By Andy Walter

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Finally, it was Delaware’s turn.

A year after Drexel spoiled the Blue Hens’ NCAA Tournament bid, No. 2 Delaware returned the favor, upending the top-seeded Dragons, 63-59, in the CAA Tournament women’s basketball championship game on Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Hens (24-7) led from start to finish, snapping a three-game losing streak against Drexel and earning the program’s first NCAA tourney berth since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2013.

With Delaware’s men also winning the CAA title, it’s the first time both UD programs have made the NCAAs in the same year.

“I’m so proud,” UD coach Natasha Adair said during the post-game celebration. “We talked about this moment since last year and they have worked and worked and worked. And now we are champions.”

“We were in this together,” said senior Jasmine Dickey. “We’re a family. We stay together and we work hard, day in and day out. And we’re going to keep working because we’re not done yet.”

Delaware’s win over Drexel (26-5) capped off a two-year journey for the Blue Hen women.

Last year, the Hens beat the Dragons twice in the regular season only to fall to them in the CAA title game. This winter, Delaware fell to Drexel twice only to top the Dragons on their home floor in the title game.

Sunday’s victory was only the Hens’ third over the Dragons in the last 17 meetings.

Dickey was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer after collecting 27 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the title game.

The Hens went up by as many as 17 points in the third quarter on Sunday. But Delaware had to hang on after the Dragons closed within three in the closing seconds.

Drexel, which was 15-of-15 from the foul line at the time, missed two free throws — one intentionally — with 4.8 seconds left.

Jewel Smalls then got the rebound and sank one of two foul shots with two seconds remaining to seal the victory. Delaware’s players mobbed each off at midcourt after the game ended.

“We finished the job,” said Adair. “We said the road back to here was going to be the hardest road. As long as we stayed the course. As long as we stayed together. Everything along the journey was going to prepare us for this day.

“When you have such a veteran group. A group of leaders. From day one they believed. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of (these) young women. Not only for the win, but also for their commitment.”

Holding a 35-31 halftime advantage, the Hens opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run. Delaware’s lead grew to 51-34 at the 1:11 mark.

In the fourth quarter, Delaware was leading 62-51 before an 8-0 Drexel run cut the deficit to three with 37 seconds remaining.

Delaware, which leads the CAA in rebounding margin, maintained a 47-34 advantage on the glass. Ty Battle was Delaware’s second-leading rebounder, grabbing 12 boards and adding eight points as she joined Dickey on the CAA All-Tournament Team.