Drexel University Athletics
Wednesday, February 16
Philadelphia, Pa.
5:00 PM
Drexel University
vs
James Madison
Dragons Ready For Makeup Game Against JMU
2/15/2022 2:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game Info: Wednesday, February 16, 2022 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Daskalakis Athletic Center - Philadelphia, Pa.
Social Media
@DrexelWBB | @DrexelDragons
|
Opening Tip
The Drexel University women's basketball team returns home for a midweek game, hosting the James Madison Dukes on Wednesday, February 16. The game is a makeup from December. Tipoff from the Daskalakis Athletic Center is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
About Drexel
Drexel turned in an outstanding defensive effort in the middle 20 minutes of action as the Dragons downed the Northeastern Huskies 61-46 on Sunday afternoon. Keishana Washington led all scorers with 19 points in the game. After surrendering 15 points in the first, Drexel allowed just 11 points in the next 20 minutes, holding NU to 3-for-30 shooting in the second and third.
Coming off the bench, Valentine provided a spark for Drexel against Northeastern with a career-high 13 rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. It was her second double-digit game this season as she pulled in 10 caroms against Longwood. Overall, the sophomore from Odenton, Md. has 54 boards in 218 minutes of action, an average of 9.9 rebounds per 40 minutes. Despite averaging less than 11 minutes per game, she is third on the Dragons with 22 offensive boards.
For a team as defensive-minded as DU is, it may come as a surprise that Drexel is ninth out of 10 teams in the CAA in forcing turnovers, causing opponents to give the ball up 14.8 times per game. The Dragons excel, however, at making teams pay for giving the ball up, posting 15.8 points per game off turnovers. That average of 1.07 points scored per opponent turnover is second in the CAA, only trailing Towson, who sits at 1.10.
Throughout her career, Nihill has averaged 1.99 steals per game, so it was a bit under her numbers when she came away with 25 swipes in the first 18 games of the year. The last four contests, however, she has reminded teams in the CAA why she is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year with 18 steals. That this is happening in February really shouldn't come as a surprise. In her career, Nihill has 139 takeaways in 51 career games in February and March, an average of 2.73 per contest and has 28 of her 49 career games with three or more steals in those months.
Scouting JMU
James Madison enters play 11-11 overall and 7-4 in the CAA following an 87-67 setback against Towson on Sunday. The Dukes were selected to finish third in the preseason poll.
Kiki Jefferson leads the offense for JMU at 18.9 points per game, ranking second in the CAA and accounting for 30 percent of the team's scoring output. Also posting double figures is Jamia Hazell, who nets 10.1 a contest. Jaylin Carodine leads James Madison with 10.3 rebounds per game, good for second in the league. Running a lot of isolation plays, the Dukes are last in the conference in assists at 8.77 per game. Jefferson tops the squad with 40 dimes.
James Madison has done a good job clearing the glass this season, pulling down 40.9 rebounds per game to rank third in the CAA. Their turnover numbers are middle of the conference at 16.4 per game, but the Dukes have not forced many giveaways, ranking eighth in the league with a -2.14 turnover margin.
As is their norm, JMU has not shied away from the toughest competition, taking on five Power 5 schools in their non-conference schedule, including three squads within the ACC. Uncharacteristically, the Dukes are just 6-5 at home this year after not dropping more than three contests in Harrisonburg since the 2017-18 season.
2003 alumnus Sean O'Regan is in his sixth season as the head coach of James Madison and his 11th on staff overall. He enters Wednesday with a record of 128-51 in Harrisonburg, has led his teams to 20+ wins four times and advanced to the third round or later of the WNIT on three occasions.
All-Time Series
Wednesday is the 45th all-time meeting between Drexel and James Madison with the Dukes holding a 29-15 advantage. The teams have alternated win and losses in the last six contests with the Dragons claiming the most recent result, an epic 79-76 overtime victory in the semifinals of last year's CAA tournament at Elon. Washington led the way with a then career-high 35 points. Prior to that, the teams split the regular season series with both games played at the DAC.
