Painful Delle Donne Puts Hurt on George Mason
By Mel Greenberg
NEWARK, Del. - With a visit to Old Dominion on slate Thursday night and a chance for revenge, Delaware coach Tina Martin didn't know exactly what to say about a lackluster performance against George Mason Monday afternoon before her Blue Hens rallied in the Colonial Athletic Association contest for a 67-63 victory at the Bob Carpenter Center.
Martin quickly called a timeout after the Blue Hens 15-7, 7-4 CAA) got off to a bumpy start against the Patriots (8-14, 1-10).
"You an use a million excuses, but I don't think we played well -- plain and simple," Martin said. "Obviously the whole distraction of what went on, not practicing Saturday, only an hour on Sunday, we did not come in here and we were not focused at all.
"I could see it in our faces. We were walking around. Give George Mason credit. Those kids came and they were ready to play. In this league, you can't take anybody to the point you think they won't be ready to play. They're ready to play," Martin said.
"We've taken a lot of teams good shots all year long. Obviously, because we have Elena (DelleDonne). Because we're much improved as a team over last year. Obviously we were not ready to play."
Monday's game was originally scheduled for noon Sunday, which was then declared to become a second game in a doubleheader when the men's game against UNC Wilmington set for Saturday was pushed back because of the weekend snow. By Saturday afternoon, the entire event was then moved to Monday with the men tipping off at 1 p.m.
"This is more like a tournament format with a doubleheader," Martin said. "We didn't play so well in the first doubleheader format we had at Princeton. While everyone got excited about the snow I wasn't. I didn't like this format but we got through it and got a win.
"I'm going to change our routine at tournament time. Maybe this is a blessing. We didn't do so well in our first two options how to prepare for a tournament setting. So now we'll work on a third option."
Despite the struggle, Delaware matched its overall win total of last season and it's win total in the CAA.
"I'm happy about that and feel good about that because it means this program is moving and getting back toward where we want to be -- and that's at the top of the conference," Martin said.
Delle Donne got some big baskets down the stretch and finished with a game-high 26 points before the crowd of 4,217. Tesia Harris scored 18 points and Kayla Miller scored 10 points.
Ester Amber scored 10 points for George Mason.
During Martin's postgame talks, Delle Donne could be observed getting tested on her right elbow by the Blue Hens medical staff. The graduate of Ursuline Academy out of Wilmington got hurt two weeks ago when she got hit on a nerve and did not return after the half in the home game against Towson having scored 18 points in the first 20 minutes.
Delle Donne has played in each game since but her arm was in a sling packed with ice when she stepped into the hallway to address the media.
"I'm in pain -- my elbow is still giving me a lot of trouble," Delle Donne said with a smile. "It's all the time."
However, she continued to discuss the game.
"It was a big game for us and somehow we didn't come out focus," Delle Donne said. "The semester is starting tomorrow -- maybe that had something to do with it."
The next game at Old Dominion gives the Blue Hens another shot at one of the league's top teams, this time in Norfolk, Va. Delaware lost to the Monarchs in the CAA season opener at home when a rallied died with a missed layup as time was expiring.
"The crowd is going to be four or five thousand people and that's good for our young players," Martin said. "The championship is at James Madison and there's going to be four or five thousand people there when the championship comes around.
"It will be a good measuring stick for our program. We broke their hundred and nineteen win streak there several years ago and it was one of the best feelings in coaching I had with that particular group," Martin recalled. "Just because of their dynasty they had for so long down and they're one of the top teams. We have to play exceptionally well and it will be a good experience for our players.
"It's been a few years since we won there. It's going to take a tremendous effort. Old Dominion is really, really good on their home floor and they always have a great crowd so it will be a big challenge for this young team and we'll see where we're at when we get down there."
Martin was pleased with the turnout considering the time of the game.
"The crowd was great and it really gave us a lift in the second half," Martin. "Some of these kids might be hitting the wall. But there is no freshmen wall for us. These kids have to step up and be ready to play."
In another revenge tilt later Monday night, Drexel's two-game win streak over James Madison ended with a 73-56 loss to the Dukesvin Harrisonburg, Va., where the Dragons beat JMU in the CAA title game last season.
Drexel also won the CAA opener last month ediging the Dukes in West Philadelphia.
Gabriela Marginean scored 12 points for the Dragons, needing just 60 now to pass former Penn star Diana Caramanico for the all-time scoring record in women's basketball among the Big Five and Drexel.
-- Mel