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:Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens women's basketball

{{Short description|American women's college basketball team}}

{{Infobox CBB Team

|current = 2024–25 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens women's basketball team

|name = Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
women's basketball

|logo = Delaware Basketball wordmark.svg

|logo_size = 200

|university = University of Delaware

|firstseason= 1971

|conference = Coastal Athletic Association
(Conference USA in 2025–26)

|location = Newark, Delaware

|coach = Sarah Jenkins

|tenure = 3rd

|athletic_director =

|arena = Acierno Arena at the Bob Carpenter Center

|capacity = 5,000

|nickname = Blue Hens

|h_body=00539F

|h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite

|h_shorts=00539F

|h_pattern_s=_blanksides2

|a_body=00539F

|a_pattern_b=_thingoldsides

|a_shorts=00539F

|a_pattern_s=_goldsides

|NCAAchampion =

|NCAAfinalfour =

|NCAAsweetsixteen = 2013

|NCAAsecondround = 2012, 2013

|NCAAtourneys = 2001, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2022

|conference_tournament = ECC: 1989, 1990, 1991
America East: 2001
CAA: 2012, 2013, 2022

|conference_season = ECC: 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991
America East: 2001
CAA: 2005, 2012, 2013, 2021

}}

The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens women's basketball team is the basketball team that represents University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The school's team currently competes in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).{{cite web|url=http://www.bluehens.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29100&SPID=110417&SPSID=670300|title=Women's Basketball – News – BlueHens.com – UD Athletics|work=bluehens.com|accessdate=17 March 2017}} After the 2024–25 season, Delaware will leave the CAA to join Conference USA.{{cite press release |title=CUSA Adds Delaware, Blue Hens to Join in 2025 |url=http://conferenceusa.com/news/2023/11/28/general-cusa-adds-delaware-blue-hens-to-join-in-2025.aspx |publisher=Conference USA |date=November 28, 2023 |access-date=November 28, 2023}}

History

Delaware began play in 1971. In the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, they went undefeated in CAA play, going 18–0 twice. They won their first ever NCAA Tournament game in 2012, beating Little Rock 73–42 before losing in the ensuing round to Kansas 70–64. They made the regional semifinals in the 2013 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament after beating West Virginia 66–53 and North Carolina 78–69 before losing to Kentucky 69–62. Elena Delle Donne played for the Blue Hens from 2009 to 2013, scoring 3,039 points, good for 9th in the all-time list.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bluehens.com/fls/29100/womens-basketball/2016-17/Quick%20Facts.pdf?SPSID=670300&SPID=110417&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=29100 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-03-17 |archive-date=2017-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317233847/http://www.bluehens.com/fls/29100/womens-basketball/2016-17/Quick%20Facts.pdf?SPSID=670300&SPID=110417&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=29100 |url-status=dead }} As of the end of the 2020–21 season, the Fightin' Blue Hens have an all-time record of 820–552.

Historic results

=Season by season=

class= wikitable

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Season

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Coach

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Overall

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Conference

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Standing

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Postseason

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Susana Occhi{{Cite web|url=https://bluehens.com/news/2018/9/12/delaware-athletics-2018-ud-athletics-hall-of-fame-class-announced.aspx|title = 2018 UD Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced}}

|startyear=1969

|conference=

|endyear=1971{{ref|reference_name_A|a}}

}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1969-70

| name = Susana Occhi

| overall = 1-5

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Susana Occhi

| overall = 1-5 ({{Winning percentage|1|5}})

| confrecord =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Mary Ann Hitchens

|startyear=1971{{ref|reference_name_B|b}}

|conference=

|endyear=1978

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1970-71

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 4-5

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1971-72

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 8-4

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason = 3rd Place, EAIAW Regionals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1972-73

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 9-5

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason = 3rd Place, EAIAW Regionals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1973-74

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 8-7

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason = 3rd Place, Mid-Atlantic Regionals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1974-75

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 12-5

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason = 3rd Place, EAIAW Regionals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1975-76

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 12-6

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason = 3rd Place, EAIAW Regionals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1976-77

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 9-9

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason = 3rd Place, EAIAW Regionals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1977-78

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 12-6

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason = 2nd Place, EAIAW Regionals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Mary Ann Hitchens

| overall = 74-47 ({{Winning percentage|74|47}})

| confrecord =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Joyce Perry

|startyear=1978{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/udbluehens/docs/1213wbbguidefinal|title=2012-13 Women's Basketball Media Guide by UDBlueHens Delaware - Issuu}}

|conference=

|endyear=1982

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1978-79

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 6-11

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1979-80

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 7-13

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1980-81

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 21-7

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1981-82

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 9-14

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Joyce Perry

|startyear=1982

|conference=East Coast Conference

|endyear=1991

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| season = 1982-83

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 12-12

| conference = 4-4

| confstanding = 1st, ECC West

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 1983-84

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 22-4

| conference = 8-0

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1984-85

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 19-9

| conference = 11-3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1985-86

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 15-15

| conference = 8-6

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1986-87

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 10-17

| conference = 5-9

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1987-88

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 18-11

| conference = 9-5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1988-89

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 23-6

| conference = 13-1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1989-90

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 21-9

| conference = 10-4

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1990-91

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 18-11

| conference = 10-2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Delaware (East Coast)

| overall = 158-94 ({{Winning percentage|158|94}})

| confrecord = 78-34({{Winning percentage|78|34}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Joyce Perry

|startyear=1991

|conference=North Atlantic Conference

|endyear=1996

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1991-92

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 15-14

| conference = 7-7

| confstanding = 4th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1992-93

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 17-11

| conference = 8-6

| confstanding = 4th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1993-94

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 10-17

| conference = 7-7

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1994-95

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 12-15

| conference = 5-10

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1995-96

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 11-16

| conference = 9-9

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Delaware (North Atlantic)

| overall = 65-73({{Winning percentage|65|73}})

| confrecord = 36-39({{Winning percentage|36|39}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Joyce Perry

| overall = 266-212 ({{Winning percentage|266|212}})

| confrecord = 114-73 ({{Winning percentage|114|73}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Tina Martin

|startyear=1996

|conference=America East Conference

|endyear=2001

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1996-97

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 9-19

| conference = 6-12

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1997-98

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 6-21

| conference = 3-15

| confstanding = 10th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1998-99