Up Next
Drexel returns to action on Sunday, February 20 when it travels to Newark, Del. to face off against archrival Delaware. Tipoff from the Carpenter Center is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Location: Daskalakis Athletic Center - Philadelphia, Pa.
Social Media
@DrexelWBB | @DrexelDragons
|
Opening Tip
The Drexel University women's basketball team returns home for a midweek game, hosting the James Madison Dukes on Wednesday, February 16. The game is a makeup from December. Tipoff from the Daskalakis Athletic Center is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
About Drexel
Drexel turned in an outstanding defensive effort in the middle 20 minutes of action as the Dragons downed the Northeastern Huskies 61-46 on Sunday afternoon. Keishana Washington led all scorers with 19 points in the game. After surrendering 15 points in the first, Drexel allowed just 11 points in the next 20 minutes, holding NU to 3-for-30 shooting in the second and third.
Coming off the bench, Valentine provided a spark for Drexel against Northeastern with a career-high 13 rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. It was her second double-digit game this season as she pulled in 10 caroms against Longwood. Overall, the sophomore from Odenton, Md. has 54 boards in 218 minutes of action, an average of 9.9 rebounds per 40 minutes. Despite averaging less than 11 minutes per game, she is third on the Dragons with 22 offensive boards.
For a team as defensive-minded as DU is, it may come as a surprise that Drexel is ninth out of 10 teams in the CAA in forcing turnovers, causing opponents to give the ball up 14.8 times per game. The Dragons excel, however, at making teams pay for giving the ball up, posting 15.8 points per game off turnovers. That average of 1.07 points scored per opponent turnover is second in the CAA, only trailing Towson, who sits at 1.10.
Throughout her career, Nihill has averaged 1.99 steals per game, so it was a bit under her numbers when she came away with 25 swipes in the first 18 games of the year. The last four contests, however, she has reminded teams in the CAA why she is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year with 18 steals. That this is happening in February really shouldn't come as a surprise. In her career, Nihill has 139 takeaways in 51 career games in February and March, an average of 2.73 per contest and has 28 of her 49 career games with three or more steals in those months.
Scouting JMU
James Madison enters play 11-11 overall and 7-4 in the CAA following an 87-67 setback against Towson on Sunday. The Dukes were selected to finish third in the preseason poll.
Kiki Jefferson leads the offense for JMU at 18.9 points per game, ranking second in the CAA and accounting for 30 percent of the team's scoring output. Also posting double figures is Jamia Hazell, who nets 10.1 a contest. Jaylin Carodine leads James Madison with 10.3 rebounds per game, good for second in the league. Running a lot of isolation plays, the Dukes are last in the conference in assists at 8.77 per game. Jefferson tops the squad with 40 dimes.
James Madison has done a good job clearing the glass this season, pulling down 40.9 rebounds per game to rank third in the CAA. Their turnover numbers are middle of the conference at 16.4 per game, but the Dukes have not forced many giveaways, ranking eighth in the league with a -2.14 turnover margin.
As is their norm, JMU has not shied away from the toughest competition, taking on five Power 5 schools in their non-conference schedule, including three squads within the ACC. Uncharacteristically, the Dukes are just 6-5 at home this year after not dropping more than three contests in Harrisonburg since the 2017-18 season.
2003 alumnus Sean O'Regan is in his sixth season as the head coach of James Madison and his 11th on staff overall. He enters Wednesday with a record of 128-51 in Harrisonburg, has led his teams to 20+ wins four times and advanced to the third round or later of the WNIT on three occasions.
All-Time Series
Wednesday is the 45th all-time meeting between Drexel and James Madison with the Dukes holding a 29-15 advantage. The teams have alternated win and losses in the last six contests with the Dragons claiming the most recent result, an epic 79-76 overtime victory in the semifinals of last year's CAA tournament at Elon. Washington led the way with a then career-high 35 points. Prior to that, the teams split the regular season series with both games played at the DAC.
Up Next
Drexel returns to action on Sunday, February 20 when it travels to Newark, Del. to face off against archrival Delaware. Tipoff from the Carpenter Center is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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