8-for-12 showing at the free throw line, in addition to grabbing six rebounds.
 
Senior guard Lacey Suggs nearly registered a double-double with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds while senior guard Ahyiona Vason and redshirt junior forward Jessica Munoz each added 10 points.
 
Delaware, which fell to 3-5 away from home, was led by graduate student forward Nicole Enabosi's game-high 23 points with eight rebounds. Redshirt junior guard Kayla Shaw chipped in a season-high 17 points, including five three-pointers.
 
Key Moment: After Delaware forced the overtime period on an Enabosi lay-up with 3.9 seconds remaining, Smith took control by knocking down back-to-back lay-ups for a 65-61 advantage with 3:54 left in the extra frame. The Blue Hens trimmed the deficit to 65-63 before Smith connected on a three-pointer and sank two free throws for a 70-63 cushion with 2:16 remaining. Enabosi closed the gap to 70-65 with a lay-up with 2:00 left, but Smith sealed the win by making one of two free throws with 13.7 seconds on the clock.   
 
Game Notes:

• UNCW has earned back-to-back victories in the series against Delaware for the first time since claiming three consecutive wins from 2008-10 … In addition, the Seahawks have won both overtime games in the all-time series.
• The Seahawks earned their first win since a 70-60 victory over Presbyterian on Dec. 4 … It is also the team's first home victory since a 75-67 triumph over Mount Olive on Nov. 20.
• UNCW earned its first overtime victory since defeating Hofstra by a 56-54 count on Jan. 20, 2017.
• UNCW played an overtime game at home for the first time since Feb. 26, 2015, a 71-68 victory over Delaware.
• UNCW has gone into overtime in two of its last three contests after going the previous 84 contests without needing an overtime period … The Seahawks are now 1-1 in overtime games this season.
• Smith recorded her 12th straight double-digit scoring effort and led the Seahawks in scoring for the ninth time in 12 games this season … She also set season highs with her eight free throws made and 12 free throw attempts.
• Suggs led the Seahawks in rebounding for the third time this season after grabbing nine caroms against the Blue Hens.
• In her last four games, Suggs is now averaging 15.0 points per outing and has made 21-of-41 field goal attempts (.512) … She is also an impressive 13-for-17 at the foul line during those games.
• The Seahawks converted 25-of-39 free throws, marking the most free throw attempts during Coach Karen Barefoot's tenure at UNCW … The 39 attempts are the most by UNCW in a game since Nov. 15, 2009, when the Seahawks went 28-for-40 against Wofford in an 84-53 victory.
• The Seahawks had four players score in double figures for the third time the season, including the second time in the last three games.  
• UNCW outrebounded Delaware by a slim 39-38 margin, marking the third time this year the Seahawks have held the advantage on the glass.

Up Next: UNCW completes its opening weekend of CAA play on Sunday, Jan. 5, with a 1 p.m. contest against Drexel inside Trask Coliseum.

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