Women's Basketball Wins 20th of the Year, 65-42 at Charleston

Sunday, February 24

Charleston, S.C.

1 p.m.

Drexel University

20-5, 12-2

College of Charleston

7-19, 3-12

Drexel

Charleston

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

Women's Basketball Wins 20th of the Year, 65-42 at Charleston

2/24/2019 2:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. – In a building that has not been kind to the Drexel women's basketball team historically, the Dragons overcame a slow start and pulled away down the stretch to defeat the College of Charleston, 65-42. Drexel (20-5, 12-2) ensured its third consecutive 20-win season and improved its winning streaks to 12 games overall and a nation-leading 14 straight wins on the road.

Drexel trailed after the first quarter for the first time in conference play, but rallied in the second quarter and never trailed in the second half. The Dragons, who won 22 games in 2016-17 and 27 last year, had never won 20 in back-to-back seasons before that, but now have stretched that to three straight years. It is the eighth 20-win season in program history and the sixth under head coach Denise Dillon.

Bailey Greenberg finished with 21 points to lead the way, adding seven rebounds. It is her ninth 20-point effort this year, making her the first Dragon with that many since Hollie Mershon did it 17 times in 2012-13. Hannah Nihill netted 13,
knocking down three of four from long range. She provided the bulk of the offense early on as Drexel overcame its sluggish start. She also had six steals and four assists as Drexel forced 22 Charleston turnovers. Aubree Brown, who recorded the second triple-double in program history in the Dragons' win at Charleston last season, filled up the stat sheet once again with 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

In all, 11 Dragons put up at least two points, a season high. Keishana Washington and Ana Ferariu scored four, Maura Hendrixson added three and Niki Metzel, Kate Connolly, Kayla Bacon, Mariah Leonard and Tereza Kracikova each netted two. Metzel had four rebounds and a block, while Leonard pulled down three rebounds.

The Dragons got off to a slow start, turning the ball over five times and going just 4-for-13 from the floor in the first quarter. Hannah Nihill knocked down a pair of free throws to keep Drexel close, but the Dragons trailed by two, 14-12, heading into the second quarter. It was the first time since Dec. 21 that the Dragons trailed after the opening 10 minutes.

Despite the slow offensive start, Drexel's trademark defense remained stout, which paid dividends in the second quarter. Drexel held the Cougars to just 3-for-12 shooting in the second quarter. Bailey Greenberg and Nihill, who added a third trey, got things going on the other end. Greenberg scored eight of her 12 first-half points in the second quarter, knocking down a three as well. In all, Drexel had five threes – nearly its season average – by halftime, with Maura Hendrixson having added one in the first quarter. Drexel took the lead on a Nihill triple with 4:52 to play in the quarter, a bucket that keyed a 10-3 Dragons run to end the half. Greenberg scored the other seven points in the spurt, capping it with a three-pointer to provide the 28-22 halftime margin.

The Dragons would not knock down another three the rest of the afternoon, but it made little difference as they began to find their stroke down low. They netted the first five points of the second half as most of the team got into the act. First, Brown drove inside for a three-point play. Then, Nihill forced a steal on the defensive end. The ball found its way to Metzel, who dished it back to Nihill who fed a racing Washington for a lay-up that led to a Charleston timeout.

The lead grew as high as 17 in the third quarter, but the Cougars knocked down three late three-pointers to make it a 10-point game, 44-34, heading into the fourth.

Drexel held the Cougars off in the fourth quarter, though, as Nihill and Metzel netted the first four points of the quarter and the Dragons never looked back. Charleston could not get back within 10 the rest of the way, scoring just three points in the final 4:37 of the game as Drexel completed the season sweep with its second 20-point win over Charleston this season.

The win improved Drexel to 3-3 all-time in Charleston, though the Dragons have now won their last two at TD Arena. The Dragons are a perfect 6-0 against the Cougars in Philadelphia in the short history between the two teams.

Drexel now returns to the Daskalakis Athletic Center for its final home weekend of the season. The Dragons host William & Mary on Friday night at 7 p.m., then take on Elon on Senior Day on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.