Drexel University Athletics
Friday, February 12
Newark, Del.
6 p.m.
Drexel University
9-5,6-3CAA
60
at
68
Delaware
15-2,12-1CAA
1
2
3
4
F
Drexel
14
12
17
17
60
Delaware
18
23
8
19
68
Women’s Basketball Nearly Completes Comeback at Delaware as Nihill Nets 32
2/12/2021 7:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEWARK, Del. – The Drexel University women's basketball team (9-5, 6-3 CAA) saw its three-game winning streak ended on Friday evening in Newark, Del. by the University of Delaware Blue Hens (15-2, 12-1 CAA) with a final of 68-60. The loss also ended the Dragons' 11-game winning streak in the all-time series with UD.
HIGHLIGHTS
* Trailing by as many as 17 points in the second quarter, Drexel managed to pull within four points in the fourth quarter thanks to a career night from senior Hannah Nihill.
* Nihill scored 13 of the team's 26 first-half points before erupting for 19 points in the second half to finish with a career-high 32 points in the loss.
* After allowing Delaware to score 41 first half points, DU held UD to just eight points in the third as the Dragons clawed back in the game.
* For her 32 points, Nihill went 13-of-28 from the floor, 4-of-9 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the line. She also had four assists, four rebounds and a steal in 40 minutes of effort.
* Freshman Jasmine Valentine put up career-high totals of six points and nine rebounds.
* Senior Mariah Leonard grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with five points.
* Junior Maura Hendrixson recorded five points and five assists. She now has 66 assists to 12 turnovers (5.50 ratio) on the campaign.
* Junior Kate Connolly finished with five points and five boards.
GAMEPLAY
Q1 /
Delaware went up early and used a 7-0 run to take a 15-7 edge over the Dragons. But Drexel responded with its own run to pull within one as Nihill scored seven unanswered, 15-14. Delaware's Tyi Skinner ended the Blue Hens two-plus minute scoring drought with a buzzer-beating trey at the end of the quarter as UD led Drexel, 18-14.
Q2 /
Between the first and second frames, Delaware used a 14-0 run, including 11 unanswered points to start the second, to take a 29-14 advantage. Washington ended the stretch with a fastbreak layup before a three-point play put UD up by double, 32-16. Nihill scored six of the last eight points for Drexel as she accounted for 13 of the team's 26 points at the half. Even though DU shot 6-of-6 over the final four minutes of the quarter, Delaware was able to match them as the Blue Hens owned a 15-point lead at the break, 41-26.
Q3 /
Nihill scored the first 10 points of the second half for Drexel to eclipse her previous career high, two 22-point totals from earlier this campaign. The Dragons turned in a 12-2 run to get within six, 47-41. To end the quarter, Delaware made just 1-of-11 from the floor and was held without a field goal over the final five minutes. The Blue Hens' lead shrunk heading into the fourth, 49-43.
Q4 /
With the first basket of the fourth, Drexel trimmed the lead down to four with 9:23 remaining. Delaware pushed it back to eight, but the Dragons kept the pressure up, cutting that figure in half again with 5:17 to play, 57-53. Late free throws helped Delaware maintain the margin and push it back to double figures with under a minute. In a play that defined the effort of Nihill's career night, she stole a UD inbound pass and immediately hit a trey with 21 seconds left, setting her new career high at 32 points.
BY THE NUMBERS
* Drexel shot 34.3% (23-of-67) from the floor, 26.1% (6-of-23) from three-point range and 88.9% (8-of-9) from the foul line.
* Delaware shot 40.6% (26-of-64) from the field, 21.1% (4-of-19) from beyond the arc and 92.3% (12-of-13) from the free-throw line.
NEXT UP
Drexel is scheduled to host Delaware this Sunday, Feb. 14 in Philadelphia. The rivalry affair tips at 1 p.m. and marks DU's homecoming game and senior day on NBC Sports Philadelphia. The matchup is presented by Barnes & Noble at Drexel University.
HIGHLIGHTS
* Trailing by as many as 17 points in the second quarter, Drexel managed to pull within four points in the fourth quarter thanks to a career night from senior Hannah Nihill.
* Nihill scored 13 of the team's 26 first-half points before erupting for 19 points in the second half to finish with a career-high 32 points in the loss.
