MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – The Delaware women's basketball team put up a huge 26-point frame to set the pace of the contest against Salisbury ultimately defeating the Seagulls 81-70 to split the Messiah Tip-Off Tournament, 1-1.
A three-pointer from
Ciana Feliciano followed up by a fastbreak layup from
Alexis Wright put the Aggies up by an early six points in the first quarter, 10-4. Salisbury worked to close the gap making it just a one-point game over the ensuing minute and a half.
Haley Keenan put up five points for DelVal in a 10-2 run comprised of a 5-of-5 performance at the charity stripe for the nine-point lead, 22-13. Free throws continued to make the difference with the Aggies sinking another four to follow to take a 26-17 lead into the second quarter.
The Seagulls brought the deficit down to six until a 6-0 run courtesy of Kennan and Wright put the Aggies ahead by 12, 36-24. The teams went a minute without a single bucket before a three-pointer from Salisbury shifted the momentum for a quick 6-2 run to make it a nine-point game, 40-31.
Kendra Rigo hit a jumper, but the end of the frame belonged to the Seagulls who ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to take just a three-point deficit into the half, 42-39.
Salisbury jumped out 5-0 run at the start of the third quarter to take its first lead of the game, 44-42. Wright answered the call with a jumper to tie things up, 44-44, but four-straight points quickly built up a four-point lead for the Seagulls, 48-44. Salisbury continued to hold the edge building up a six-point lead, its largest of the game, three more times over the next four minutes. Wright put up five points off a jumper in the paint and a fastbreak long ball to cut the Aggies deficit down to one, 56-55, and was followed up by a fastbreak layup from
Jayla Rivera to put DelVal back in the lead, 57-56. Salisbury held the small 2-1 advantage to end the frame still allowing for a narrow lead for DelVal heading into the final ten minutes of play, 59-58.
Rivera started things off for the Aggies with an immediate three-pointer to build back up a four-point advantage, 62-58. Salisbury tied things up and was answered with a 5-1 run from DelVal to maintain a six-point gap, 69-63. Salisbury was only able to get the deficit down to three before the Aggies started on a 12-2 run to end the game with the 11-point victory, 81-70.
Wright led the Aggies with an impressive 35 points from 11-of-17 shooting including 2-of-6 from the field and 11-of-13 from the charity stripe. Kennan recorded 6-of-11 from the field, 1-of-3 from deep and 4-of-6 from the line to also end the game in double-digit scoring with 17 points. The Aggies won the battle at the boards outrebounding the Seagulls 39-29 led by Wright with a team-high 12 rebounds. Keenan recorded eight steals in the game to help the Aggies hold the 13-10 advantage over Salisbury in the category.
DelVal continues on its road series to start the season traveling to Penn State Abington on Tuesday, Nov. 14 for a 7 p.m. tip off.
