Women's Basketball Stifles VCU, 47-41 in Richmond

Thursday, January 26

Richmond, Va.

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

VCU

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Stifles VCU, 47-41 in Richmond

1/26/2012 8:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Va. - The old adage is that defense wins championships, and the Drexel women's basketball team certainly has displayed a defense capable of making a lot of noise in the Colonial Athletic Association this season. That was on display again on Thursday, as the Dragons pulled out a pivotal road win at VCU, 47-41.

Kamile Nacickaite led all scorers with 17 points, while Fiona Flanagan added a career-high 10. More importantly, was the Dragons' ability to frustrate the Rams' two big weapons on the offensive end. Preseason First Team All-CAA selections Courtney Hurt and Andrea Barbour came in averaging over 40 points per game combined, with Hurt putting up 22.8. Led by Taylor Wootton, Tyler Hale and Nacickaite down low, the Dragons held the duo to just 23 points, only nine of which came from Hurt.

Both teams got off to slow offensive starts, with the Rams leading 10-5 midway through the first half. VCU would build a six-point lead with 5:41 to play in the half, but Tyler Hale scored three straight points and Flanagan nailed a three to even the score at 17 with three minutes to play. Ninety seconds later, Hale drove to the hoop and knocked down a lay-up to push Drexel back in the lead, 19-17. It was their first lead since Nacickaite's three-pointer made it 3-0.

The Dragons would go into halftime leading 21-19. The defensive theme would continue after intermission, with neither team able to get much going offensively. In fact, a lay-up from Nacickaite was the only bucket Drexel could get in the first 7:15 of the half, but they trailed just one before a Nacickaite three pushed the Dragons back on top, 26-24.

Drexel would not trail again, although the Dragons never build an imposing lead. Instead, they completely stifled the Rams' offensive efforts, holding them to 32.1 percent shooting in the second half. VCU was also just 1-for-9 in the half from long range, and 2-for-13 for the game.

Leading 39-33 with 3:24 to play, the Dragons ceded back-to-back layups by Hurt and Aprill McRae, cutting the advantage to 39-37 with 2:37 to play. The next time up the court, Hollie Mershon got herself open in the left corner and nailed her only three-pointer of the night, a huge bucket that put Drexel back up 42-37.

Nacickaite and Marisa Crane hit 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Drexel has now won five times on the road this season, matching last year's total with four road contests still to play. Three of those road wins have come in league play, leaving the Dragons in strong position heading into the second half of the league schedule. They will wrap up the first half on Sunday afternoon when they host Hofstra at 2:00 p.m.