Washington's Career-High Leads Dragons Past Penn State

Sunday, December 18

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 P.M.

Drexel University

7-3,0-0CAA

Penn State

8-4,0-2Big Ten

OT 1

Penn St.

Drexel

Photo by: Jim Beaver/Sideline Photos

Washington's Career-High Leads Dragons Past Penn State

12/18/2022 4:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Dragons claim first win against Big Ten school since 2016

PHILADELPHIA – Behind a career-high 42 points from Keishana Washington, the Drexel women's basketball team defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions, 86-82 in overtime on Sunday afternoon.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

All of Washington's points came before the extra session, setting a new program record for points in regulation. The previous high was 40 by Gabriela Marginean on February 12, 2009 against Old Dominion.
It is the Dragons first win against a Big Ten school since beating Penn State on November 11, 2016.
Washington also became the first player in Drexel history to score 30 or more points in three consecutive games.

BY THE NUMBERS

Washington had her historic night on 13-for-21 shooting and went 15-for-18 from the free throw line. She also added four rebounds and four assists.
Hetta Saatman posted career-highs with 14 points, seven of them in overtime, and four steals.
Maura Hendrixson also scored in double figures with 11 and dished a team-high seven assists.
Grace O'Neill scored nine and pulled in six boards. Brianne Borcky delivered a career-best five assists.
For the second consecutive game, all eight players who appeared for the Dragons scored.
Drexel had 20 assists on 29 made baskets and only turned the ball over 12 times against a Penn State team that was forcing opponents into 22 miscues a contest coming into the game.
The Dragons made a season-high 23 free throws.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing by four just more than two minutes into overtime, Drexel found its spark when Saatman connected on a left wing three, cutting the lead to 80-79. It began a run of seven points in a row for the senior who followed with back-to-back layups to put Drexel on top 83-80. DU scored two more to extend the lead on a layup by Chloe Hodges with 41 seconds left.
Penn State was able to connect on 2-of-4 free throws, slicing the edge to 85-82 with 19 seconds remaining, but Hendrixson sealed the game with a make at the stripe.
Both teams shot well early on with the Nittany Lions getting out to the early 9-5 lead. Drexel responded, locking down on defense while continuing to score, using a 12-2 run to take a 17-11 lead after 10 minutes.
The second quarter started much the same way as the Dragons continued to find the bottom of the net, connecting on six of their first eight shots and opening a 37-24 lead with 2:37 to go in the frame. DU took full advantage of Penn State foul trouble in the quarter, making 11-of-12 from the free throw line.
Opening the second half, the Nittany Lions came out on fire from beyond the arc, making 4-for-5 from distance in the third quarter to close the gap to 57-53 with 10 minutes left. PSU would take a couple of brief leads in the fourth, but the Dragons were able to force the extra session by going 10-for-14 at the charity stripe.

QUOTABLE
"To get this win at home today, I couldn't be prouder of this group. We just came off the road where we had a couple of tough games that we were able to get through, but to be able to come home and show what we are able to do and keep building, I'm so proud of this team. –Head Coach Amy Mallon on the win against Penn State

"I was just ready and after that shot went in, I knew we were winning the game. I think all of my teammates were thinking: this is it, we're taking this win home today." –Hetta Saatman on hitting the three-pointer that started the game-clinching run

"We knew going into overtime they were going to double team (the guards) every chance they could get. Our big players were ready down low and made themselves an option for us to see them, give them the ball and make easy layups." –Keishana Washington on Drexel's offensive mindset heading into OT

UP NEXT
Drexel returns to action on Wednesday, December 21 when it hosts Delaware State to close out the non-conference schedule. Tipoff from the Daskalakis Athletic Center is scheduled for noon.

POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE