Drexel Women's Basketball Cruises to 66-43 Win Over Seton Hall
Philadelphia -
A career afternoon by junior Tyler Hale highlighted an excellent all-around performance by Drexel as the team pulled away for a 66-43 win over Seton Hall (5-6). Hale recorded her first career double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and she also led the team with five assists and three steals. Kamile Nacickaite (15), Jasmina Rosseel (14) and Hollie Mershon (12) all reached double figures in scoring for the Dragons, who improved to 5-0 at home this season. Jasmine Crew came off the bench to lead the Pirates with 13 points and Brittany Morris added 12 points and a team-leading six rebounds for Anne Donovan's squad.
Drexel led by as much as 28 points in the victory. The Dragons outworked a sizeable Seton Hall team on the boards 41-29, which was the team’s highest total and largest margin in the rebounding category this season. Drexel also pulled in 16 offensive boards, led by four apiece from Hale and Nacickaite.
Sophomore forward Taylor Wootton did yeoman’s work in the post against the Hall’s leading scorer Kandice Green, holding the Pirate to just eight points, well below her season average. Wootton also scored nine points, and reached career highs with seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
As a team, the Dragons limited Seton Hall to 33.3 percent shooting in the game and forced the Pirates in to committing 18 turnovers.
Drexel forged a formidable advantage in the first half by using a 11-0 run to open up a 33-11 lead. Seton Hall went nearly six minutes without a field goal during that stretch and trailed by as much as 22 points before a late spurt of offense by Jasmine Crew cut it to a 38-19 Drexel lead at halftime.
The biggest threat to Drexel’s victory came in the early minutes of the second half when an 8-0 Seton Hall run spurred by threes from Brittany Morris and Jasmine Crew trimmed the Dragons’ lead to 14 points with 12:21 to play.
Wootton responded for her team by powering in a layup while drawing a foul and completing the three-point play from the line.
The play energized the Dragons and the team then found its rhythm on defense. The Dragons forced turnovers, via shot clock violation and two steals, on three consecutive Seton Hall possessions. Drexel used the miscues to open a 27-point lead after a Rosseel three-pointer added the final touch to a 16-4 run and put Drexel on top 61-34 with 5:52 in the game.
The win is Drexel’s third victory by 20 points or more this season and sets the Dragons up with a 6-1 mark heading into a span of three straight games against teams that have received votes or are ranked in the AP Women’s Basketball Top 25 poll this season. The Dragons will face Princeton, Penn State and Texas A&M during a five-game road swing.