Women's Basketball Downs Rhode Island, 55-43

Friday, November 30

Burlington, Vt.

5:00 p.m.

Drexel University

5-2

Rhode Island

2-5

Drexel

Rhode Island

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

11/30/2012 7:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Less than 48 hours after a dramatic, physically-punishing overtime defeat at South Carolina, the Drexel women's basketball team grinded its way to a win over Rhode Island on Friday, 55-43 at the TD Bank Classic at the University of Vermont. The Dragons methodically put away the Rams with stifling defense and big offensive outputs from three players in Taylor Wootton, Meghan Creighton and Renee Johnson-Allen.

Wootton led all scorers with 16 points, adding three assists without a turnover. Creighton set a new personal best for her young career with 13 points, while Johnson-Allen notched her first-career double-digit outing with 11 points and a team-high five rebounds. She also had four steals, doubling her previous career high.

Drexel got off to a quick 6-0 lead and never looked back. Wootton, who scored the first four points of the night for the Dragons, had a well-balanced night with eight points on 3-for-5 shooting in each half. After Rhode Island pushed back to make it 6-4, Creighton stepped up and knocked down her first three-pointer of the night, extending the lead to 9-4. Drexel would never lead by less than four the rest of the way, and held a double-digit advantage for most of the second half.

Creighton finished 3-for-5 from downtown, adding a perfect 4-for-4 night at the free throw line. The freshman's 13-point outing was supplemented by two rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Joining Creighton as a first-time member of the double-digit point club was Johnson-Allen, who put together a tremendous all-around effort. In 22 minutes, which matched her season high, Johnson-Allen knocked down 3-of-5 field goals, including two long jumpers just inside the arc in the first half. Meanwhile, she was able to break free and cut to the hoop several times, earning eight free throws, of which she converted five. In addition to her offensive breakout, Johnson-Allen had five rebounds, one shy of her career high, and four big steals on the defensive end. Prior to Friday, her career high for steals was two, a number she had reached five times during her career.

Johnson-Allen's free throw with 15:45 remaining put the Dragons up by 10 points, 32-22. Creighton followed with a three-pointer that put Drexel up by 13 and capped a 6-0 run that effectively put the game out of reach.

Hollie Mershon, who scored the last five points of the first half for the Dragons to send Drexel into the break with a 27-20 cushion, finished with nine. Abby Redick had two points and matched Wootton's team-high with three assists.

The Dragons will now look for a perfect 4-0 mark in tournament play this season when they take on the host Vermont Catamounts on Saturday. Drexel and Vermont tip things off at 4:00 p.m.