12/23/2004 - Women's Basketball
Mids Get Defensive to Win Navy Classic Title

• Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- One day after holding Morehead State to 17 second-half points during the first round of the Sheraton Barcelo Navy Classic, the Navy (4-5) women's basketball team held Delaware State (2-4) to 16 points after halftime in the championship game of the two-day tournament, Thursday afternoon in Alumni Hall. The Midshipmen posted a 57-37 victory over the Hornets to claim the program's eighth tournament title.

After jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead at the start of the game, the Midshipmen soon extended their advantage to nine points at 20-11 midway through the first half, then led by as many as 13 points -- 31-18 -- before heading into the locker rooms nursing a 31-21 advantage. Six different players scored for Navy in the first half, with Ashley Pelzek (Jr., East Longmeadow, Mass.) leading the way with eight points. Navy hauled in 10 offensive rebounds in the first half and held a 20-14 advantage on the glass after the opening 20 minutes.

Navy started to pull away from Delaware State early in the second half, scoring nine of the first 11 points of the frame and taking a 40-23 lead with 16:23 left on the clock. The Mids connected on 4-of-7 shots during its run, while holding the Hornets to 1-of-4 shooting and forcing a trio of Delaware State turnovers. Navy, which never trailed in the game, held a lead of at least 15 points over the remainder of the contest.

Pelzek connected on 5-of-9 shots from the field, including 4-of-8 from behind the three-point line to finish as the game's leading scorer with 14 points. Point guard Lauren Skrel (Jr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) also contributed for the Mids, dishing out six assists against four turnovers, while adding one block, one steal and five rebounds in the game.

"Early on, Delaware State was doubling down on our post players, so we reversed the ball a lot and were able to hit our outside shots," said Pelzek.

The Mids connected on 8-of-16 three-point attempts and hauled in 43 rebounds on the afternoon, while holding Delaware State to just 3-of-15 shooting from beyond the three-point arc and 32 rebounds. Navy shot 37.5-percent from the field and limited the Hornets to 21.4-percent shooting in the second half and 26-percent for the game.

"I think one of the keys to the game was our keeping it a halfcourt game," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "Delaware State can really hurt you in the open court. Our defense did a very good job of keeping them in front of us and making it a halfcourt game, as well as contesting their shots on the perimeter. We also rebounded well and limited our turnovers."

"Keeping our composure against their pressure and being able to keep them off the glass was very important today," said Skrel.

Navy will next be in action Dec. 30 when the Mids play at Air Force.