Women's Basketball Hands Elon its First CAA Defeat, 57-47

Tuesday, January 6

Elon, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

8-5 (2-0CAA)

Elon

8-5 (1-1CAA)

Drexel

Elon

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Hands Elon its First CAA Defeat, 57-47

1/6/2015 8:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ELON, N.C. – The Drexel women's basketball team got a first and gave a first on Tuesday night. The Dragons got their first road victory of the season, giving Elon its first-ever league loss as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, 57-47, at Alumni Gym. Drexel got 21 points from Rachel Pearson to lead the way, with Sarah Curran adding 17 and a career-high nine rebounds in another excellent defensive team effort.

The Dragons (8-5, 2-0) moved to 2-0 in CAA play for a third-straight season. Drexel, already one of the top defensive squads in the CAA, has stepped up its game to start league play, holding opponents to an average of 41.0 points per game through the first two contests. Drexel forced 25 turnovers by the Phoenix, a season high by a Dragon opponent. Drexel committed just 10 of its own.

Drexel got the game started as it has several recent contests, with that lockdown defense. The Dragons did not allow a point for the first 2:48, and just one bucket over the game's first five minutes. Drexel forced 11 first-half turnovers, and came up with seven points off those Elon miscues while not allowing the Phoenix to capitalize on any of Drexel's five turnovers. Behind 13 points from Rachel Pearson, who hit her first three attempts from long range, the Dragons led 25-11 with 1:49 remaining in the half before Elon was able to connect on some shots, finishing the half on a 7-2 spurt to make it a 27-18 game.

Sarah Curran and Jackie Schluth were particularly impactful for the Dragons defensively, coming up with a combined 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. The duo also paired for 10 points, with Schluth contributing six in the half and Curran chipping in four. Carrie Alexander also had two steals in her fifth-straight start.

In addition to finishing the first half on that 7-2 run, Elon opened the second half with the first score of the period, just its second three-pointer of the game. That pulled the Phoenix back within six points, but Drexel had an answer. First, Curran hit a turnaround jumper off the glass. After Elon again made it a six-point game, Rachel Pearson sparked an 11-0 run with a three-pointer. It was her fourth of the game and moved her into fifth place all-time on the Drexel leaderboard in that category.

Following another defensive stop, Drexel put together one of the more impressive plays of the game when Alexis Smith turned and threw a baseball-style outlet pass to Jamila Thompson, who caught it near the three-point line, wheeled and dished it to a cutting Curran, who layed it in and pushed Drexel's lead back to double digits. The Dragons added three pointers from Curran and Alexis Smith, making it 40-23, their largest lead of the night to that point.

Although the Dragons' offense cooled over the next several minutes, their defense did not let up. Drexel's 11-0 run ended with two Elon free throws, but the Dragons did not allow the Phoenix to hit a field goal for 8:02 after Elon last got it within six points at the 17:17 mark.

Drexel's offensive troubles could have been a lot more costly had the defense not stepped up. The Dragons were ultimately held without a field goal of their own for 9:01. Elon, which had trailed by 17 when the Drexel slump started, was able only to slash the deficit to nine before Curran got a much-needed bucket for Drexel. After Elon quickly got their deficit back down to nine, Pearson stepped up with her fifth trey of the evening with 2:06 remaining, putting the Dragons up 49-37. Drexel hit eight of 10 free throws down the stretch to ice the game away.

The Dragons will return home for their next two games, starting Friday night when they host Hofstra at 7:00 p.m. Drexel defeated the Pride in the quarterfinals of the CAA Tournament last season in the last meeting between these two old rivals. The Dragons also host UNCW on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.