NEWARK, Del. – Freshman forward Brittany Blackwell’s put-back with 33 seconds remaining erased a one-point deficit and lifted eighth-seed UNCW to a 59-56 victory over ninth-seed Delaware in first round action at the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Championship Thursday evening at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Seahawks improve to 17-13 overall and advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face top seed Old Dominion Friday at 5 p.m. The Blue Hens finish the 2007-08 season with a 7-24 mark.

Blackwell, the league’s Rookie of the Year, posted game-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season to lead UNCW. Sophomore guard Candace Walker pitched in 14, freshman forward Treasure Johnson chipped in 11 and junior forward Sahsha Taylor added 10 to round out the Seahawks double-digit scorers.

Freshman guard Tesia Harris tallied 17 points on the strength of 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc to pace UD. Harris was joined in double figures by senior guard Kyle DeHaven, who scored 12 points, nine of which came in the first 4:21 of the contest. DeHaven also recorded game-highs of five assists and five steals.

Blackwell’s heroics came after a jumper by DeHaven capped a 10-0 Blue Hens run that erased a nine-point deficit and gave UD a 56-55 lead with exactly one minute remaining.

On the ensuing possession, UNCW worked the shot clock down until Johnson took a jumper from the right side that was short, allowing Blackwell to get the ball and put a shot high off the glass and in to give the Seahawks a slim 57-56 edge.

UD missed a chance to take the lead seconds later as a three by Harris was short, allowing junior guard Shade Smith to grab the rebound. Smith made both free throws to push the lead to three before DeHaven attempted a last-second three-pointer that failed to hit the rim, ending the contest.

DeHaven staked the Blue Hens to an 11-0 lead to open the contest as she hit a trio of three-pointers from the right side in the first 4:27 of the contest. UNCW responded to the early UD run, scoring 10 unanswered points to start a 16-4 spurt that gave the Seahawks a 16-15 lead at the 4:58 mark

The two teams then proceeded to trade baskets until a layup by Blackwell started a 16-2 Seahawks run that lasted nearly nine minutes and gave UNCW a 36-22 lead with 16:55 remaining. 

The Blue Hens answered the run with an 8-2 spurt that pulled them within eight, 38-30, before seven straight points by the Seahawks pushed the UNCW lead to 15, 45-30. The Seahawks held a nearly double-digit lead until back-to-back threes from Harris sparked the late UD run that ended with DeHaven’s jumper at the 1:00 mark. 

Notes: UNCW is now 10-23 all-time in the CAA Tournament as they advance to the quarterfinals for the second straight season … The Seahawks won for the second straight time at the Bob Carpenter Center after having won just once in their first six visits to the arena … UNCW held a 34-18 edge in points in the paint … Sophomore guard Greta Luksyte hit two free throws during the contest, extending her consecutive free-throws made streak to 34 … freshman forward Brittany Blackwell has now grabbed nine or more rebounds for the 15 time this season … Blackwell has reached double figures in scoring in each of the last 15 contests.

- Courtesy UNCW Sports Information :  Photo-John Aronson