#7 Dragons Stun #2 Monmouth in CAA Quarterfinals, 58-56

Friday, March 15

Washington, D.C.

5 p.m.

Drexel University

17-14,10-8CAA

Monmouth

21-9,14-4CAA

Drexel

Monmouth

#7 Dragons Stun #2 Monmouth in CAA Quarterfinals, 58-56

3/15/2024 8:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Drexel women's basketball team has clinched a spot in the semifinals of the 2024 CAA Championships, after defeating the second-seeded Monmouth Hawks, 58-56. It will be the third time in four years that the Dragons have appeared in the semifinals of the CAA Championships.

BY THE NUMBERS
Four Dragons scored more than 10 points against Monmouth. Amaris Baker led the team with 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Hetta Saatman, Brooke Mullin and Grace O'Neill all checked in with double-digit performances. It is the second time this season that the Dragons received double-digit scoring performances by four players.

The Dragons kept some of Monmouth's top scorers at bay. Kaci Donovan was held to six points, while Belle Kranbuhl and Jania Hall were also held to less than 10 points. The Hawks only had one player who scored double digits.

Drexel never conceded the lead. The Dragons held the lead for over 38 minutes. Monmouth tied the game twice. Once in the first quarter when it was 7-7, then again in the fourth quarter with 56 seconds remaining.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dragons exploded out of the gates, shooting 7-for-14 in the first quarter. The Dragons also found success from deep, shooting 3-for-5. Monmouth struggled in the first frame, going 4-for-17. Baker was perfect in the quarter, going 5-for-5 and connecting on a long ball. Drexel held nine-point lead after the first 10 minutes.

The second quarter pieced together another solid performance in the second quarter, scoring 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Baker added six more points on 3-for-3 shooting. The Dragons, again, pressured the Hawks into having a rougher quarter than usual. MU went 6-for-15 and went into the locker room at halftime with a deficit of nine, 32-23.

Drexel's offense cooled off just slightly in the third quarter. The Dragons scored 14 points and were successful from long range three times. Saatman paced the Dragons with eight points on 3-for-4 shooting.

After Drexel held the lead for 37:31, Monmouth tied the game for the first time. But it did not hold for long. The Dragons took back the lead with 34 seconds remaining after O'Neill cashed in with a mid-range shot that rattled around the rim before falling. With 12 seconds remaining, Monmouth forced a turnover and had the last possession. Jania Hall, the sixth player of the year, took the ball to the basket and attempted an up-and-under but came up short, allowing Drexel to regain possession. The Dragons were able to inbound the ball and run out the clock to secure the upset victory.

UP NEXT
Drexel returns to the Entertainment and Sports Arena for the semifinals of the 2024 CAA Championships presented by Primis. The Dragons are set to face the winner of the game between the No. 3 Charleston Cougars and the No. 6 Towson Tigers. The Dragons will play their semifinal game at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.