Dec. 28, 2008

Final Stats

Los Angeles, Calif. - Vanessa Kabongo had 17 points and Tesia Harris added 13 to lead a balanced Delaware attack in its 70-43 win over the Stony Brook University women's basketball team, in the second game of the Courtyard by Marriott LA Westside Classic at Loyola Marymount University. The Seawolves (1-10) will play San Jose State, which lost to Loyola Marymount, 81-66, in the consolation game at 7 pm Eastern on Monday.

Stony Brook shot 0-for-12 in the first eight minutes of the game and Delaware capitalized, scoring the game's first 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Sophomore Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) ended the Seawolves' drought, connecting on a layup with 12:11 left in the first half after a steal. The Blue Hens (7-3), who led by as many as 18 three times in the first half, were led by Vanessa Kabongo's 10 points early on.

Junior Crystal Rushin's (Valley Stream, N.Y.) layup cut Delaware's lead to 24-12 with 5:32 left in the first half but the Seawolves would be able to manage just a single free throw the rest of the half as the Blue Hens led, 31-13. Stony Brook did force Delaware into 15 turnovers and were led by Jeter's six points.

The Seawolves showed much improvement from the field, connecting on seven of their first 11 shots, the first 7:30 of the second half. But Delaware did much of the same, converting on nine of its 17 shots and stretched its lead to 28, 62-34. Stony Brook shot 47 percent in the second half but Delaware was better, shooting 48 percent.

Along with Kabongo and Harris, Corinthia Benison and Jocelyn Bailey added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Jeter led Stony Brook with 13 points and seven rebounds to earn America East Player of the Game honors. Sophomore Ariel Brown (Lumberton, N.J.) finished with eight points.