Women's Basketball Comes Up Short to Delaware, 65-56

Sunday, January 27

Daskalakis Athletic Center

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

13-5, 6-1

RV/RV Delaware

15-3, 6-0

Delaware

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Comes Up Short to Delaware, 65-56

1/27/2013 4:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - In a battle of the two lone undefeated teams in the Colonial Athletic Association, the Drexel women's basketball team fell to Delaware in front of a sell out crowd at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, 65-56. Hollie Mershon led the Dragons with 17 points, as Drexel had its six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 13-5, 6-1.

A rematch of last year's CAA title game, Sunday's contest featured two teams that looked capable of getting back there in two months at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro. Just two points separated the teams with 2:07 to play before Delaware went on an 8-0 run that effectively sealed the game. Elena Delle Donne led Delaware (15-3, 6-0) with 24 points.

Drexel hung with the defending champion Blue Hens throughout, and did not trail by double digits until the game's final minute. In their first experience with the Drexel/Delaware rivalry, freshmen Meghan Creighton and Rachel Pearson asserted themselves well right off the bat. Creighton, who has started every game in her first year with the Dragons, got the team's first points with a three-pointer from the top of the key. She would finish with eight points, including a dazzling reverse lay-up after driving the baseline in the second half, adding four rebounds.

With 4:34 to go in the first half and the Dragons down by five, Pearson stepped into a three-pointer from the right corner that pulled Drexel back within two points. After a stop on the other end, Drexel got the ball back to Pearson, who let loose another shot from a nearly identical spot on the floor. It fell, and the Dragons took a 25-24 lead. Kayla Miller answered with a three on the other end, but Pearson made it three straight when her long trey fell with 3:06 to play in the half, putting Drexel back on top 28-27.

Pearson finished with nine points, her highest total since netting nine against American on December 28.

Thanks to the two Dragon freshmen, Drexel shot 4-for-8 from three-point range in the first half. Delaware was playing physical, aggressive defense inside, but Drexel was able to take advantage of their overplaying on occasion, working the ball inside for easy buckets. Earlier in the first half, the Dragons worked the ball into Mershon for six straight points, turning a 14-13 Delaware lead into a 19-16 Drexel advantage.

Mershon finished with 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists. The seven assists gives her 280 for her career, moving her into 10th place overall on the Drexel leaderboard. Nicki Jones added nine points, five boards, three assists and two blocks in a strong all-around game, helping Drexel neutralize Delaware's size down low. Renee Johnson-Allen had six points and four rebounds off the bench.

In the end, though, the Dragons were unable to take advantage of their opportunities to the same extent as the Blue Hens. Despite outrebounding Delaware 17-16 in the first half, the Dragons trailed Delaware 17-0 in second chance points. The game would end with the Blue Hens holding a 22-10 edge in that category, despite Drexel outrebounding them 36-34 overall and 15-13 on offensive boards. Delaware also took advantage of nine Drexel turnovers to the tune of 13 points, while the Dragons could muster just five off the Blue Hens' eight giveaways.

The Dragons will look to start a new winning streak on Thursday evening when they make the trip to Old Dominion. Tip off for that game is set for 7:00 p.m.