Women's Basketball Locks Down in 58-35 Win at Richmond

Saturday, December 29

Richmond, Va.

2 p.m.

Drexel University

Richmond

Drexel

Richmond

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Basketball Locks Down in 58-35 Win at Richmond

12/29/2018 3:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The Drexel women's basketball team overcame a slow start with trademark suffocating defense throughout as the Dragons closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 58-35 victory on Saturday afternoon at Richmond. Drexel allowed no more than 10 points in any quarter to the host Spiders, outscoring them 39-20 after halftime to cruise to its eighth win of the season. Drexel held an opponent under 40 points for the fourth time this year, as it improved its nation-leading scoring defense to 46.0 points per game allowed.

The victory also improved Drexel to 4-0 on the road this year, matching a program record for the most wins to open a season on the road. The record has stood unmatched since the program's first season in Division I, 1982-83.

Bailey Greenberg led the way in the low-scoring contest with her second double double of the season, putting up 11 points with 10 rebounds. Aubree Brown added nine points with five rebounds, while Keishana Washington put up eight including a pair of three-pointers in a decisive third quarter. Eline Maesschaclk scored seven with four rebounds on her birthday, while Hannah Nihill added six points, five assists and four rebounds. Niki Metzel and Ana Ferariu also posted six points apiece, with Metzel pulling down six boards and Ferariu adding four with three assists. Kayla Bacon and Tereza Kracikova added two points each while Mariah Leonard chipped in a point as every Dragon who got into the game scored at least one.

Drexel never trailed in the game, but struggled mightily from the offensive end in the first half. The Dragons were just 8-for-34 from the floor in the first half, but held Richmond to a 5-for-26 showing with seven turnovers. Richmond pulled even at 13-13 with 4:53 to play before halftime, and neither team could break the tie for exactly three minutes before Maesschalck knocked down a jumper to give Drexel a 15-13 edge. That started a 6-2 spurt for the Dragons to close the half with them holding a 19-15 lead.

The third quarter again started slowly, but the Dragons soon found their shot. After Richmond scored the first two points of the half and held Drexel scoreless for more than two minutes, Maesschalck again provided the spark with a fast-break layup with 7:27 remaining in the quarter. Greenberg followed with a bucket inside, and after a Richmond timeout, Nihill scooped one up and in to make it a 25-17 game. It was 31-25 when Washington knocked down the second of her two treys in the quarter, this one from the right corner, to start a quarter-ending 8-0 Dragons run that gave them their first double-digit lead of the afternoon. A Nihill jumper and a Maesschalck three finished the run for the Dragons.

Five straight points from Greenberg early in the fourth quarter stretched the lead to 46-28, ending any realistic hope of a Richmond comeback. The Spiders would not get closer than within 15 points the rest of the way, and Drexel once again ended the period on an 8-0 run to provide the final margin.

The Dragons now turn their attention to Colonial Athletic Association action, which begins on Friday evening at the Daskalakis Athletic Center when they take on Towson. That game tips off at 7 p.m., the first of two home games for the Dragons next weekend. They will also host James Madison, which along with Drexel claimed the co-championship in the regular season last year, on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.