On Sunday in Hempstead New York, It was a day to celebrate for University of Delaware women’s college basketball team because they rewarded head coach Tina Martin her 400th victory in her 21st season as the Blue Hens head coach.
Delaware crushed Hofstra university 73-56 and head coach Tina Martin was not the only Blue Hen to have a career day, sophomore Nicole Enabosi posted a career high 24 points while junior Makeda Nicholas scored a career high 19 points.
Speaking of Enabosi, the woman has been a double-double machine lately with now a third straight game with a double-double and her eight of the season.
It all started in the first period where Delaware started out quick, going on a 8-0 run in the early minutes of the period. The Hens run was started by an Erika Brown jump shot and it ended with Sade Chatman jump shot. Chatman had 4 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal during that run.
Then Hofstra responded minutes later with their own 8-2 run to close the Blue Hens lead to 8-10 with 3:42 left in the first period. Hofstra’s run started with an Ashunae Durant jump shot and ended with Krystal Luciano layup. Hofstra outscored Delaware 12-7 for the rest of the first period to eventually take a 16-15 lead, thanks to a Olivia Askin three pointer.
In the early minutes of the second period, Hofstra was feeling that momentum from the first and scored five unanswered points to put the score 24-16.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens were not ready to give up and with the 6:31 left in the half the Blue Hens went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 29. The run started with an Nicole Enabosi lay up and ended with Enabosi jump shot. Enabosi had 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals on the Hens late 2nd period run.
Hofstra would break the Blue Hens momentum with a last minute 4-0 end of half run to push to lead to 33-29. Ashunae Durant accounted for all four points of Hofstra’s end of the half run.
Nicole Enabosi led the Blue Hens with 11 points at the half.
Ashunae Durant led Hofstra with 12 points at the half.
For most of the 3rd period, Hofstra owned it and kept Delaware chasing for the lead but as the end of the period came the story changed. Delaware finally started to hit some shots consistently to go on a 13-2 run to take a 54-47 lead to end the third. Nicole Enabosi led the Blue Hens with 9 points on their late third period run.
In the fourth period, Delaware was in full control outscoring Hofstra 19-9 in the final period to take an easy 73-56 win home.
Coach Tina Martin hopes this win can build confidence for the team and hopes it can build consistency in the team’s play.
“I’m really proud of the kids today. We got win number two in the conference and that’s what really matters right now. We’re trying to climb the ladder and hopefully this will give us a little bit more confidence. We need to build upon this race in the conference. I have to give credit to our point guards, and well, really all of our players as they controlled the tempo. We went strong to the rim today, there was definitely a better effort on the glass, and we took better shots.”
Martin on her 400th win as Blue Hen.
“A lot of people worked really hard [for win 400]. This is a team sport and this isn’t for one person. This accomplishment is attributed to the hard work that some terrific coaches and players have put in throughout the years. They really established such a great winning tradition for Delaware women’s basketball. I especially want to thank associate head coach Jeanine Radice alongside our current assistants Tom Lochner, Jade Singleton and Kayla Miller. I can’t say enough about the administrators I’ve had in my time; they’ve all been so great and supportive. I bleed blue and gold; I love this place. It’s a proud moment for this women’s basketball program and I’m very proud of my players and staff over the past 21 years.”
Blue Hens 73 point total is the highest point total they have scored all season.
Nicole Enabosi was the leading scorer for the Blue Hens scoring 24 points on the night and she also collected 12 rebounds.
Two other Blue Hens scored in double digits and they were Makeda Nicholas (19) and Erika Brown (10).
Nicholas said this about the win vs Hofstra and Coach’s Martin 400th win.
“It felt really good to get this win in front of family and friends. We really worked hard for this W. We definitely stepped up our game in the third by following the gameplan and getting a lot of transition points.”
“I’m definitely happy for my coach and this is such an awesome accomplishment. Not many coaches can achieve something like this in their careers.”
Delaware (8-8) returns home to the Bob Carpenter Center to take on Northeastern on Friday at 7 p.m.
DE SPORTS BLITZ PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Delaware: Nicole Enabosi who had 24 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 steals and went 10 for 18 from the free throw line.
Hofstra: Ashunae Durant who had 15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and went 1 for 4 from the free throw line.
Stats:
FG Percentage:
Delaware: 50%
Hofstra: 36.1%
Free Throw Percentage:
Delaware: 67.7%
Hofstra: 50%
Three Point Percentage:
Delaware: 22.2%
Hofstra: 31.6%
Rebounds:
Delaware: 45
Hofstra: 29
Blocks:
Delaware: 3
Hofstra: 1
Turnovers:
Delaware: 15
Hofstra: 9
Points off Turnovers:
Delaware: 10
Hofstra: 14
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