Dragons Rally Falls Just Short Against Delaware

Sunday, March 13

Philadelphia, Pa.

1:00 P.M.

Drexel University

26-5,16-2CAA

#2 Delaware

24-7,15-3CAA

Delaware

Drexel

Dragons Rally Falls Just Short Against Delaware

3/13/2022 4:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – A furious 14-2 rally in the final five minutes brought the Drexel women's basketball team to the brink of an improbable comeback, but the Dragons ran out of time in the Colonial Athletic Association championship, falling 63-59 to Delaware on Sunday afternoon.

OF NOTE

Keishana Washington and Tessa Brugler were named to the All-Tournament Team. Washington averaged 22.6 points per game during the tournament. Brugler netted 16.3 points and pulled in 11.3 rebounds a contest and had double-doubles against both Hofstra and Charleston.
Hannah Nihill became the first player to appear in four CAA championship games.

BY THE NUMBERS

Washington led DU with 22 points and became just the fifth player in Drexel women's basketball history with 600 or more points in a season. It was her 15th game this year with 20 or more.
Brugler finished with 17 points and eight boards. Nihill scored 13.
The Dragons took care of the ball, turning it over just nine times, the ninth time this season the have been in single digits.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Facing a 60-45 deficit with 4:45 remaining, Drexel made a final push. A Nihill pull-up jumper followed by a pair of Washington free throws and a Brugler layup cut the lead to 60-51 in a matter of just 80 seconds.
The Dragons continued to chip away as after a Blue Hens basket with 2:30 left, Drexel continued to get to the stripe, as six free throws and a layup combined by Washington and Brugler chopped the lead to 62-59 with 37 seconds left.
Things got off to a slow start for the Dragons who were down 11-2 just more than three minutes into the game, hitting just one of their first six shots while Delaware went 5-for-6.
Trailing 16-4, Drexel found its legs, using an 11-3 run in the final 4:37 of the opening quarter, eight of the points netted by Washington, to pull within four at 19-15 after 10 minutes.
Continuing to be a game of momentum swings the Blue Hens went on top 31-23 on a three-pointer with 2:05 remaining. The Dragons had the final say in the frame, scoring eight of the last 12 points before the break including a trey from Nihill and a layup by Washington in the final minute to face just a 35-31 deficit at halftime.
The third quarter saw Delaware open up on an early run and establish a double digit lead that remained until the closing stretch for Drexel.

UP NEXT
As the CAA regular season champions, Drexel earns an automatic bid to the WNIT. The tournament field will be announced on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. with the bracket and matchups revealed on Monday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.