Women's Basketball Falters Early in 74-64 Loss to Vanderbilt

Thursday, December 3

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

2-4

Vanderbilt

6-2

Vanderbilt

DREXEL

Photo by: Gavin Baker

Women's Basketball Falters Early in 74-64 Loss to Vanderbilt

12/3/2015 9:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Despite season highs from Sarah Curran and Jessica Pellechio, the Drexel women's basketball team fell to Vanderbilt on Thursday night in the first-ever meeting between the two programs, 74-64. The loss was the third in a row for the Dragons, and snapped a two-game winning streak over teams from the Southeastern Conference, dating back to the title run in the 2013 WNIT.

The Dragons shot a season-best 47.9 percent from the floor, including 57.1 percent (16-for-28) in the second half. Curran finished with 23 points, while Pellechio knocked down 19. The duo combined for nine three-pointers, part of Drexel's season-high 11 long-range connections. Rachel Pearson added 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Those three combined to shoot 19-for-33 (57.6 percent), while the rest of the team was just 8-for-25 (32.0 percent).

Drexel took an early lead, scoring on the first possession of the game when Curran knocked down a mid-range jumper. That was followed by three-pointers from Meghan Creighton, Curran and Pellechio as the Dragons built an 11-8 lead with 3:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Commodores responded by hitting a pair of free throws, then took the lead with 1:13 remaining when Christa Reed drove inside and scored two of her 10 points. Rachel Bell would lead Vanderbilt and all scorers with 24.

The Commodores would not relinquish that lead the rest of the way, building a 30-20 halftime margin and leading by as many as 17 early in the fourth quarter. The Dragons did battle back, going on an 8-2 run fueled by a Curran trey and two free throws and a three-pointer from Pearson. That got Drexel within single digits at 59-50 with 4:55 to play. The Dragons got a stop and had a chance to cut further into Vanderbilt's lead, but missed a short jumper. The Commodores hit a pair of free throws on the other end and Drexel would not get closer than the final margin again.

Meghan Creighton dished out eight assists to lead the team for a sixth-consecutive game. She added five points. Kelsi Lidge pulled down a game-high six rebounds to go along with two points. Jackie Schluth and Tereza Kracikova each added two points apiece.

Drexel will get right back to work on Saturday as the Dragons visit Hampton for a 3:00 p.m. game. The Lady Pirates knocked the Dragons out of the WNIT last season, but are winless thus far in 2015-16.