UNCW Edges Dragons 60-58 on Senior Day

Sunday, February 28

Daskalakis Athletic Center

1:00

Drexel University

UNC Wilmington

2/28/2010 3:08:03 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Philadelphia - Jasmina Rosseel put in 19 points, including five three-pointers, but her hot hand was not enough to hold off the UNC Wilmington Seahawks (11-17, 6-11) in a 60-58 loss on Senior Day at the DAC. Gabriela Marginean led the Dragons with eight rebounds and five steals to go with 16 points in her final career game at the DAC. Senior Alison Lupariello got her first career start and knocked down two threes for a season-high six points. Senior Jennifer Stjarnstrom chipped in three points in the loss. All three were honored prior to the contest during Senior Day proceedings. The loss drops Drexel to 17-11 on the season and 11-6 in CAA play.

The Seahawks' Martha White, whose array of post moves plagued the Dragons all day, scored a career-high 22 points on 10-for-15 shooting. UNC Wilmington outworked Drexel on the boards, pulling down 38 rebounds, and 13 on the offensive glass, to Drexel's 24 rebound. The Seahawks also edged Drexel in shooting from the field, knocking down 42.6 percent of their shots while the Dragons shot 40.4 percent in the game but just 36 percent in the second half.

Drexel held a lead as large as eight points in the second half but saw its advantage slip away twice before the Seahawks made their final push for the win. The game hinged on an eight-point swing with just under eight minutes to play. The spurt was set up by a three-pointer from Treasure Johnson and a minute and a half later when she banked in a layup the game was tied at 49 all.

The teams traded baskets over the next four minutes with Marginean answering a Brittany Blackwell three-pointer with one of her own from the top of the key, followed by a slashing layup from Marisa Crane that put Drexel up 58-57 with 2:23 on the clock.

Kristen Hanzer answered with a tough layup on the right block to give UNCW a one-point lead with under two minutes to play. But on Drexel's next possession Marginean lost the handle on the ball while driving for a shot on the left side of the lane. She quickly atoned for the miscue by drawing an offensive foul on Treasure Johnson to give the ball back to Drexel with 41 seconds left.

The Dragons set up a play for Rosseel, to get a three pointer on the following possession. The junior got a good look at her sixth three of the game, but it would not fall this time. On the scramble for the rebound Taylor Wootton was able to tie up the play and force a jump ball, but the arrow pointed to UNC Wilmington and the Seahawks got the ball.

Drexel fouled to get the ball back and Casey Sawhook obligingly missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Dragons grabbed the bard and got a quick timeout with 14 seconds left. On the ensuing play, Rosseel tried to push a bounce past to Marginean in the post, but the entry was deflected and stolen away.

After another foul and another missed free throw by the Seahawks gave Drexel the ball with just over six seconds left to play and still within a bucket of winning the game. Marginean brought the ball up court but was forced to a sideline trap in front of the scorer's table. Losing balance, Marginean tossed the ball ahead. The pass found nothing but the hands of Seahawk Brittany Blackwell who held the ball and was fouled then converted a free throw with seven-tenths of a second on the clock to give UNCW its final margin of victory.

Drexel led by six at halftime after a late spurt that included a hard-earned three-point play by Taylor Wootton and a three pointer by Rosseel just before the end of the period. Marginean scored nine of her 16 points in the first half and snared four of her team-high five steals while lurking in the back of the Dragons' full-court press.

The loss is Drexel's third straight setback and places the Dragons in a three-way tie with Hofstra and Virginia Commonwealth for third place in the CAA. Drexel can still earn a bye in the CAA Tournament by winning its final game of the season on Wednesday at William & Mary, a team they beat earlier this season in Philadelphia.