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Delaware's Delle Donne On The Mend

By Mel Greenberg

Delaware redshirt-freshman sensation Elena Delle Donne recovered sensation in her right arm and hand and shot at Friday's light practice but did not participate in contact drills, coach Tina Martin said.

The Blue Hens coach reported Delle Donne is likely to play in Sunday's major Colonial Athletic Association clash at Drexel at noon at the 2,500-seat Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Drexel officials reported 1,200 had already been sold in advance, largest ever for a women's game at the school.

The Dragons beat the Delaware in double overtime two weeks ago in an exciting game in Newark. Drexel is currently locked in a three-way tie for first with Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion in the CAA where the Dragons are defending champions. The Blue Hens are two games back tied with James Madison.

Delle Donne got hurt near the end of the first half of Thursday night's win over Towson and did not return after the break, reporting she had lost sensation after getting hit in the right elbow. She had scored 18 points in the first half.

She missed two games earlier this season after suffering an ankle injury in the first game of Colorado State's tournament.

Additionally, Eva Riddick, another starter, got sick at halftime and did not return but was feeling better Friday.

Tesia Harris, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, was also cleared to play.

Drexel is coming from an overtime win at Northeastern Thursday night where Dragons star Gabriela Marginean scored 41 points, second most in the history of the program. She previously scored 47 several years ago for the record in the five-overtime win at Drexel over Northeastern.

If Delle Donne plays, it will be her first Philadelphia appearance since the days the Ursuline Academy graduate out of Wilmington played for Fencor AAU.

-- Mel