Delaware, Delle Donne bounce Drexel in OT

Drexel's defense of its Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball tournament title ended quickly yesterday at the hands of archrival Delaware, 67-61 in overtime, in a quarterfinal game in Harrisonburg, Va.

Elena Delle Donne fueled a Blue Hens rally from a five-point deficit in the extra period and finished with 30 points and nine rebounds.

Senior Gabriela Marginean scored 27 points for the Dragons (17-13), who were seeded fourth with a first-round bye.

Fifth-seed Delaware (21-10) had to get past Georgia State on Thursday in the first round at JMU Convocation Center.

Delle Donne unseated Marginean as the CAA player of the year earlier this week and also won the rookie award.

The Blue Hens lost twice to Drexel in the regular season, both times in overtime with one of those games going into double overtime.

"I've been on the losing end of two of those games and its definitely a heartbreaker," Delaware coach Tina Martin said after the Blue Hens snapped a six-game losing streak to the Dragons.

"The Drexel team played like the defending champions that they are," she added. "I can't say enough about the battles that we've had with them this year."

Drexel is not likely to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament but is expected to be invited to the WNIT.

The Dragons' Kamile Nacickaite sent the game into overtime with a three-pointer with 32 seconds left in regulation.

Drexel then went ahead in overtime, 61-56, before Delle Donne took over. She hit a three-pointer and two foul shots to tie it with 1:05 left.

Her offensive putback gave Delaware the lead before she blocked Marginean's shot. That play led to the Blue Hens' Danielle Parker hitting two free throws.

Delle Donne then hit two more foul shots to close it out.

In the semis this afternoon, Delaware will play Old Dominion, the regular-season champion. The Blue Hens lost both season meetings to the Monarchs in the closing seconds.

Old Dominion (17-12) advanced with a 68-49 win over No. 8 Northeastern (13-18). No. 2 James Madison (24-6) had a 67-40 win over 10th-seeded UNC-Wilmington (12-19). Third seed Virginia Commonwealth (20-11) took a 51-38 victory over sixth seed Hofstra (19-13).