Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
La Salle
McGurk and Baker Lift Dragons Past La Salle, 71-46
11/15/2023 8:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Standout performances by Laine McGurk and Amaris Baker carried the Drexel women's basketball team to a victory against La Salle, 71-46, at the Daskalakis Athletic Center on Wednesday night.
BY THE NUMBERS
McGurk and Baker combined had 39 points and 13 rebounds, setting career-highs in the scoring column. McGurk finished the game with 20 points, the highest single-game total of any Dragon this season. The freshman went 9-for-12 from the field and 2-for-4 from long distance. For Baker, she went 8-for-14 from the field and hit a pair of 3-pointers.
Drexel held La Salle to just .328 from the floor and just .100 from long distance. The Dragons held the Explorers to single digits to close the first half at eight.
There was only one lead change throughout the game, which came in the third minute. A layup by Chloe Hodges pushed Drexel past La Salle, 6-5, and the Explorers never caught back up. Drexel had the lead for over 37 minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a tight contest at the end of the first 10 minutes. Drexel, shooting 8-of-13, had a seven-point advantage. Baker led the Dragons in the scoring column, scoring five points. Nicole Melious led the Explorers in scoring with six buckets, shooting 3-for-4.
The Dragons held La Salle scoreless in the second quarter until the media timeout. Laine McGurk shot 3-for-5 to post seven points and give the Dragons a 33-21 advantage heading into the locker room.
The third quarter was very much like the first half. Drexel was dominant from the field, shooting 9-for-14 and was 3-for-4 from long range. Baker pieced together the best quarter of her Drexel career, shooting 5-for-6 and 2-for-3 from deep. The Explorers' offensive struggles continued in the third quarter. La Salle shot 6-for-15 from the field and went 0-for-6 from beyond three.
Drexel widened its lead heading into the first media timeout of the fourth quarter. A Laine McGurk 3-pointer with over seven minutes to play pushed the Drexel lead to 24 points. McGurk, shooting 5-for-6, poured on 11 points in the fourth quarter to help Drexel gain a 17-11 lead.
UP NEXT
The Dragons welcome another city rival to the Daskalakis Athletic Center on Sunday, November 19, as the Saint Joseph's Hawks travel to Market Street. Tipoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. and can be seen on FloHoops. It will also be the latter half of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team, who will face Queens to wrap up the Market Street Challenge at 2 p.m.
