Ferariu Provides Second-Half Surge as Drexel Defeats Saint Joseph’s, 60-49

Sunday, December 18

Daskalakis Athletic Center

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

6-2

Saint Joseph's

3-7

Saint Joseph's

Drexel

Ferariu Provides Second-Half Surge as Drexel Defeats Saint Joseph’s, 60-49

12/18/2016 3:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Needing a spark to ignite a struggling offense, the Drexel women's basketball team got exactly that from freshman guard Ana Ferariu, who scored 18 points in 13 second-half minutes as the Dragons came from behind to grind out a 60-49 victory over local rival Saint Joseph's. The win, Drexel's third in a row, capped a perfect 5-0 record at home in the non-conference schedule for the Dragons.

Ferariu's 18 points led all scorers as she went 5-for-6 from the floor and hit seven of her eight attempts from the charity stripe. She added four rebounds and a late steal that essentially locked up the victory. Kelsi Lidge put together her second-consecutive game in double figures, scoring 10 points and adding a career-high five steals. In all, the Dragons (6-2) had nine steals and forced 20 turnovers by the Hawks (3-7), while giving the ball away just eight times themselves.

All nine Dragons who saw time scored at least two points, though the two players in double figures marked the lowest total for Drexel in a win this season. Sarah Curran, Bailey Greenberg and Aubree Brown each chipped in six points, with Curran being held short of double figures for the first time this season. Meghan Creighton added five points, Tereza Kracikova scored four, Jessica Pellechio added three and Sara Woods registered two points to round out the Drexel scoring column.

As a team, Drexel shot just 38.2 percent from the floor (21-for-55) and hit a season-low five three-pointers. Despite the power outage from long range, the Dragons managed to compete down low with the post players from Saint Joseph's and, despite a height disadvantage, ultimately outscored the Hawks 30-28 in the paint. The Dragons' bench, which had scored just six points in the last two games combined, outscored its counterparts from Saint Joseph's 30-7 on Sunday.

Trailing by seven heading into the second quarter, the Dragons locked down defensively. Drexel held the Hawks to just five points in the second quarter, the lowest output by a Drexel opponent this season. Saint Joseph's did not net a field goal for the first 6:44 of the period and ultimately was just 2-for-9 from the field. The Dragons' offense struggled as well, but Sarah Curran edged them back in front, 23-22, with less than 10 seconds to play in the half with her first points of the game. The Hawks would hit one of their two field goals just before time expired to push back in front, 24-23.

That defensive clampdown in the second quarter set the tone for the rest of the game. Aside from Ana Ferariu, who made her first appearance with 5:33 to play in the third quarter, the Dragons never did get their offense flowing. However, after Saint Joseph's was 7-for-15 from the field in the first quarter, the Hawks went just 10-for-30 the rest of the way and did not sink another three-pointer after the opening period.

Ferariu's entrance did just what head coach Denise Dillon hoped it would, providing new life to the offense. On her first possession, she drove to the hoop and got fouled, hitting one of her two attempts. After a lay-up by Aubree Brown, Ferariu pulled Drexel back even for the first time in the second half when her runner made it 32-32 with 3:36 to play in the third quarter. An offensive foul by the Hawks gave Drexel the ball back, and Ferariu again cut to the hoop to put Drexel on top.

The score was tied as the teams came back onto the court for the fourth quarter. After Saint Joseph's scored the period's first points, Kelsi Lidge drained a three-pointer, the Dragons' first since the first quarter, to put them back ahead 41-40. More than 90 seconds ticked off the clock before the Hawks pushed back in front, but that short-lived 42-41 lead would be the final Saint Joseph's advantage of the afternoon.

With 6:13 to play, Ferariu once again drew a foul and hit both attempts from the line. After a Hawks turnover, she spotted up from the top of the key for her first and only three-point attempt, nailing it to push the Dragons' lead to four. Saint Joseph's hit one of two free throws, but Sarah Curran followed with a jumper from the lane and Bailey Greenberg capped off a 9-1 Drexel run with an aggressive drive and score down low with 3:48 to play.

Saint Joseph's made one final push after trailing by nine with 2:18 to play. Sarah Veilleux hit one of two from the charity stripe. The Hawks responded with a steal and Chelsea Woods converted an old-fashioned three-point play to cut Drexel's lead to five with 2:11 remaining. That would be as close as the Hawks would get, however, as Ferariu quickly responded with a lay-up and the Dragons held St. Joe's off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

The Dragons have three more games away from home in the non-conference scheduled before Colonial Athletic Association play begins on Jan. 2. That run starts on Wednesday when Drexel visits Lafayette for an afternoon tip off at 2:00 p.m.