ATLANTA -- Senior point guard Kyle DeHaven (at right) scored 20 points, pulled down eight rebounds, collected seven steals, and dished out three assists as the University of Delaware women’s basketball team rode a hot-shooting first half to a 71-57 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Georgia State on Thursday evening at the GSU Sports Arena.

The Hens (4-14, 3-3 CAA) won their second straight game for the first time this season, improving to 3-0 all-time against the Panthers (4-13, 1-5 CAA). GSU was led by guard Traci Haltiwanger, who notched 13 points in a losing effort.

"This is a big road win for us," said Delaware head coach Tina Martin, whose team has now won two of its last three games away from home. "We are starting to see improvement from our young team."

Delaware couldn’t miss in the first half, connecting on a season-high 57.1 percent of its field goal tries (16-for-28) before intermission. The Hens went a blistering 9-for-11 during a 24-11 run midway through the half, taking a 36-21 lead on a 15-foot jumper by freshman guard Vanessa Kabongo at the 3:50 mark. DeHaven poured in eight consecutive points, including two baseline three-pointers, to ignite the Hen surge.

The Blue Hens continued the onslaught in the second half, when Corinthia Benison poured in all 10 of her points and UD shot a respectable 44.4 percent from the floor. Delaware took its biggest lead at 67-35 with 8:34 left in the game, but GSU used a game-ending 22-4 run to close the gap.

Delaware established new season highs in points (71), field goal percentage (50.9 percent), and field goals made (28). The Delaware defense made life miserable for the Panthers, who shot just 33.3 percent – 25.8 percent in the first half – and committed 26 turnovers.

Kabongo and Benison tallied 10 points each for the Hens, while sophomore forward Sha’Ron Harrison collected eight points and four rebounds and senior forward Courtney Irving added seven points and six boards.

DeHaven drained all of Delaware’s four three-pointers, the most trifectas the Hens have hit this season.

Guard Brittany Hollins had 10 points, six assists, and five steals for the Panthers, who trailed from the opening tip.

The Blue Hens return to action on Sunday afternoon, when No. 15 Old Dominion visits the Bob Carpenter Center at 2:30 p.m.

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