Turnovers Doom Women's Basketball in 74-47 Loss at James Madison

Thursday, January 23

Harrisonburg, Va.

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

8-9, 3-1CAA

James Madison

14-4, 4-0CAA

Drexel

James Madison

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Turnovers Doom Women's Basketball in 74-47 Loss at James Madison

1/23/2014 9:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Cold shooting and costly turnovers cost the Drexel women's basketball team on Thursday night at James Madison, as the Dragons came up short in their bid to be the last Colonial Athletic Association team standing with an unblemished conference record. Instead, it was the host Dukes that came away from the contest 4-0 in league play, as they handed the Dragons a 74-47 defeat.

The Dragons (8-9, 3-1), who had overcome double-digit deficits to win their last two trips to Harrisonburg, could not replicate that feat on Thursday as James Madison's senior guards proved too much for the Dragons. Drexel missed nine of its first 10 three-point attempts, and finished the day with 17 turnovers, while forcing just eight by the Dukes (14-4, 4-0).

Alexis Smith finished with 13 points to lead the Dragons, the only Drexel player to reach double figures. Jamila Thompson added a career-best eight, while Abby Redick and Sarah Curran finished with seven points apiece. Redick also had seven rebounds on the evening. All five James Madison starters reached double figures, paced by Precious Hall's 16. Kirby Burkholder and Nikki Newman, senior leaders for the Dukes, had 14 points and seven rebounds each, with Newman adding seven assists and three steals.

The senior leadership for James Madison was on display in the first half, forcing an uncharacteristic 11 Drexel turnovers, while not giving the ball away themselves once in the period. Although the Dragons did not shoot poorly in the first half, finishing 10-of-22 from the floor (45.5 percent), the Colonial Athletic Association's leader in three pointers made per game was not able to get started from outside, going just 1-for-7 (14.3 percent) from long range. That, combined with the giveaways – many of which were essentially unforced – left Drexel trailing 40-22 at the break. Newman had 11 of her 14 points at the intermission, while Preseason CAA Player of the Year Burkholder chipped in seven.

Down by 18 at the break, the Dragons essentially sealed their fate then they missed their first nine field goal attempts of the second half. Aside from three free throws, Meghan Creighton's three-pointer with 12:04 to play represented the first points for the Dragons in the period, and made the score 54-28. That would prove to be the first of two seven-plus minute field goal droughts for Drexel in the second half, as they went without a bucket from the 10:27 mark to the 2:56 point as James Madison turned a 58-34 lead into a 66-36 margin.

Thursday's game concluded a three-game road swing for Drexel. The Dragons will now return home for their next contest on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. against Northeastern as part of Homecoming weekend. That game will be the first of three straight at home for the Dragons over the next eight days.