Women's Basketball Clips Hawks, 76-63

Tuesday, November 25

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

3-1

Saint Joseph's

1-3

SJU

DREXEL

Photo by: Ryan Samson

11/25/2014 9:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel women's basketball team closed out the opening month of the season in style on Tuesday night, leading nearly the entire way as the Dragons defeated local rival Saint Joseph's at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, 76-63. Sarah Curran set a career high with 25 points and Meghan Creighton put together her first-career double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds, as the Dragons used a red-hot first half to build up an insurmountable lead.

The victory was the Dragons' first in the series since November 23, 2010, snapping a three-game skid against the Hawks. The win moved Drexel's record to 3-1 on the year heading into an 11-day layoff before it's next game at the Brown Classic on December 6.

Drexel came out firing on all cylanders and was able to get seemingly whatever it wanted offensively. In the early going, after Saint Joseph's took a 5-4 lead on the first of six Kathleen Fitzpatrick three-pointers, Creighton responded with a trey of her own. The pair would exchange threes yet again on the next sequence, leaving the Dragons with a 10-8 margin just over four minutes into the game.

Creighton, who threatened to become the second Dragon ever to record a triple double by finishing with seven assists, was 3-for-3 from the floor in the first half, all from behind the arc. Although Rachel Pearson and Alexis Smith each added three-pointers in the period, it was down low where the Dragons really asserted themselves.

Working smooth cuts and efficient ball movement, the Dragons were able to create wide open looks for themselves underneath. Holding a four-point lead with 7:22 remaining, the Dragons worked the ball inside to Curran, who put it up and in off the glass. On the other end, Drexel drew a charge to get the ball back, with Pearson quickly finding Kelsi Lidge on the post for two. A three-pointer was off the mark for Saint Joseph's, and with 6:29 remaining, it was Creighton feeding Lidge to put the Dragons up by 10, 32-22, forcing Saint Joseph's head coach Cindy Griffin to call a timeout.

Drexel would lead by double digits the rest of the way, making it a 17-point game after Curran knocked down a turnaround jumper to cap off the Dragons' 15-1 run at the 4:00 mark. The largest lead would come just 82 seconds before the break when Pearson drained a short jumper off a Curran assist to put Drexel on top 45-27.

In all, the Dragons shot 71.4 percent from the field (20-28) in the first half. They missed just four shots from inside the three-point arc and had 22 of their points come in the paint. Without adding 12 more interior points added in the second half, the Dragons' paint total was already more than they had amassed in any of the previous three games on the year.

As important as the Dragons' proficiency from the floor was their care with the basketball. Drexel committed just six turnovers on the evening, three in each half. The Dragons moved the ball crisply and productively, assisting on 20 of 28 made field goals with Creighton's seven helpers leading the way. Meanwhile, the Dragons forced 17 Saint Joseph's giveaways and got 19 points off those turnovers.

Although Curran's 25 points - the highest total for any Drexel player since Hollie Mershon had 28 in the WNIT semifinals against Florida on April 3, 2013 - and Creighton's double double garnered much of the attention, they were surrounded by teammates who put together excellent all-around efforts. Alexis Smith, who had provided a much-needed spark off the bench in the second half of the Dragons' win over Colgate, got her offensive game started earlier on Tuesday night, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting including 2-of-3 made from downtown. Jackie Schluth chipped in nine points, a season high and one off her career best. She was 4-for-6 from the floor, adding three rebounds. Pearson had eight points, six rebounds and six assists. The assist total doubled her previous career high, while the rebounds matched her highest total this season. Carrie Alexander provided valuable minutes off the bench, playing solid defense and chipping in three points near the end of the first half. Jamila Thompson and Kelsi Lidge each finished with four points, with Lidge adding three boards and two assists.

In all, it was a complete team effort from the Dragons as they kept their home record perfect on the season. Drexel will now enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and an extended break before their next game action, on Saturday, December 6 in the first round of the Brown Classic. The Dragons will take on St. Bonaventure in Providence at 4:00 p.m. that day.