PHILADELPHIA — Delaware’s determination was hatched a year ago in a stunning Colonial Athletic Association title-game loss.
Avenging that defeat to Drexel had been a daily thought. And when the the Blue Hens put themselves in position to do so Sunday, there was still an excruciating final minute to manage.
When Delaware survived that, it only made the victory celebration more emotional and meaningful.
Up by 16 late, Delaware held on to to edge Drexel 63-59 in the CAA title game at the Daskalakis Athletic Center on the Drexel campus.
For the first time, Delaware will send both its men’s and women’s teams to NCAA basketball tournaments in the same season, making Sunday night’s Carpenter Center gathering a double-header.
BOX SCORE: Delaware 63, Drexel 59
ESPN will reveal the women’s bracket at 8 p.m.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Jasmine Dickey scored 27 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead the way. Tyi Skinner had 10 points and Ty Battle 12 rebounds for Delaware.
Dickey’s 3-pointer had put Delaware up 58-42 with 6:29 to go and the Hens were still up 62-51 after her short jumper with 2:30 left, though she missed a subsequent free throw.
But four UD turnovers helped fuel Drexel’s comeback, though it could have been closer. Drexel’s best player Keishana Washington (22 points) missed two free throws with 4.6 seconds left and the Dragons down three.
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Jewel Smalls then made a free throw for Delaware’s only point in the last 2 1/2 minutes with :02.5 on the clock. But it clinched the win, and the celebration erupted soon after she missed the second and Drexel threw an errant shot at the basket.
No. 2-seeded Delaware (24-7) had lost 14 of the last 16 matchups with archrival Drexel, including both this season. No. 1-seeded Drexel (26-5) will now seek a second WNIT title.
Delaware’s path to the title was carved with 40-percent shooting (22-for-55) keyed by 8-for-17 aim on 3-pointers.
But the Hens limited Drexel to 32-percent shooting (20-for-63) and just 4-for-23 aim on 3-pointers, which have often been the Dragons’ trademark.
The Blue Hens had reached the final with a dramatic 56-55 semifinal win over Towson Saturday, secured on Tye Skinner’s two free throws with four-tenths of a second on the clock.
REPEAT SELECTION: Player of Year Dickey leads Hens into CAA tourney
The Blue Hens are seeking their fifth NCAA Tournament berth, the others coming in 2001 as America East champ, 2007 as an at-large selection and 2012 and 2013 as CAA champion.
Delaware has reached eight CAA title games in its 21 seasons in the league, losing to Old Dominion in 2003 and 2005, James Madison in 2011 and 2014 and Drexel last year 63-52 at Elon, where Delaware was the top seed and Drexel was No. 2.
GET THE POINT?: Dickey provides prolific scoring, more for Hens
Delaware got off to the kind of hot start that can be beneficial against the Dragons, making seven of their first eight shots from the field and taking a 16-4 lead. But Drexel quickly recovered, responding with an 8-0 run. Delaware led 19-15 after the first period.
The Dragons trimmed the UD advantage to two points twice early in the second period. But Delaware went into halftime ahead 35-31 after scoring on its last four possessions and shooting 50 percent (14-for-28) for the first half.
Dickey’s 3-pointer then ignited a 10-0 run to start the second half, as the Blue Hens took their biggest lead yet 45-31 with 5:10 left in the third quarter. They led 52-38 entering the fourth period knowing Drexel’s potential offensive explosiveness meant the Dragons were still dangerous.
But big 3-pointers by Skinner with 8:50 left and Dickey with 6:29 to go extended the UD lead to as many as 16 points.
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