Wootton Scores 25 as Women's Basketball Holds Off UNCW, 59-47

Tuesday, February 19

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

17-7, 10-3

UNCW

3-21, 2-11

UNCW

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Wootton Scores 25 as Women's Basketball Holds Off UNCW, 59-47

2/19/2013 9:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Taylor Wootton scored 25 points, one shy of a career high, as the Drexel women's basketball team held off a pesky UNC Wilmington squad on Tuesday night, 59-47. The Dragons, who had a slow start on the offensive end, shot 53.8 percent in the second half, utilizing a 13-0 run extending over halftime to help secure the victory.

Wootton scored 18 of her 25 points in the second half, adding five of Drexel's season-high 13 steals. Hollie Mershon added 19 points and seven rebounds for Drexel (17-7, 10-3). Kelva Atkins scored 17 points off the bench to lead the Seahawks (3-20, 2-11), who led by as many as six in the first half before the Dragons' run gave them a lead they would not give up.

Mershon also had four assists, giving her 302 in her career. She became just the ninth Dragon in program history to dish out at least 300 career helpers.

Drexel came out cold from the field, hitting just 8-of-31 in the first half. With 44 seconds to go in the first half and the Seahawks leading 17-13, Meghan Creighton lined up a three-pointer, the Dragons' first of the game after missing their first five. That pulled the Dragons within one, and after the 14th UNCW turnover of the first half, Wootton hit an eight-foot jumper to give Drexel an 18-17 edge at the half.

Coming out of the break, the Dragons continued to find their range from downtown. Creighton knocked down another, followed by a three from Wootton with 17:21 remaining that gave Drexel a 24-17 lead. Two free throws from Mershon pushed the Drexel run to 13-0 before Atkins knocked down a short jumper to get the Seahawks on the board exactly 6:00 into the second half.

UNCW kept things close, pulling within three at 28-25 when Atkins buried a three-pointer with 12:36 to go. Mershon had an answer, though, hitting her lone three-pointer of the night. After a layup put in by Wootton, Fiona Flanagan sunk a three to give Drexel its largest lead until its final margin, 36-25 with 9:54.

The Seahawks continued to fight back, pulling within four points at 44-40 with 5:19 to go. Again it was Wootton providing an answer, knocking down a shot with 4:15 on the clock that pushed Drexel back up by six.

Drexel was buoyed down the stretch by a perfect 10-for-10 evening from the free throw line, including 6-for-6 by Mershon and 4-for-4 from Wootton. It was the second time this season that the Dragons finished perfect from the charity stripe with at least 10 attempts.

The Dragons set several season highs, including the 24 turnovers forced, 13 steals, 27 points off those turnovers and 13 fast break points. Drexel also dished out 16 assists, including five by Meghan Creighton against no turnovers for the freshman.

Drexel will return to the court on Thursday, when it hosts George Mason at 7:00 p.m.