NEWARK, Delaware – Colonial Athletic Association-leading Delaware used a strong third quarter and a 23-point performance from junior guard Jasmine Dickey to claim a 73-66 league victory over UNCW in the weekend series opener at the Bob Carpenter Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Blue Hens remained unbeaten in CAA play at 7-0 while upping their overall record to 10-1. UNCW, playing its first game in 20 days, dropped to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in the circuit.
 
Dickey, the reigning CAA Player of the Week, anchored the Blue Hens by knocking down 7-of-17 shots from the floor while going 8-for-9 at the free throw line. She also added nine rebounds and three assists.
 
Junior guard Jewel Smalls came off the bench to score 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-9 showing from beyond the arc, in addition to making 3-of-4 free throws.
 
Redshirt junior forward Ty Battle added a double-double for Delaware, scoring 13 points with a game-high 14 rebounds. Battle shot 6-for-11 from the field and contributed a pair of blocked shots.
 
Junior guard Za'Nautica Downs led a trio of Seahawks in double figures after matching Dickey for game-high honors with 23 points. Downs shot 5-for-13 from the floor, but converted 13-of-16 free throws while chipping in six rebounds.
 
Freshman guard Taylor Webster tallied 14 points with six rebounds while senior center Carol-Anne Obusek nearly recorded a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
Key Moment: After taking a 32-29 lead into the intermission, Delaware scored the first 12 points of the second half for a 44-29 advantage the Blue Hens never relinquished. Dickey netted the first six points of the stanza as Delaware held UNCW scoreless for the first five minutes.  
 
Game Notes:

• UNCW played its first game since Jan. 3, 2021, against Drexel after having four games against James Madison and Towson postponed due to COVID-19 protocols … It was also the Seahawks' first road game since Dec. 18, 2020, at Kennesaw State.
• Delaware extended its lead in the all-time series to 30-10 after winning its second straight contest over the Seahawks … The Blue Hens have also won 10 consecutive meetings on their home floor over UNCW.
• A total of four players fouled out in the game … Junior guard Camille Downs and freshman guard Mary McMillan fouled out for UNCW while Delaware senior guard Tee Johnson and senior forward Lizzie Oleary were disqualified.
• UNCW shot 40.0 percent (20-for-50) from the field, marking the third time this year the Seahawks have reached the 40.0% mark.
• Led by Downs, the Seahawks set season highs for free throws made (25) and attempted (34).
• The Seahawks committed a season-high 21 personal fouls, but had fewer fouls than their opponent for the ninth consecutive game.
• UNCW netted 27 points in the fourth quarter after going 7-for-11 from the field and 13-of-15 at the free throw line … The 27 points are the most for the Seahawks in a fourth quarter since a 30-point outburst in the final frame against Catawba on Dec. 19, 2016.  
• UNCW set season lows for three-point field goals made (1) and attempted (10) … McMillan hit the Seahawks' lone triple with 6:11 left in the second quarter.
• Downs has scored in double figures in five straight games after recording her second 20-point effort of the season … During the five-game streak, the Moultrie, Ga., product is averaging 18.8 points per contest.
• Downs' 13 made free throws are the most by a UNCW player since Feb. 14, 2008, when Brittany Blackwell went 14-of-16 at VCU in a 64-58 victory … Downs' 16 free throws are also tied for the fifth-highest single-game total in program history.
• Obusek has reached double figures in seven of her eight games this season.
• Webster, the only UNCW player to start all nine games this season, registered her third double-digit scoring effort in the last five games.

Up Next: UNCW and Delaware complete the weekend series on Sunday, Jan. 24, with a 1 p.m. tip-off.

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