Dragons Down Lancers for Fourth Consecutive Win

Saturday, December 11

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 P.M.

Drexel University

7-2,0-0CAA

Longwood

3-6,0-0Big South

Longwood

Drexel

Photo by: Gavin Baker / Sideline Photos LLC

Dragons Down Lancers for Fourth Consecutive Win

12/11/2021 3:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel women's basketball team got off to a hot start and maintained its lead throughout as the Dragons downed the Longwood Lancers 79-57 on Saturday afternoon.

BY THE NUMBERS

Hannah Nihill led the Dragons with 23 points and dished seven assists. The assist total makes her one of five active players across all NCAA divisions with 1,000 points, 400 assists, and 250 steals in her career.
Keishana Washington posted her second straight game with 20 or more points, netting 21 in the contest.
Kate Connolly had a season-high 14 points in the game. Tessa Brugler added 11.
On the glass, Mariah Leonard and Jasmine Valentine each set career-highs in rebounds. Leonard grabbed 16 with Valentine pulling in 10.
For the fourth time this season, Drexel placed four players in double figure scoring. It had four such games all last season.
The Dragons had a season-high eight blocks. Connolly led the way with three.
Longwood shot 1-for-19 from three-point range. Drexel has now held its last two opponents to 2-for-40 from beyond the arc.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Connolly spurred the offense early, netting the first five points of the game as the Dragons ran out to a quick 9-2 lead, going 4-for-4 from the field to get started.
The onslaught continued as the period progressed with the Dragons posting their highest scoring quarter of the year, taking a 24-14 lead after 10 minutes. Drexel went 9-for-15 in the frame from the floor including 4-for-6 from distance.
Shooting pace slowed in the second quarter as after DU posted the first bucket, Longwood went on an 8-0 run, pulling to 26-22 with 5:29 left before halftime. Drexel righted things, using a 9-0 run of its own late in the stanza, taking a 37-29 lead into the break.
The third quarter saw some sloppy play from both sides, but the Dragons were able to extend their lead, going up by 11 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Though never seriously challenged in the fourth, DU was able to put the game away at the line, connecting on all seven of its free throws in the final minute, part of a 20-for-22 performance at the charity stripe in the contest.

QUOTABLE
"Really excited about this win. You go back to the stat line again, we had 23 assists to 27 shots – that's just a coach's dream. It also shows the balance in scoring with four players in double figures. We had career-highs in rebounds with Mariah Leonard and Jasmine Valentine. You see those kinds of things happening and every game it's someone different stepping up, I'm really excited about this group." –Head Coach Amy Mallon on the win against Longwood

"We knew this team was going to pressure us a lot so everyone out on the court was an option to be a good passer today. With Furm (Maura Hendrixson) back, that was her thing last year. She's getting back into the groove, which was great to see – her making those passes, which is what we'd been missing. I'm happy for her and for everyone to be an option to make the pass." –Hannah Nihill on the Dragons' ball movement against Longwood.

UP NEXT
Drexel returns to action on Tuesday, December 14 when it hosts Yale in non-conference action. Tipoff from the Daskalakis Athletic Center is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.