Women's Basketball Holds Off Sacred Heart, 61-54

Sunday, December 7

Providence, R.I.

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

4-2

Sacred Heart

4-3

Drexel

Sacred Heart

Photo by: Ryan Samson

Women's Basketball Holds Off Sacred Heart, 61-54

12/7/2014 3:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Buoyed by its defense, the Drexel women's basketball team earned a victory in its second game at the Brown Classic, defeating Sacred Heart 61-54. The Dragons led for most of the game, and were able to turn away the pesky Pioneers thanks to a strong defensive effort and standout offensive performances from three of the team's leaders.

Rachel Pearson, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, scored 21 points, hitting six of her first seven three-pointers for a season-high. Sarah Curran led the way with 23 points, adding seven rebounds. Both benefited greatly from the point guard play of Meghan Creighton, who dished out a career-high 13 assists. Creighton's assist total matched a Drexel program record.

The Dragons put together an excellent effort on the interior, something that also held true in their last victory over Saint Joseph's on Nov. 25. Drexel outscored the Pioneers 28-18 on the inside. Curran was the primary scorer down low, but she was hardly alone. Jackie Schluth scored eight points for a second-consecutive day, adding two steals and four rebounds. Jamila Thompson had four points and five rebounds.

Drexel also was able to create offense off its defense, outscoring Sacred Heart 8-0 in fast break points. The Dragons had scored just five fast break points all season coming into Sunday's game.

After a rough go of it offensively on Saturday, the Dragons came out shooting much better on Sunday. Led by Pearson, who hit her first three attempts from long range and finished the half 4-for-5, the Dragons shot .478 from the field in the first half, putting together separate runs of 7-0 and 9-0. Drexel was able to work the ball inside effectively, with Schluth chipping in six points and Thompson netting all four of hers. Sacred Heart came alive late, however, particularly from long range, and trailed by just two at the break, 28-26.

Curran got the second half started with a short jumper. She would dominate the second half, putting up 21 of her 23 points after intermission. After Sacred Heart took a brief 31-30 lead after two Hannah Kimmel free throws and a three-pointer by Kelcey Castro, Curran drove to the hoop and scored to put Drexel back on top. The Dragons would not trail again. Curran's bucket started another 7-0 run for Drexel, including another score from her and a three-pointer by Pearson to put Drexel on top 37-31.

Sacred Heart did not go easily. Four minutes after Pearson's three-pointer put Drexel up by six, the Pioneers had it back to a one-point game at 39-38 when Lerae Ettienne got an offensive board and a putback. Pearson responded with her sixth and final three-pointer of the afternoon, with Curran backing it up with two more buckets on the interior for the Dragons' fourth run of 7-0 or better.

Although it did not show up on the scoreboard, Creighton also did her best work in the second half. The junior had four assists and four turnovers in the first half. After the break, she was instrumental in getting Curran open looks underneath, dishing out nine more assists without a turnover. Her tenth assist, the first time she reached double figures in that category, came on Curran's layup with 11:05 to play that culminated that fourth 7-0 spurt of the game and left Drexel on top 46-38.

The Dragons came into the weekend having been away from game action for 11 days. They will once again have a good-sized layoff, this time six days, before their next outing. The Dragons will visit Pittsburgh out of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.