Women's Basketball Rolls Past William & Mary in CAA Quarterfinal, 65-31

Friday, March 15

Upper Marlboro, Md.

7:30 p.m.

Drexel University

(21-9)

William & Mary

(8-22)

William & Mary

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Rolls Past William & Mary in CAA Quarterfinal, 65-31

3/15/2013 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – The last game of the night on Quarterfinal Friday at the 2013 CAA Women's Basketball Championships was decided early as the Drexel women's basketball team used a 15-0 run in the first half to build a 21-5 lead en route to a 65-31 victory over sixth-seeded William & Mary. The third-seeded Dragons never trailed as they earned their second-straight semifinal berth and a matchup with No. 2 James Madison on Saturday afternoon.

Taylor Wootton finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, just a board shy of her first-career double-double. Hollie Mershon added 11 for the Dragons (21-9), who got balanced scoring as six players knocked in at least six points. Taylor Hilton led the way for William & Mary (8-22) with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Although Drexel was impressive offensively, hitting at a 46.6 percent clip and knocking down 11 three-pointers, it was the Dragons' defense that was the story. Drexel allowed just 31 points, one off a program record, and held the Tribe to a CAA Tournament-record low 11 points in the first half. William & Mary shot just 24.0 percent for the day and turned the ball over 16 times. The Dragons were able to score 23 points off those turnovers, compared to just two points off 12 Drexel turnovers for the Tribe.

The Dragons utilized their three-point shooting throughout, opening the game with treys from Wootton and Meghan Creighton. William & Mary answered both buckets, though, and Drexel led 6-5 with 15:20 remaining in the half.

From there, the Dragons' defense took over. The Tribe went scoreless for the next 5:50 as Drexel went on a 15-0 run to push their lead to 21-5. After William & Mary was able to get inside and get a bucket with 9:30 remaining in the half, the Dragons responded with the game's next seven points. Wootton had eight points during the extended run, with Mershon chipping in five and Renee Johnson-Allen adding four.

The Dragons came out of halftime and scored the first four points of the second half. Drexel built a 30-point lead with 18:03 to play when Meghan Creighton buried a three-pointer, and did not see its lead slip under 30 points the rest of the way.

Drexel's defense finished the game as strong as it started it, holding the Tribe to just three points and one field goal in the final 4:31 of play.

The Dragons will continue their run towards a second CAA Tournament championship on Saturday when they play second-seeded James Madison at 4:30 in the second semifinal of the afternoon.