Women's Basketball Tripped Up at Hofstra, 61-54

Friday, February 26

Hempstead, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

15-12, 11-5CAA

Hofstra

20-7, 11-5CAA

Drexel

Hofstra

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Tripped Up at Hofstra, 61-54

2/26/2016 9:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Drexel women's basketball team could not finish off the season sweep of Hofstra as the Dragons fell on Long Island on Friday night, 61-54. Jessica Pellechio finished with 20 points, her most as a Dragon, but the team as a whole struggled to execute offensively as Hofstra held them at bay in the second half.

The Pride led nearly the entire game, with Drexel's only lead coming after Jackie Schluth hit the opening basket of the game. Pellechio finished with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists, all highs since suiting up for Drexel at the start of this season. Rachel Pearson and Sarah Curran each scored eight, with all of Pearson's coming in the fourth quarter as the Dragons attempted to mount a comeback. Curran and Meghan Creighton had six rebounds apiece, while Creighton and Kelsi Lidge each netted five. Carrie Alexander chipped in four points and three rebounds.

Drexel shot just 32.2 percent for the game, hitting 19 of 59 attempts. Hofstra pulled away by controlling the interior, where it outscored the Dragons 30-14 in the paint. Ashunae Durant finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Pride.

The Dragons struggled collectively on the offensive end in the first half, but the same could not be said for redshirt-junior Jessica Pellechio. She scored five of Drexel's nine points in the first quarter, then knocked down nine more in the second quarter. She was 5-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-7 from long range, but the rest of the team was just 5-for-18 and 0-for-5, respectively. Pellechio was all over the place for the Dragons in the opening 20 minutes, assisting on three of the five field goals she didn't hit. She also had a four-point play, knocking down a three-pointer from the left corner despite drawing a foul, and converting from the free throw line.

Despite her efforts, Hofstra led by as many as 11 early in the second quarter and was in front nearly the entire opening half. The Pride controlled the glass, outrebounding Drexel 21-16 in the first half. Ashunae Durant had nine points and nine rebounds before intermission. Hofstra led by 10 with 1:22 to play before halftime when Sarah Curran knocked down a jumper to cut into the lead. After a stop on the defensive end, the Dragons found Pellechio open on the right wing. She stepped into her third trey of the evening to make it a five-point game at the break.

Shortly after the break, it appeared that the Dragons were on their way to erasing yet another double-digit deficit. Pellechio netted four more points and Meghan Creighton drove inside to score, making it a one-point game just 2:07 into the third quarter. However, the Dragons faltered after that. After rushing shots on repeated possessions, Drexel saw Hofstra work the ball inside and get on the scoreboard. The Pride went on a 9-0 run and held Drexel without a field goal for more than six minutes as the Pride built a 48-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Drexel came alive from long range in the fourth, but it would ultimately prove too late. Rachel Pearson knocked down a pair from the left corner to open the quarter and slash the Hofstra lead to six, but the Pride responded with five straight. After a pair of Pearson free throws, Creighton knocked down a three-pointer that made it 53-47 with 5:09 remaining.

Though they would have the ball with opportunities to cut further into that Hofstra lead, the Dragons could not take advantage. Late in the quarter they managed to climb as close as four points from the Pride, but Hofstra hit enough of its free throws and the Dragons continued to misfire from the floor as the Pride held on.

Drexel missed an opportunity to clinch the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, but still controls its own destiny for that seed. The Dragons, who now find themselves tied with the Pride in second place, hold the tiebreaker over Hofstra and can secure the No. 2 seed with wins in its final two games.

That starts on Sunday when the Dragons return home for their final home game of the 2015-16 season. Drexel will host William & Mary at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the game will be preceded by the Dragons' annual Senior Day ceremony honoring outgoing seniors Carrie Alexander, Rachel Pearson and Jackie Schluth.