WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - National Player of the Year candidate Elena Delle Donne scored 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting as Delaware defeated the Monmouth University women's basketball team, 82-53, Saturday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 2-7, while the Blue Hens improve to 6-3.

Betsy Gadziala (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro) scored a team-high 14 points for Monmouth, while Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) added 11 points for the Hawks. Sara English (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West [UMass]) also added a career-high 10 points and six rebounds. Monmouth's leading scorer, Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) left the game due to injury in the first half.

After scoring nine of the first 11 points to start the game, the Blue Hens gradually built a 17-point lead in the first half, led by 14 points and eight rebounds from Delle Donne. Gadziala led Monmouth with 10 first-half points. The Blue Hens shot 60.7 percent (17-28) from the floor and 90.0 percent (9-10) from the free-throw line in building its lead in the initial stanza.  

The Blue Hens immediately upped the lead to more than 20 points in the first minute of the second half and the closest the Hawks would get the rest of the way was to within 19 points. The Delaware lead reached as many as 31 points with just over five minutes left in the second half and the Blue Hens cruised to the victory.  

For the game, the Blue Hens' outshot the Hawks, 49.2 percent (29-59) to 30.5 percent (18-59) from the floor and 40.0 percent (6-15) to 26.7 percent (4-15) from long range. The Hawks took a slight 86.7 percent (13-15) to 85.7 percent (18-21) edge from free-throw line. Delaware outrebounded the Hawks, 43-32.  

The Hawks return to action Friday, when they play host to Manhattan. Opening tip from the MAC is scheduled for 3 p.m.