Hens fall short in WNIT semifinals

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COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. — Even after 24 victories this winter, there was always a pretty good chance the Delaware women’s basketball team would end its season with a loss.

After all, only the champion gets to finish a tournament with a win.

Sure enough, the Blue Hens couldn’t overcome a slow start in falling to Rice, 85-75, in the WNIT semifinals on Friday evening at My Town Movers Fieldhouse.

Delaware (24-5), which was making the program’s first appearance in the national tournament’s Final Four, never led after the Owls (22-4) tallied the contest’s first six points.

But, after falling behind by as many as 22 points, the Hens kept battling. They closed within just 77-72 when Jasmine Dickey picked up a steal off an inbounds person and laid it in with 52 seconds remaining.

Delaware, though, never got any closer. The Hens went 3-1 in the WNIT after being 0-8 all-time in the tourney before this season.

“Not the outcome we wanted, but I’m so proud of our flight, oh my goodness, and so proud of our year,” said UD coach Natasha Adair. “We have so many things to celebrate, so many things that are going to be in the record books. This is going to be a season to remember for the good things.”

Dickey, a junior guard, capped off her big season by tying Rice’s Lauren Schwartz with a game-high 25 points on Friday. Jewel Smalls and Lizzy Oleary both added 12 points for the Hens.

Delaware, which trailed 44-26 at halftime, couldn’t get its shot to fall in the first half.

While the Owls were hitting 18-of-30 shots in the first two quarters, the Hens were only 12-of-50. The big difference was that Rice was getting to the basket for high-percentage shots while Delaware was shooting jumpers.

The Hens did still finish with their usual edge in rebounds (48-41) which led to them getting off 93 shots (31-of-93) compared to 50 for the Owls (27-of-50). Dickey also had a team-high 13 rebounds with Ty Battle adding 11.

Delaware also sank only 5-of-24 three-pointers.

“The fun thing is, is we get everybody back,” said Adair. “So I am excited for this group. I’m super pumped already for next year.”

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