Women’s Basketball Wins Home Opener Over Delaware State on Saturday, 70-47

Saturday, January 9

Daskalakis Athletic Center

2 p.m.

Drexel University

5-1,2-0CAA

Delaware State

2-4,1-1MEAC

Delaware St.

Drexel

Women’s Basketball Wins Home Opener Over Delaware State on Saturday, 70-47

1/9/2021 4:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel University women's basketball team (5-1) defeated the Delaware State Hornets (2-4) on Saturday, Jan. 9 from the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia, Pa. in the Dragons' home opener by a final of 70-47.

HIGHLIGHTS
* Drexel's defense allowed just 47 points in the victory, slightly better than the team's 48.8 points/game average, which ranked second in the nation over the squad's first five games.
* DU held Delaware State to just eight and six points in the opening two quarters to maintain a comfortable lead in the second half even as the Hornets found a bit more rhythm in the final two quarters.
* The Dragons are now winners of their last three games, outscoring their opponents 207-144 over that stretch.
* Senior Mariah Leonard matched her career high with 15 points on the day as she led the Dragons in the win. Leonard also had four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block while shooting 7-of-11 from the floor.
* Junior Maura Hendrixson also finished in double figures with 11 points behind 4-of-6 shooting including 3-of-5 from deep. She has now connected on three three-pointers in each of the last two contests.
* Junior Kate Connolly recorded eight points, a team-high six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.
* Senior Hannah Nihill had six points, five rebounds and a game-high six assists along with one steal. It marked her eighth career game and second this season with at least five points, five rebounds and five assists.
* Freshman Chloe Hodges continued to impress early in her career as she finished with seven points in nine minutes with three rebounds.
* Senior Keishana Washington (8), redshirt sophomore transfer Tori Hyduke (7), freshman Erin Sweeney (3), senior Kayla Bacon (2), sophomore Brianne Borcky (2) and freshman Jasmine Valentine (1) also contributed to Drexel's 70 points.

GAMEPLAY
Q1 /
Drexel held a 15-8 advantage after 10 minutes of action. Five Dragons had baskets in the first including Connolly and Leonard with four points each. With under 10 seconds left in the frame, Washington beat the shot clock with a three pointer to put DU up by seven at the break. Drexel held Delaware State to 4-of-15 shooting in the period.

Q2 /
The Dragons ended the second quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 33-14 lead into the intermission. Hodges scored six points in the frame behind 2-of-3 shooting and 2-of-2 from the line. Nihill was all over the floor with three assists and four rebounds in the quarter. Delaware State went scoreless over the final four and a half minutes, turning the ball over four times over that stretch. DSU only made one of its last nine attempts from the field to end the half and was 2-of-13 in the second quarter overall.

Q3 /
The Hornets outscored the Dragons in the third, 17-14, as Drexel held a 47-31 edge going into the final quarter. Kiana Coomber had 10 points in the period to lead Delaware State as she scored a game-high 16 on the day. Leonard added seven more points while Connolly hit two shots. Washington also connected on a trey.

Q4 /
With 23 points, the fourth quarter was the highest scoring period for the Dragons. DU was able to push its advantage up to 27 points with 3:20 remaining at 67-40. Hyduke led the team with seven points on 2-of-2 shooting and 3-of-3 from the line, playing seven minutes in the quarter. Hendrixson was also perfect on her two three-point attempts in the fourth as she finished with 11 points on the day. Sweeney made her third appearance for Drexel and scored her first three collegiate points with a layup and foul shot.

BY THE NUMBERS
* Drexel's 23-point margin of victory was the second highest of the year. The Dragons' five wins have all been by 10 points or more.
* Drexel shot 45.2% (28-of-62) from the floor, 22.7% (5-of-22) from three-point range 75.0% (9-of-12) from the foul line.
* Delaware State shot 30.8% (16-of-52) from the field, 36.4% (4-of-11) from beyond the arc and 84.6% (11-of-13) from the free-throw line.

NEXT UP
Drexel is scheduled visit La Salle on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

???????? ?????????????? getting that first collegiate bucket pic.twitter.com/OfEaaCXaxC — Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) January 11, 2021