Dragons Enjoy Banner Celebration Before Win Against SJU

Friday, November 12

Philadelphia, Pa.

8:00 P.M.

Drexel University

1-1,0-0CAA

Saint Joseph's

1-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Saint Joseph's

Drexel

Photo by: Gavin Baker / Sideline Photos LLC

Dragons Enjoy Banner Celebration Before Win Against SJU

11/12/2021 10:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Following a pregame ceremony celebrating the 2021 CAA Championship, the Drexel women's basketball team got off to a hot start and never looked back as the Dragons downed City 6 rival Saint Joseph's 63-55 on Friday night.

BY THE NUMBERS

Tessa Brugler led Drexel with 19 points in the game, 15 of them in the second quarter.
Mariah Leonard scored 14 and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.
Keishana Washington and Hannah Nihill each posted double figure scoring with 12 and 10 respectively. Nihill added five assists while Washington came away with four steals.
Kate Connolly chipped in with seven boards and a couple of clutch free throws in the final minute.
It was the first time DU had four players score 10 or more in a game since January 30, 2021 at Northeastern.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Washington started the game hot, scoring the first three baskets for the Dragons. Joining the offensive attack was Leonard, who scored four as Drexel posted a 10-6 lead at the first media timeout.
The offense continued to flow throughout the remainder of the first period as DU shot 8-for-15 from the floor, taking an 18-12 advantage after 10 minutes.
Drexel took control throughout the second period, outscoring the Hawks 22-11 in the frame to take a 40-23 lead at halftime. Brugler keyed the quarter for the Dragons, scoring 15 on her way to 17 first half points.
The momentum started to shift in the early portion of the third as Saint Joseph's clawed back to trail by 13, but a bucket by Washington slowed the surge. Not stopping there, Washington came up with steals on back-to-back defensive sets, leading to a basket of her own and one for Leonard, extending DU to its largest lead of the night to that point at 52-33.
Things got tense as the fourth quarter moved into its waning moments, as the Hawks cut the Drexel lead to six with just more than a minute remaining. Unfazed, DU went 4-for-4 down the stretch at the line to seal the win.

QUOTABLE
"I'm just really excited about this win for our team. You look at the stat sheet and see four players in double figures; as a coach, that's exactly what you want to see." –Head Coach Amy Mallon on the win against Saint Joseph's

"I think my teammates have done a good job and the coaches have done a good job of making me feel welcome, throwing me in there, and realizing that I can catch on to things pretty fast. I think they have done a good job of making me feel comfortable and using me to my strengths and it's overall helped our team." –Tessa Brugler on joining an experienced team.

UP NEXT
Drexel concludes its opening three-game homestand with its second consecutive City 6 opponent, hosting La Salle on Wednesday, November 17. Opening tipoff from the Daskalakis Athletic Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.