UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland - Senior Elena Delle Donne scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the second half to help top-seeded Delaware shake off a slow start and defeat No. 9 seed UNCW, 51-43, in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Colonial Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Jani King, Friday at The Show Place Arena.

The 15th-ranked Blue Hens improved to 28-3 overall as they extended their school-record winning streak to 23 games. The win also moved Delaware into the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 4 seed Northeastern and No. 5 seed Hofstra Saturday at 2 p.m. The Seahawks, meanwhile, saw their first season under Head Coach Adell Harris come to a close with a 5-26 overall mark.

Delle Donne, the CAA Player-of-the-Year, was 10-of-15 from the floor, including 8-of-9 from the field in the second half, to power the Blue Hens comeback. Seniors Lauren Carra joined Delle Donne in double figures with 10 points while fellow senior Danielle Parker pitched in eight points and 11 rebounds. Delle Donne also pulled down 11 rebounds to give the Blue Hens a 39-30 advantage on the glass as she posted her ninth double-double of the season.

Sophomore Kelva Atkins scored 13 points and senior Tawanna Lee chipped in 12 for UNCW, who was limited to 30.2 percent (16-of-53) shooting from field for the game. Junior Jessica Freeman joined the duo in double figures with 10 while senior Karneshia Garrett led all players with 12 rebounds.

Despite racing out to an early 7-2 advantage, Delaware trailed for a majority of the first half as it failed to convert a field goal over 12:08 span that allowed UNCW to go on a 13-2 run midway and build a 15-9 advantage.

The Blue Hens would finally break the cold streak with a with six unanswered points over a 58-second span to tie the game at 15-all, only to see the Seahawks use a jumper by Lee and a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Atkins to regain the lead and take a 20-15 advantage into the locker room.

An 8-2 run by the Blue Hens to open the second half would give Delaware a slim 23-22 advantage only to see the Seahawks tally eight of the next 13 points to retake the lead, 30-28.

Delaware would take control of the contest moments later, however, using a Delle Donne jumper at the 10:49 mark to spark a 21-6 run that would last more than almost 10 minutes and give the Blue Hens their biggest lead of the game, 49-36, with 1:05 remaining.

The Seahawks would score seven of the last nine points to determine the final eight-point margin.

Both teams shot below 40 percent for the game as Delaware was just 18-of-48 (.375) from the floor, including a frosty 21.7 percent (5-of-23) in the first half. The Seahawks, meanwhile, were just 16-of-53 (.302) from the field, highlighted by a 25.8 (8-of-31) performance from the field in the second half.

GAME NOTES:

  • Delaware increased its lead in the all-time series to 18-7 as the Blue Hens won their fifth straight against the Seahawks. Delaware also moved to 5-2 versus UNCW in the CAA Women's Basketball Championship as the Blue Hens have defeated the Seahawks in last of the last three championships.
  • Friday's loss moved UNCW to 16-29 all-time in the CAA Women's Basketball Championship and 8-17 all-time in the quarterfinal round.
  • The Seahawks moved to 0-34 all-time against ranked opponents. UNCW squared off a ranked squad for the second time this season as it opened the campaign at No. 17 West Virginia on Nov. 9.
  • UNCW shot below 40 percent from the floor for the 21st time this season and moved to 0-21 when doing so.
  • The Seahawks held their opponent below 40 percent shooting for the second straight contest and the 17th time this season. UNCW moved to 2-15 this season when doing so.
  • UNCW was out-rebounded for the 24th time this season as it moved to 2-22 when grabbing fewer rebounds than its opponent.
  • Delaware posted a 13-2 advantage in second-chance points, highlighted by an 11-2 edge in the second half.
  • UNCW did not use a substitution for the second straight contest as all five starters played 40 minutes.
  • The Seahawks moved to 2-7 this season and 69-24 since the start of the 2007-08 season when holding a lead at halftime.
  • The two teams combined for just 20 turnovers in the contest as both sides were charged with 10 miscues.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

0 - Tawanna Lee

  • Reached double figures in points for the 15th time this season and the 31st time in her career. Reached double figures in points in each of the last five games of the season.
  • Led team in assists for the 12th time this season and the 23rd time in her career.
  • Finished career seventh on program's list for career 3-point field goals made (104).
  • Finished season in sixth on program's list for 3-point field goals made in a season (54).

3 - Kelva Atkins

  • Reached double figures in points for the 15th time this season. Finished season by scoring in double figures in six straight games and eight of the final nine contests.
  • Led team in scoring for the sixth time this season.
  • Led team in assists for the 14th time this season.

24 - Jessica Freeman

  • Reached double figures in points for the 17th time this season and the 38th time in her career.
  • Finished season scoring in double figures in each of the final three games of the season.
  • Finished season seventh on program's single-season steals chart with 79 thefts.

40 - Karneshia Garrett

  • Reached double digits in rebounds for the 18th time this season and the 26th time in her career.
  • Finished season third on program's single-season rebounding chart as she finished with 330 caroms in 30 games played.