Women's Basketball Rolls By Northeastern, 58-35

Sunday, January 4

Daskalakis Athletic Center

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

7-5, 1-0

Northeastern

3-8, 0-1

Northeastern

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Rolls By Northeastern, 58-35

1/4/2015 4:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel women's basketball team utilized stifling defense and timely offense to win its fourth-straight Colonial Athletic Association opener, 58-35 over Northeastern on Sunday afternoon at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Drexel had won nine straight games against Northeastern before the Huskies squeaked out a win in double overtime last February. On Sunday, Drexel left no chance of a repeat as it controlled the game from start to finish, scoring the game's first nine points and never looking back.

Carrie Alexander scored a career-high 16 points to lead all scorers, her third-straight game in double figures. She added five rebounds and two assists as the Dragons (7-5, 1-0) outdid the Huskies (3-8, 0-1) on the boards, 43-36. Jamila Thompson chipped in 10 points, one off her career high. Jackie Schluth finished a point and two rebounds shy of her first double-double, ending up with nine points and a team-best eight rebounds. Drexel also got a strong showing from its bench as Alexis Smith finished with seven points, Kelsi Lidge with five points and five rebounds and Megan Marecic chipped in four points.

The Dragons held Northeastern off the board for the first 6:31 of play, building a 9-0 lead in the meantime off a jumper by Sarah Curran, two Thompson buckets and a long two-pointer from Smith to compliment an Alexander free throw. Curran, the Dragons' leading scorer on the season, was limited to four points but pulled down a season-best seven rebounds, adding two steals and a block.

The Huskies' first points, a lay-up by Samantha DeFreese, did not spark much of a run from Northeastern as they scored just two more points over the next 5:21 as Drexel seized control for good. The Dragons' lead hit double figures when Rachel Pearson knocked down a three-pointer with 8:32 remaining to make it a 16-4 cushion. It would not get back into single figures the rest of the afternoon.

Northeastern did itself no favors by missing its first six free throw attempts as the Dragons built its insurmountable lead. The Huskies shot just 23.1 percent from the floor on Sunday, hitting just 3-of-18 from long range and 8-of-16 from the charity stripe.

Drexel did not fare markedly better offensively, firing at a 34.6 percent clip on the afternoon. However, the Dragons' defense never let down, forcing 23 Northeastern turnovers. By halftime, Drexel led 27-13.

Northeastern scored four quick points to start the second half, but then allowed 14 straight Dragon points to eliminate any doubt as to the game's outcome. That decisive run was powered primarily by the post players, with Schluth scoring five, Thompson adding four, Lidge chipping in two and Alexis Smith accounting for the other three points.

The Dragons' win opened up a busy first week of CAA action for Drexel. They will play four games over eight days to start league play. Next up is a visit to CAA newcomer Elon on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. The game will be the Phoenix's first CAA home game after they defeated Delaware 60-50 on Sunday in their league opener.