NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware women's basketball team got 17 points and a career-high five three-pointers from freshman guard Tesia Harris, but the Hens' inspired rally over the final five minutes came up just short in a 59-56 loss to UNC Wilmington on Thursday evening in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.

Freshman forward Brittany Blackwell led the way for eighth-seeded UNC Wilmington, as she posted game highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds to back up the CAA Rookie of the Year award she won at last night's postseason banquet. Blackwell's frontcourt mate, forward Candace Walker, added 14 points and seven boards for the No. 8 Seahawks, who advance to meet top-seeded Old Dominion in Friday's quarterfinals.

The Hens trailed by as many as 15 points midway through the second half and were down 55-46 with just 4:02 left in regulation when Harris drained her fourth trifecta of the night to close the gap to six. Two possessions later, the sweet-shooting freshman hit another three to make it 55-52 at the 2:39 mark. After UNCW's Sahsha Taylor misfired on a triple, UD sophomore Corinthia Benison connected from the top of the key to bring her squad within one.

Benison stole the ball from Walker on the Seahawks' next trip downcourt, and senior guard Kyle DeHaven capitalized with a mid-range jumper to give UD its first lead since the Hens were up 17-16 with 7:38 remaining in the first period.

But Blackwell spoiled Delaware's comeback bid, gathering an offensive rebound after a
Treasure Johnson miss and banking in the put-back with just 31 ticks on the clock. Harris couldn't hit on a deep three-point try on UD's next possession, and UNCW guard Shade Smith gave her team a three-point edge with two free throws.

Delaware had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but DeHaven's three from the right wing was well short.

"This game was basically a capsule of our entire season," said Delaware head coach Tina Martin after the loss. "We played everybody close all year - we've been right there in the conference. We played hard. We've just made bad decisions late in games, had broken plays, had key turnovers, missed free throws...This game and this season gave our young kids great experience. We may not have been successful, but it's experience nonetheless. I can tell you one thing: this team will get better. We've got a lot of talent, but what will really make a difference is the work we put in over the spring and summer."

DeHaven closed out her decorated career in stellar fashion, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. She ended the year with 133 steals, a new school record, and as the national leader in steals per game at 4.6.

The Hens got eight points and three assists from sophomore guard Corinthia Benison, while freshman forward Ariene Jenkins chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds and freshman guard Vanessa Kabongo enjoyed a six-point, six-board night.

UD, which had never been seeded lower than fourth in six previous CAA tournaments, dropped its first-ever CAA first-round contest. The Hens finish the year at 7-24, their worst record in program history. Delaware hadn't bowed out in the first round of a conference tournament since 1999, when the school was a member of the America East conference.

The 'Hawks shot a robust 46.7 percent from the floor, including 57.9 percent (11-for-19) in the second half. UD connected on just 39 percent of its field-goal tries, but stayed in contention on the strength of its long-range shooting. Delaware more than doubled its season high with nine three-pointers on the night, as Harris went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc and DeHaven went 3-for-8. Both teams struggled from the free-throw line, as UD went 5-for-12 from the charity stripe and UNC Wilmington made just 15 of its 25 attempts.

DeHaven came out hot, hitting three three-pointers in the first 4:21 to propel the Blue Hens to an 11-0 lead. The Seahawks (17-13, 7-11 CAA) countered with a 25-9 surge over the next 13 minutes to take control, going ahead 25-20 on a free throw by Blackwell 2:17 before the halftime horn.

UNC Wilmington maintained that momentum deep into the second half, as they took a 47-32 lead on two free throws by Greta Luksyte at the 10:36 mark.

The Seahawks snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second straight year, while UD dropped its sixth game in a row and its second straight to UNCW.

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