Women's Basketball Topped By James Madison, 73-54

Sunday, February 8

Daskalakis Athletic Center

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

14-9, 8-4

RV/RV James Madison

20-2, 11-0

James Madison

Drexel

Photo by: Ryan Samson

Women's Basketball Topped By James Madison, 73-54

2/8/2015 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel women's basketball team dropped its second-consecutive game on Sunday, falling to first-place James Madison, 73-54. The matchup of the top two teams in the Colonial Athletic Association was all Dukes as James Madison shot nearly 60 percent from the field in the first half and put the Dragons away early.

The Dragons (14-9, 8-4) failed to net 60 points for the first time in six games, dating back to their 66-51 loss at James Madison on January 18. Drexel also lost consecutive games for the first time since December 14 and 17 at Pittsburgh and at Quinnipiac. Carrie Alexander led the team with 13 points. Rachel Pearson added 12 and Jackie Schluth 10, while Jamila Thompson chipped in eight points and four assists. Kelsi Lidge also had five points for the Dragons. Precious Hall of James Madison led all scorers with 19, hitting five of seven from long range, all in the first half.

Drexel got the scoring started when Alexander whirled her way into the paint, hitting a tough jumper to put the Dragons on top, 2-0. That would prove to be their only lead of the afternoon as James Madison responded with three-pointers on its next two possessions to take a lead it would never relinquish. The Dukes would make it a 14-2 run overall, with Jazmon Gwathmey and Hall each knocking down two three-pointers, to take a 14-4 lead.

The hot shooting of James Madison continued for much of the first half. Though they finished the period 16-of-28 from the floor (57.1 percent), the Dukes were firing at a clip above 60 percent for most of the half. They also knocked down nine of their 17 three-point attempts.

After halftime, Drexel hung with the Dukes, who are still unbeaten in CAA play, but could not put a significant dent in James Madison's lead.

There were bright spots for the Dragons, who remain alone in second place after the loss. After getting to the free throw line just seven times in Friday's double overtime loss to William & Mary, Drexel hit 15 of 17 from the charity stripe on Sunday. The Dragons improved upon their CAA-best free throw percentage and are now hitting at a .782 rate from the line, a number that would have been good for the top mark in the nation heading into play on Sunday. Freshmen Megan Marecic and Sara Woods each knocked down both of their free throw attempts to aid that cause. Woods added two steals and two rebounds in her eight minutes of action.

Carrie Alexander has now reached double figures in consecutive games, hitting five of her 10 shots from the field to lead the way with 13 points. She added three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Jackie Schluth also made it back-to-back games in double digits while playing strong defense against James Madison's Lauren Okafor. Okafor, who came into the game averaging a double double for the season, finished with 11 points and just six rebounds.

Rachel Pearson knocked down two three-pointers on her way to 12 points, her career-best eighth-straight game with 10 or more.

The Dragons will now have a full week before their next game as they enjoy a bye week. Drexel will begin the second of two three-game CAA road trips when it next gets on the court on Sunday at Towson at 2:00 p.m. That game will be followed by trips to the College of Charleston and Delaware before Drexel returns home to host Elon on February 27.