The University of Delaware (18-11) saw a 13-point lead cut to four in the final two minutes, but the Blue Hens held on for a 60-52 victory over Hofstra (4-26) and their record-setting third consecutive East Coast Conference championship.

No other East Coast Conference basketball team, men's or women's, had won three straight titles, and Delaware has won 10 consecutive games at the Towson Center (six in ECC tournaments and four regular-season games against Towson State).

Delaware appeared to be on its way to an easy win when it turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 41-25 margin in less than four minutes.

But Hofstra, which had stunned the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Rider in earlier tournament games, began to scrap its way back into the game.