Delle Donne scores 28 to lead No. 15 Delaware over Drexel 59-56 for 2nd straight CAA title

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – Elena Delle Donne scored 28 points, and No. 15 Delaware held off Drexel 59-56 Sunday to win its second straight Colonial Athletic Association title and extend its school-record winning streak to 25 games.

The victory earned the Blue Hens (30-3) an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Delaware hosts the first and second rounds and will almost certainly open at home.

The top-seeded Blue Hens led by 46-29 with 14:35 left before the Dragons (22-10) rallied to go in front 56-55 with 1:10 remaining. After Trumae Lucas made two free throws for Delaware with 44.4 seconds to go, Drexel's Abby Redick was called for traveling.

Delle Donne made two free throws with 9.9 seconds left, and Drexel never got off a final shot. Soon after that, the Blue Hens lined up to cut down the net.

Taylor Wootton scored 21 for the third-seeded Dragons and Hollie Mershon had 18.