Drexel University Athletics

26-Point Night by McCormack Advances Drexel to CAA Semifinals; Defeat Monmouth, 70-67
3/14/2025 7:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A 26-point performance by Cara McCormack propelled the fourth-seeded Drexel women's basketball team past the fifth-seeded Monmouth Hawks on Friday afternoon, 70-67, in the quarterfinals of the Credit Union 1 CAA Women's Basketball Championships.
BY THE NUMBERS
Drexel corralled 48 rebounds, which sets a program record in the CAA tournament. Drexel grabbed 40 rebounds three times in the CAA Tournament, most recently against Charleston in the 2022 tournament. The Dragons also broke the team's offensive rebound mark, pacing the previous record of 15, set against Delaware in 2018, by 10 rebounds.
McCormack scored 21 of her 26 points in the second half, shooting 7-for-13 and 4-for-7 from deep. The graduate student also went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe.
Amaris Baker and Deja Evans ended the game with 10 points on Friday afternoon. Each made five field goals, and both were active on the boards. Baker grabbed seven offensive rebounds and added two defensive rebounds to post a season-high nine rebounds. Evans grabbed seven rebounds and blocked four shots in the effort.
Evans' four blocked shots moves the sophomore to seventh in the program's career blocked shots list.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dragons and Hawks played to a 11-11 score at the end of the first quarter. The Hawks shot just a tick better than the Dragons, knocking down 4-for-16, while the Dragons made the same number on 17 shots. Evans paced the Dragons with four points on 2-for-3 shooting.
Monmouth closed the first half on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 23 apiece. Despite making four more shots than the Hawks, Drexel was bested from long range. Monmouth made five treys, while Drexel was just held to one in the first half. Baker and Evans each scored four for Drexel in the second frame.
Monmouth opened the second half on a 8-2 run, shooting 3-for-7 but scoring both shots that it took from long range. Drexel was held to just 1-for-4 shooting in the first two and a half minutes. With 5:32 remaining in the quarter, Drexel scored five points to pull within six after the deficit grew to as big as 11. The Dragons erased the deficit and tied the game with over two minutes remaining, but Monmouth ended the quarter with a three-point lead. McCormack went 4-for-7 in the third frame, scoring 11 points.
Drexel took its first lead of the second half with 2:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. A layup high off the glass for McCormack gave Drexel a one-point lead. After that, the lead was traded twice. But a three by McCormack gave Drexel a two-point lead with less than a minute to play. On the other end, Monmouth received a three with four seconds remaining by Rachel Kuhl to force overtime, tying the game at 59.
In overtime, Drexel outscored Monmouth 11-8. The Hawks started the frame with five straight points. Baker responded with a pair of layups to pull Drexel within one. After Monmouth hit a layup of its own, the Dragons responded with six straight points, to pull enough away from the Hawks to secure the victory.
UP NEXT
Drexel faces the No. 9 William & Mary Tribe in the Credit Union 1 CAA Women's Basketball Championships on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
BY THE NUMBERS
Drexel corralled 48 rebounds, which sets a program record in the CAA tournament. Drexel grabbed 40 rebounds three times in the CAA Tournament, most recently against Charleston in the 2022 tournament. The Dragons also broke the team's offensive rebound mark, pacing the previous record of 15, set against Delaware in 2018, by 10 rebounds.
McCormack scored 21 of her 26 points in the second half, shooting 7-for-13 and 4-for-7 from deep. The graduate student also went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe.
Amaris Baker and Deja Evans ended the game with 10 points on Friday afternoon. Each made five field goals, and both were active on the boards. Baker grabbed seven offensive rebounds and added two defensive rebounds to post a season-high nine rebounds. Evans grabbed seven rebounds and blocked four shots in the effort.
Evans' four blocked shots moves the sophomore to seventh in the program's career blocked shots list.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dragons and Hawks played to a 11-11 score at the end of the first quarter. The Hawks shot just a tick better than the Dragons, knocking down 4-for-16, while the Dragons made the same number on 17 shots. Evans paced the Dragons with four points on 2-for-3 shooting.
Monmouth closed the first half on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 23 apiece. Despite making four more shots than the Hawks, Drexel was bested from long range. Monmouth made five treys, while Drexel was just held to one in the first half. Baker and Evans each scored four for Drexel in the second frame.
Monmouth opened the second half on a 8-2 run, shooting 3-for-7 but scoring both shots that it took from long range. Drexel was held to just 1-for-4 shooting in the first two and a half minutes. With 5:32 remaining in the quarter, Drexel scored five points to pull within six after the deficit grew to as big as 11. The Dragons erased the deficit and tied the game with over two minutes remaining, but Monmouth ended the quarter with a three-point lead. McCormack went 4-for-7 in the third frame, scoring 11 points.
Drexel took its first lead of the second half with 2:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. A layup high off the glass for McCormack gave Drexel a one-point lead. After that, the lead was traded twice. But a three by McCormack gave Drexel a two-point lead with less than a minute to play. On the other end, Monmouth received a three with four seconds remaining by Rachel Kuhl to force overtime, tying the game at 59.
In overtime, Drexel outscored Monmouth 11-8. The Hawks started the frame with five straight points. Baker responded with a pair of layups to pull Drexel within one. After Monmouth hit a layup of its own, the Dragons responded with six straight points, to pull enough away from the Hawks to secure the victory.
UP NEXT
Drexel faces the No. 9 William & Mary Tribe in the Credit Union 1 CAA Women's Basketball Championships on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
Team Stats
MU
Drexel
FG%
.344
.368
3FG%
.375
.192
FT%
.667
.643
RB
45
48
TO
20
13
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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