* After allowing Delaware to score 41 first half points, DU held UD to just eight points in the third as the Dragons clawed back in the game.
* For her 32 points, Nihill went 13-of-28 from the floor, 4-of-9 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the line. She also had four assists, four rebounds and a steal in 40 minutes of effort.
* Freshman Jasmine Valentine put up career-high totals of six points and nine rebounds.
* Senior Mariah Leonard grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with five points.
* Junior Maura Hendrixson recorded five points and five assists. She now has 66 assists to 12 turnovers (5.50 ratio) on the campaign.
* Junior Kate Connolly finished with five points and five boards.
GAMEPLAY
Q1 /
Delaware went up early and used a 7-0 run to take a 15-7 edge over the Dragons. But Drexel responded with its own run to pull within one as Nihill scored seven unanswered, 15-14. Delaware's Tyi Skinner ended the Blue Hens two-plus minute scoring drought with a buzzer-beating trey at the end of the quarter as UD led Drexel, 18-14.
Q2 /
Between the first and second frames, Delaware used a 14-0 run, including 11 unanswered points to start the second, to take a 29-14 advantage. Washington ended the stretch with a fastbreak layup before a three-point play put UD up by double, 32-16. Nihill scored six of the last eight points for Drexel as she accounted for 13 of the team's 26 points at the half. Even though DU shot 6-of-6 over the final four minutes of the quarter, Delaware was able to match them as the Blue Hens owned a 15-point lead at the break, 41-26.
Q3 /
Nihill scored the first 10 points of the second half for Drexel to eclipse her previous career high, two 22-point totals from earlier this campaign. The Dragons turned in a 12-2 run to get within six, 47-41. To end the quarter, Delaware made just 1-of-11 from the floor and was held without a field goal over the final five minutes. The Blue Hens' lead shrunk heading into the fourth, 49-43.
Q4 /
With the first basket of the fourth, Drexel trimmed the lead down to four with 9:23 remaining. Delaware pushed it back to eight, but the Dragons kept the pressure up, cutting that figure in half again with 5:17 to play, 57-53. Late free throws helped Delaware maintain the margin and push it back to double figures with under a minute. In a play that defined the effort of Nihill's career night, she stole a UD inbound pass and immediately hit a trey with 21 seconds left, setting her new career high at 32 points.
BY THE NUMBERS
* Drexel shot 34.3% (23-of-67) from the floor, 26.1% (6-of-23) from three-point range and 88.9% (8-of-9) from the foul line.
* Delaware shot 40.6% (26-of-64) from the field, 21.1% (4-of-19) from beyond the arc and 92.3% (12-of-13) from the free-throw line.
NEXT UP
Drexel is scheduled to host Delaware this Sunday, Feb. 14 in Philadelphia. The rivalry affair tips at 1 p.m. and marks DU's homecoming game and senior day on NBC Sports Philadelphia. The matchup is presented by Barnes & Noble at Drexel University.
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— Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) February 13, 2021
Hannah Nihill's coming off a 3??2??-point game at Delaware.
The Dragons and Blue Hens meet again tomorrow at 1??PM on NBC Sports Philadelphia for DU's Homecoming, presented by Barnes & Noble College. pic.twitter.com/9e7k47zNzh
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3??2?? points
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Credit: Mark Campbell / https://t.co/j4M39v387T pic.twitter.com/YisYY4DK9x— Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) February 13, 2021
Hannah Nihill was all over the floor at Delaware on Friday.
The Dragons and Blue Hens meet at the DAC this Sunday for a 1??PM tip on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Homecoming and Senior Day for Drexel. pic.twitter.com/QYfFddadNp— Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) February 13, 2021
Not going down without a fight. Hannah Nihill now up to 32 points after that steal and three-pointer. pic.twitter.com/nH4NU3SRxL— Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) February 13, 2021
Nihill's easiest two points of the night. Assist goes to Hendrixson. pic.twitter.com/bwK4wkekkB— Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) February 13, 2021
Nihill finds Leonard. pic.twitter.com/FMDSCM0s9f— Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) February 13, 2021
Team Stats
Drexel
UD
FG%
.343
.406
3FG%
.261
.211
FT%
.889
.923
RB
36
48
TO
8
14
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
32
FGM
13
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
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