Delle Donne pulls off rare CAA awards double

University of Delaware freshman Elena Delle Donne is named CAA “Player of the Year” and “Rookie of the Year” in women’s basketball.

University of Delaware freshman Elena Delle Donne dominated the Colonial Athletic Association postseason awards much like she dominated opponents on the hardwood this season.  Delle Donne was voted the league’s “Player of the Year” and “Rookie of the Year” in women’s basketball by CAA coaches, sports information directors and media.   It’s the first time a player has won both awards since Old Dominion’s Lucienne Berthieu turned the trick in 1999.  No men’s player has ever won both awards in the same season.

Delle Donne was also placed on the first team all-conference squad, named to the league’s all-defensive team, and earned a spot on the all-academic first team.  Delle Donne was named CAA player of week 3 times during the season and rookie of the week 10 times.

Delle Donne scored a school record 673 points this season and currently ranks second in the nation in scoring with a 26.9 points per game average.  Her signature game this season was a school and league record 54 point outburst at James Madison February 18th, an NCAA freshman single game record and the 7th best single game performance in NCAA women’s hoop history.

Delle Donne and the Blue Hens are seeded fifth in the CAA postseason tournament . The Hens opened the tourney with a 58-41 win over 12th seeded George Mason.  Delle Donne scored 16 points.  The Hens face 4th seed Drexel in Friday’s quarterfinals.

We  looked back at Delle Donne’s remarkable freshman season last week on FIRST, WHYY’s Delaware news magazine.