Women's Basketball Stopped at James Madison, 66-51

Sunday, January 18

Harrisonburg, Va.

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

10-7 (4-2CAA)

NR/RV James Madison

15-2 (6-0CAA)

Drexel

James Madison

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Stopped at James Madison, 66-51

1/18/2015 4:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – At the end of a long road trip and in front of a near-capacity, hostile crowd at the JMU Convocation Center, the Drexel women's basketball team did not have enough in reserve against first-place James Madison, as the Dragons fell, 66-51. Drexel was able to stay within striking distance despite a slow offensive start in the first half and got back within four early in the second, but faltered down the stretch as the Dukes pulled away.

Rachel Pearson led the Dragons (10-7, 4-2) with 10 points, all in the second half, as well as four assists. Jackie Schluth had seven points and a career-high 12 rebounds, helping lead an impressive Drexel performance on the glass. The Dragons, who came into the game averaging the fewest rebounds in the Colonial Athletic Association, outrebounded the Dukes 40-38. James Madison (15-2, 6-0) not only led the CAA but was among the national leaders in rebounds and rebound margin coming into Sunday's game.

Carrie Alexander and Florence Ouattara added eight points each for Drexel. Kelsi Lidge chipped in eight, with Sarah Curran and Jamila Thompson each scoring five. Precious Hall led the Dukes with 22 points, though the CAA Preseason Player of the Year shot just 8-for-18 and 3-for-10 from long range.

The first half was played largely at the pace the Dragons would have wanted. James Madison, the top-scoring team in the CAA, struggled from the floor and was held scoreless for long stretches. Drexel forced nine Dukes turnovers, but the Dragons committed 10 of their own and started the game ice cold from the floor, hitting just four of their first 22 shots. Drexel's defense kept it in the game in the first half and the Dragons hit some shots down the stretch before intermission, but the Dukes were able to pull out to a 29-19 halftime edge.

Carrie Alexander scored the Dragons' first six points and finished the half with eight. Jackie Schluth added four and pulled down eight rebounds in the half, helping the Dragons hang tough with the Dukes on the glass. Drexel actually outdid James Madison, which came in as one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, in second-chance points in the first half, 4-3.

Coming out of the break, the Dragons appeared to have shaken off their slow start. Rachel Pearson scored eight quick points after being held scoreless in the first half as the Dragons hit seven of their first 11 from the floor to pull within four at 38-34 with 13:57 remaining. Pearson hit two three-pointers to help Drexel close the deficit. However, after the Dragons made things tight, James Madison responded. The Dukes, who shot 57.1 percent in the second half after hitting just 37.5 percent in the first, scored 10 of the game's next 12 points to build their lead back to 12, matching their largest cushion to that point.

Drexel briefly got the deficit back to eight shortly after Madison's run, but could not mount another serious threat as the Dukes remained unbeaten in CAA play.

After five days in Virginia, the Dragons will return home to Philadelphia on Sunday night. They will have one more road game before returning to action at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, however. Drexel will visit Hofstra on Thursday at noon in a rematch of a tense, 53-52 overtime loss to the Pride at the DAC earlier this month. The Dragons and Pride came into Sunday's league games tied for second place.