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Drexel dominates La Salle behind locals Amaris Baker and Laine McGurk’s top-notch performance

Baker and McGurk combined for 39 points in a 71-46 Dragons' victory against the Explorers Wednesday night.

Drexel head coach Amy Mallon's squad notched their first performance of the season that they surpassed 70 points in a Wednesday night 71-46 win over La Salle.
Drexel head coach Amy Mallon's squad notched their first performance of the season that they surpassed 70 points in a Wednesday night 71-46 win over La Salle.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
    by Anders Pryor
    Published 

Drexel women overpowered La Salle, 71-46, behind guards Amaris Baker and Laine McGurk combined 39points at the Daskalakis Athletic Center Wednesday night.

McGurk, a freshman who graduated from West Chester Rustin, led the team with 20 points in just 18 minutes, while Baker, a product of Cardinal O’Hara who transferred in as a junior from Harcum College, finished with 19.

“Everything [McGurk] shoots up is money,” Baker said. “She knows it.”

Drexel (2-1) was coming off a dominant 65-33 win (against Delaware State. On Wednesday night, head coach Amy Mallon’s squad surpassed 70 points for the first time this season.

The Dragons built a 28-point lead, their largest of the night, with 3 minutes 51 seconds remaining in the game.

Sophomore guard Grace O’Neill was quiet offensively, finishing with three points and two assists in 29 minutes. She made up for it with her leadership and has established herself as the Dragons’ floor general.

Junior guard Momo LaClair, who had six rebounds and five assists, also facilitated and distributed the ball while O’Neill was on the bench.

Mallon watches LaClair guard O’Neill and Baker in practice and believes her development is essential to the success of the team.

“I’m really enjoying seeing her first season on the floor for us,” Mallon said. “I see the momentum, her confidence [is] growing.”

Senior Chloe Hodges added 14 points along with seven rebounds and five assists. She was productive everywhere; the perimeter, midrange area, and paint all looked comfortable to her.

Mallon plans to continue to utilize Hodges’ versatility as a weapon.

“She’s showing exactly what we were looking for from her,” Mallon said. “She’s a worker. She’s in the gym every day, and I think you’re going to continue to see her add all those pieces. I think we really need that.”

As a team, the Dragons dished out 24 assists on 29 made shots. They also nearly doubled up La Salle in rebounds (48-26), bench points (31-17), and points off turnovers (10-6).

Drexel will continue Big 5 play Sunday at home (4:30 p.m.) against St. Joseph’s.