Brugler Double-Double, Defense Leads Dragons Past Explorers

Wednesday, November 17

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 P.M.

Drexel University

2-1,0-0CAA

La Salle

1-2,0-0Atlantic 10

La Salle

Drexel

Photo by: Gavin Baker / Sideline Photos LLC

Brugler Double-Double, Defense Leads Dragons Past Explorers

11/17/2021 9:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Behind a double-double from Tessa Brugler and clutch shooting late from Kate Connolly and Keishana Washington, the Drexel women's basketball team downed its second consecutive City 6 opponent, beating La Salle 71-65 on Wednesday night.

BY THE NUMBERS

Brugler posted her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding six blocks, two assists, and three steals. The six blocks are the most for a Dragon since Brooke Cornish had six against Northeastern on January 22, 2009.
Connolly scored 10 in the game and added eight rebounds. Eight of her points came in the final nine minutes of the contest to help Drexel seal the win.
Mariah Leonard also posted double figures with 11 points and added seven rebounds. Washington scored 10 and dished a season-high seven assists.
Making her first appearance of the year, Tori Hyduke scored eight points, all in the second quarter.
The Dragons scored 38 of their points in the paint and were +10 in rebounds.
It was the second consecutive game that Drexel placed four players in double figure scoring.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Early in the fourth quarter, La Salle took the lead for the first time in the game. Drexel battled back as Connolly hit a free throw and then a pair of jumpers to put DU back on top.
The teams traded baskets down the stretch with the Explorers taking a 65-64 lead with 1:59 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Drexel came up with a pair of clutch offensive rebounds that led to a basket from Hannah Nihill with 1:18 left that put the Dragons on top to stay.
Sealing the win, Brugler came up with her sixth block of the evening, leading to a runout and a pull-up jumper from Washington. DU then inched away in the final minute, making 3-of-4 at the line.
Drexel started off on the plus side of the ledger, scoring the first eight points of the game and held the Explorers scoreless for the first four minutes, with DU eventually going out to a 16-3 lead. La Salle started to battle back early in the second period, but eight consecutive Drexel points by Hyduke extended the Dragons lead to 31-15 midway through the frame. The period did not end well for DU, however, as La Salle scored 18 of the final 24 points in the stanza, closing to four by halftime.
The game remained tight in the third quarter with the Dragons pushing the ball down low and the Explorers firing from distance. DU recorded 12 of its 15 points in the period in the paint as it held on to a four point lead into the final 10 minutes.

QUOTABLE
"I think any time two city teams play, this is the kind of game you're going to see. We saw tonight with the action of the scoring, the battle with a rival, I'm really pleased with our team coming up with the win." –Head Coach Amy Mallon on the victory against La Salle.

"I've been in these situations in a bunch of games in the last four years, so I don't think it's anything new to me and I know that my teammates, they trust me, so that helps a lot." –Keishana Washington on her confidence at the end of games.

UP NEXT
Drexel plays on the road for the first time this season when it travels to Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday, November 20. Tipoff from Hytche Arena in Princess Anne, Md. is slated for 2:00 p.m.