Women's Basketball Outlasted by No. 24 Syracuse, 72-62

Saturday, December 9

Syracuse, N.Y.

6 p.m.

Drexel University

6-4

No. 24 Syracuse

10-0

Drexel

Syracuse

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Outlasted by No. 24 Syracuse, 72-62

12/9/2017 8:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For a while on Saturday afternoon, it looked like the Drexel women's basketball team might be able to pull off an upset against a ranked Syracuse team for a second consecutive year. The Dragons led by eight at the Carrier Dome at halftime and withstood an Orange run early in the second half to trail by just three late in the fourth quarter, but the No. 24 Orange managed to clamp down defensively and pull away late, defeating the Dragons 72-62.

Megan Marecic finished with 17 points, a career high, as the senior knocked down five three-pointers to help Drexel build a 41-33 halftime lead. Bailey Greenberg added 16, one off her own career high.

Tereza Kracikova played an outstanding game in the low post, netting a career-best 10 with five rebounds and two steals as she frustrated Syracuse's interior players in 27 minutes of action, also a personal best.

Hannah Nihill scored six points with two assists, three steals and a block. Aubree Brown netted seven, adding four helpers. Niki Metzel chipped in four points and Sara Woods added two to round out the scoring column for Drexel. Kelsi Lidge pulled down a team-best six rebounds and had four assists, but was held scoreless for the first time this season.

Drexel has been a notoriously slow-starting team during the early going this season, but that was not evident on Saturday. The Dragons scored four of the game's first five points, then used a 7-0 run to take a 15-11 lead late in the first quarter. They held onto that four point lead at the end of the period, leading 19-15. Greenberg scored six of those points, with Kracikova beginning to assert herself with four points, two offensive rebounds, an assist and a steal.

The game remained a back-and-forth affair with Drexel leading most of the second quarter, but Syracuse surged ahead with a 7-0 run of its own midway through the second to take a 31-28 lead. That did not daunt the Dragons, however. Drexel responded with back-to-back three-pointers from Marecic, giving her 12 points at the time, and giving the Dragons a 34-31 edge. That was just the start of a 13-2 run for Drexel fueled by Marecic and Kracikova to end the second quarter. By halftime, Marecic had 15 points – already matching her previous career high – on 5-of-6 shooting from long range. She had three of those in the 13-4 run. Kracikova added the other four points, backing down Syracuse's post players and using her wingspan to create space for some nice offensive moves.

At halftime, Drexel held a 41-33 lead. After the break, however, the Dragons were stymied offensively as Syracuse began to climb back. The Dragons were held off the scoreboard for the first 3:49 of the quarter. In the meantime, the Orange hit four of their first five from the floor including two from long range to recapture a 43-41 lead.

Drexel briefly retook the lead at 47-45 when Marecic grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back for two with 3:17 to play in the third, but Syracuse got the equalizer on its next possession and netted a three-pointer to take the lead back for good a minute later.

The Orange had five players reach double figures, led by 19 from Digna Strautmane. Tiana Mangakahia also had 16 points and 10 assists.

The teams were still separated by just three points with 4:44 to play when Mangakahia knocked down a three-pointer to push the Orange's lead up to six. Drexel trailed by five with 2:35 to play and appeared to regain possession on a steal, but it was ruled to be a kicked ball and Syracuse connected for another three-pointer on the ensuing possession, effectively ending the Dragons' comeback attempt.

The loss was the first for the Dragons in the month of December since Dec. 29, 2015 - also at Syracuse. Drexel went 6-0 in the month last year and had started this season with wins in its first three December contests.

The Dragons will be back in Philadelphia for their next game, but will have one more contest before they get back to their home court at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Drexel will head to Hawk Hill to take on Saint Joseph's at Hagan Arena next Sunday, Dec. 17, in a 1:30 p.m. tip.