MIAMI, Fla. — The Chicago State women's basketball (1-6) fell to Delaware on Saturday, 72-63, in the Cougars' final game of the FIU Thanksgiving Tournament.
After scoring 20 points yesterday, freshman guard Aaliyah Collins racked up 19 in the loss. Allysah Boothe knocked down three three-pointers in a nine-point performance, and Kyjai Miles poured in nine points and snagged seven rebounds. Ana Haklicka also added eight.
Delaware opened on a 9-0 run over the first five minutes, which the Cougars finally quashed on a Christina Britter layup. Britter, Janiah Newell and Haklicka all converted buckets to pull CSU to within five points at 13-8. The Fightin' Blue Hens then closed the first quarter with a few scores from Jasmine Dickey to enter the second leading 18-9.
In the second quarter, the Cougars came out firing on a 7-0 run featuring a Haklicka trey and two layups from Miles. The Hens then punched back with a few baskets before the two sides battled evenly to a 23-23 tie, with the Cougars converting five free throws.
But Delaware closed the first half on a roll and led, 33-25, at the break. At the time, Haklicka led the Cougars with seven points, while Miles had five points and five boards.
Boothe opened the third quarter with a three-pointer to pull the Cougars to within five, and a Collins layup followed by two free throws then made it 33-32. Delaware then pulled out in front, 42-34, on the power of a Jadaia Reed layup and made it 47-38 on another Dickey jumper.
But the Cougars roared back, with more baskets coming in from Collins, Britter and Newell, who drained a jumper with eight seconds left in the third to make it 52-45 Delaware entering quarter four.
Once the fourth quarter started, the Cougars' offense began to hum along on the back of Boothe, who sunk another two three-balls to pull CSU to within four points at 60-56. A possession layer, Collins scored her 19th point on a driving layup to make the score 60-58 at the 5:52 mark.
Delaware then punched back with two layups from Ty Battle, and the score was 64-59 Hens with 3:44 left.
Over the final stretch, Delaware stayed in command, forcing CSU into foul mode and holding on for a 72-63 victory.
The Cougars return to the hardwood on Wednesday, December 1 for a 6 p.m. showdown with Indiana State.
About Chicago State
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet.
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