Women's Basketball Dropped at Princeton, 74-59

Monday, December 31

Princeton, N.J.

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

7-4

Princeton

8-5

Drexel

Princeton

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Dropped at Princeton, 74-59

12/31/2012 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Drexel women's basketball team wrapped up non-conference play on Monday afternoon by falling to Princeton, 74-59. The Dragons were done in by 15 first-half turnovers, allowing the Tigers to build a 14-point advantage at the break.

Hollie Mershon led the Dragons (7-4) with 14 points. Meghan Creighton added 11, while Nicki Jones had eight points, seven rebounds and a season-high four blocked shots. Niveen Rasheed led all scorers with 22 points, adding eight rebounds for the Tigers.

Princeton, ranked eighth in the latest College Insiders Mid-Major poll, never trailed. Drexel hung with the Tigers early on, trailing 13-12 with 13:12 remaining in the first half. From there, though, Princeton went on a 9-0 run fueled by nine of the Dragons' turnovers, pushing out to a 22-12 advantage with 6:42 to play.

After Abby Redick's jumper with 3:44 remaining in the half cut the deficit to eight points, the Tigers went on another 6-0 run to build a 14-point lead. Taylor Wootton got her first points of the game with 24 seconds remaining in the half, but Rasheed answered seconds before the buzzer to give Princeton a 35-21 halftime advantage.

The Tigers continued to maintain a double-digit lead for much of the second half, going up 54-35 with 13:52 to play. From there, though, Drexel fought their way back into the game. Mershon got it started with a bucket, followed by a three-pointer from Fiona Flanagan. After two empty trips down the court, the Dragons made it a 12-point game with two Wootton free throws. Then after another stop, Creighton lined up a three-pointer from the top of the key to cap off a 10-0 run for the Dragons and make it a nine-point contest with 10:49 remaining.

That would be as close as it got, however, as Princeton recovered and forced their way inside for four free throws on their next two possessions. Drexel twice more would cut the lead to 11, but could not get it back into single digits as Princeton pulled away for the victory.

Drexel will now turn its sights to conference play, where the Dragons open on Sunday at home against Towson. That game will tip off at 2:00 p.m.