WILMINGTON — Dover jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Ursuline on March 4 before many of the fans had even reached their seats, but it didn’t take long for the Raiders to correct course. Jezelle “GG” Banks and Taylor Brown combined for 54 points as the Raiders prevailed, 60-36, in a DIAA quarterfinal matchup at Laffey-McHugh Gymnasium.
Ursuline, the second seed, will take on No. 6 Sanford in one semifinal on Wednesday at the Bob Carpenter Center. The Warriors defeated St. Elizabeth to advance to the Bob.
Dover’s Sara Zionna Benson opened the scoring with a layup 30 seconds into the contest, and Lily Harper added a three-point shot to push the lead to 5-0. Brown scored her own three-pointer, then pilfered the ball and went the other way in what would become a familiar sight. Harper got open underneath to give Dover a 7-5 lead, but Brown and Banks scored the next 12 points. Several came after steals that resulted in transition layups. They had a 17-8 lead after one.
The second quarter began similarly to the first. Ashtyn Tobert drained a corner three, and Benson added a field goal as the 10th-seeded Lady Senators cut the Ursuline lead to 17-13.
But the Raiders turned the momentum around. Banks ended the run with a pair of free throws, followed by a steal and layup. Ursuline’s defense was stifling. In addition to the pressure up top, Jazlynn Wesley was a presence underneath, blocking three shots in the first half. She ended, unofficially, with seven rejections.
Banks finished with 32 points, and Brown had 22. Ursuline (16-6) and Sanford will meet Thursday at a time to be announced. The Warriors defeated the Raiders, 81-76, on Feb. 15.
Benson led the Lady Senators with 11, while Torbert had 10. Dover finished the season 18-5.
Photos by Mike Lang.
