Drexel University
Towson
Narissa Suber Scores Her 1,000th Point in Tough Loss to Towson
2/8/2007 9:14:35 PM | Women's Basketball
Towson, Md. - Junior Narissa Suber became the 16th Dragon to reach the 1,000-point milestone in her career, but the benchmark was bittersweet as Drexel (6-17, 1-11 CAA) lost a heartbreaker, 55-52, at Towson. Drexel rallied back from aa 11-point deficit at the half to take a lead with five minutes left in the game. But the Tigers (16-6, 7-5 CAA) hit two jumpers from the wing in the final minute to hold on for the win.
Reigning CAA Rookie of the Week Gabriela Marginean compiled her fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. She led three Dragons in double figures as Anora Suber added 13 points and Kira Karlstrom chipped in 11. Junior guard Andrea Peterson handed out a career-high tying six assists without committing a turnover.
After shooting just 20 percent in the first half, and making only six shots from the field, the Dragons opened the second period with nine straight points before allowing Towson to get on the board, making it a 29-28 Towson lead just under five minutes into the period. The Tigers pushed their advantage to seven points, at 42-35, on a pair of free throws by Alis Freeman midway through the half.
But Narissa Suber, who holds every one of Drexel's three-point shooting records, appropriately drained a trey to spark a 10-2 Drexel run. Karlstrom gave the Dragons their first lead since the first half, 45-44, on a pair of free throws with 4:55 left in the game.
Towson pulled back into the lead despite going more than eight minutes without a field goal. The quick Towson guards drove the lane and got themselves to the free-throw line. While the Tigers clanked to just 50 percent shooting from the charity stripe in the second half, the seven free tosses that they converted were just enough to keep their heads above water.
Shanae Baker-Brice, who led the Tigers with 17 points, made her biggest plays of the game on assists in the final minute. The Dragons needed just one stop to get the ball back trailing 50-49 with 1:27 in the game. But Baker-Brice drove the lane and as Drexel's defense collapsed on the speedy guard she dished it out to Holly Mahan on t he wing. Mahan, who came into the game shooting just 28 percent from deep, hit a timely three-pointer to give Towson a four-point lead with 58 seconds remaining.
On Drexel's end of the court Karlstrom collected a long offensive rebounder on the right side of the lane. Karlstrom dribbled the ball out to the three-point arc, spun and drilled a three-pointer with 41 seconds on the clock to cut the Towson lead to one point at 53-52. The Tigers dashed Drexel's hopes on the ensuing possession when Baker-Brice drove and again kicked the ball to her left, this time hitting Jamell Beasley for a mid-range jumper on the wing.
Towson's three-point lead loomed even larger when the Tigers fouled Narissa Suber with 3.1 seconds remaining, putting her at the line for two shots. Suber missed the first and the carom of the second miss was batted out of bounds by Towson. The reset gave Drexel the ball under its basket with less than two seconds remaining. The Dragons go the ball in bounds, but a last-second heave by Marginean fell short at the buzzer.
The Dragons return to the DAC to play Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 p.m.