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 16-11

| conference = 10-8

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1999-00

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 21-8

| conference = 13-5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2000-01

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 26-5

| conference = 17-1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Delaware (America East)

| overall = {{Winning percentage|78|64|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{Winning percentage|49|41|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Tina Martin

|startyear=2001

|conference=Colonial Athletic Association

|endyear=2017

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2001-02

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 23-7

| conference = 15-3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2002-03

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 22-9

| conference = 15-3

| confstanding = T-1st

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2003-04

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 19-10

| conference = 10-8

| confstanding = 4th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2004-05

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 25-6

| conference = 16-2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2005-06

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 22-8

| conference = 13-5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2006-07

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 26-6

| conference = 16-2

| confstanding = T-2nd

| postseason = NCAA 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2007-08

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 7-24

| conference = 6-12

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2008-09

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 15-15

| conference = 7-11

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2009-10

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 21-12

| conference = 11-7

| confstanding = 4th

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2010-11

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 20-14

| conference = 10-8

| confstanding = T-5th

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2011-12

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 31-2

| conference = 18-0

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA 2nd Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2012-13

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 32-4

| conference = 18-0

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Sweet Sixteen

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2013-14

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 20-11

| conference = 10-6

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2014-15

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 15-17

| conference = 8-10

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2015-16

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 16-15

| conference = 10-8

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2016-17

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 16-14

| conference = 10-8

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Delaware (CAA)

| overall = 330–174 ({{Winning percentage|330|174}})

| confrecord = 193–93 ({{Winning percentage| 193|93}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Tina Martin

| overall = 408-238 ({{Winning percentage|408|238}})

| confrecord = 242-134 ({{Winning percentage|242|134}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name=Natasha Adair

|startyear=2017

|conference=Colonial Athletic Association

|endyear=2021

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2017-18

| name = Natasha Adair

| overall = 19-13

| conference = 11-7

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = WNIT 1st Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2018-19

| name = Natasha Adair

| overall = 16-15

| conference = 11-7

| confstanding = T-3rd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2019-20

| name = Natasha Adair

| overall = 12-17

| conference = 8-10

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2020-21

| name = Natasha Adair

| overall = 24-5

| conference = 16-2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = WNIT Semifinals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Natasha Adair

| overall = 71-50 ({{Winning percentage|71|50}})

| confrecord = 46-26 ({{Winning percentage|46|26}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

| name = Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens

| overall = 820-552 ({{Winning percentage|820|552}})

| confrecord = 402-233 ({{Winning percentage|402|233}})

}}

  • {{note|reference_name_A|a}}Susan Occhi was only the coach for one season, 1969 to 1970, however all of the games were played in 1970, and she remained coach until being replaced by Mary Ann Hitchens. See also Note B.
  • {{note|reference_name_B|b}}Mary Ann Hitchens began as the coach during the 1970 to 1971 school year, however, all of the games for that school year were played in 1971. She had been the 1969-70 freshman team coach and moved up to coach varsity at the beginning of 1971, for the 1970–1971 school year. See also Note A.

=NCAA tournament=

The Blue Hens have appeared in the NCAA tournament five times, with their 2013 Sweet Sixteen appearance being their best showing.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: ; text-align:"
width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Year

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Seed

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| First round

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Second round

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Sweet Sixteen

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

2001

|#13

| #4 NC State

57–76
2007

|#12

| #5 Michigan State

58–69
2012

|#3

| #14 Arkansas-Little Rock

73–42#11 Kansas64-70
2013

|#6

| #11 West Virginia

66–53#3 North Carolina78-69#2 Kentucky62-69
2022

|#13

| #4 Maryland

71–102

=WNIT tournament=

The Blue Hens have appeared in the WNIT Tournament nine times, with their 2021 semifinal appearance and Charlotte Regional Championship being their best.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: ; text-align: "
width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Year

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Rival

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

2002

| George Washington

71–78
2003

| Saint Joseph's

47–65
2005

| St. John's

42–56

The 2006 Women's National Invitation Tournament expanded from 32 to 40 teams, adding an additional round of games. The 2007 tournament expanded to 48 teams, eliminating first round byes, and the tournament was expanded to 64 teams in 2010.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:; text-align:;"

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Year

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| First round

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Second round

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

2006colspan=2| (Bye)

| Pittsburgh

57–64
2010

| Richmond

49–67
2011

| Toledo

55–58
2014

| Rutgers

61–65
2018

| Georgetown

57–67

The 2021 Women's National Invitation Tournament contracted from 64 to 32 teams, eliminating one round of the tournament.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:; text-align:center;"

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Year

! width= 100px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| First round

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

! width= 100px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Second round

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

! width= 100px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Quarterfinal

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

! width= 100px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Semifinal

! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Score

2021

|Fordham

77–49Clemson87–74Villanova77–70Rice75–85

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons cat}}

  • {{official}}

{{Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens women's basketball navbox}}

{{University of Delaware}}

{{Coastal Athletic Association women's basketball navbox}}

{{Conference USA women's basketball navbox}}

Category:Basketball teams established in 1971