Two things have defined University of Delaware women’s basketball under Head Coach Tina Martin–hard-nosed defensive play and a high degree of competitiveness. As for the defense, the 2004-05 Fightin’ Blue Hens had the 26th best field goal percentage defense (.365) and the 23rd best scoring defense (55.4) in all of NCAA Division I.

The Hens also led the Colonial Athletic Association with the top field goal percentage defense, three-point field goal percentage defense (.273) and turnover margin (plus 4.71).

Individually, guard Tyresa Smith finished 15th in the nation with 3.2 steals per game and was named to the CAA All-Defensive team.

As for competitiveness, the numbers speak for themselves. Since the 1999-2000 season, the Hens have:

• Won 20 or more games every season except one, in 2003-04 when they went 19-10.
  
  
• Captured one America East Conference title and two CAA regular season titles, winning outright last season and tying with perennial power Old Dominion University in 2002-03.
  
  
• Competed in one NCAA Division I national championship tournament and in three Women’s National Invitation Tournaments, hosting a game last season.
  
  
• Filled the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center with a record 4,772 fans for last year’s home game against Old Dominion, which UD won 62-58.

In addition, Martin was named America East Coach of the Year in 2000-01 and CAA Co-Coach of the Year last season.

Martin says her goal every season is to challenge for the conference championship and, despite the loss of 2004-05 CAA Player of the Year Tiara Malcom and forward Tiffany Young, she hopes the Hens will test the field again this year.

Where Malcom and Young provided a strong presence under the basket the last several seasons, the Hens’ strength this year would appear to be in the backcourt, particularly with the return of Smith.

In addition to her tireless work on defense, Smith averaged 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and had 100 assists last season.

Smith will be joined by two other returning starters in the backcourt, point guard Alena Koshansky and Amanda Blackstone. In addition to directing the offense, Koshansky proved to be the team’s top outside threat with 41 three-point baskets on the season and a scoring average of 6.7 points per game. She ranked third in the conference in three-point field goal percentage, at 37.6. Blackstone, a senior, had 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Providing depth will be sophomore Melissa Czorniewy, who played in 30 games as a freshman and averaged 3.4 points per game.

UD has holes to fill inside but the Hens are counting on strong contributions from 6-foot junior forward Chrissy Fisher, a transfer from the University of Maryland. Fisher played two seasons for the Terrapins before transferring to UD, averaging 7.9 points and 5.3 rebounds as a sophomore and being named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman team her first year.

Also back are 6-foot 3-inch senior center Arek Deng and sophomore forwards Katie Kline and Courtney Irving. Freshman center Ethlynne Thomas could see playing time, as well.

For those who enjoyed the rollicking home game against Old Dominion last season, the two teams will meet again at the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center at 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19.

Martin says the atmosphere for UD-ODU games is “electric” and “intense,” with the Monarchs having established a long tradition of excellence and the Hens having mounted a strong challenge to their dominance in the conference.

“Hopefully we can stay at that level to compete with them, to challenge them and to continue a great rivalry,” Martin says. “We have a lot of respect for Old Dominion, and I think they have a lot of respect for our program.”

Martin says that UD’s fine run the last six seasons has earned the program national recognition and respect. “I am proud of what we have accomplished,” she says.