Drexel's Marginean breaks city scoring record

She came to Drexel in 2006 as a soft-spoken Romanian with a plethora of potential.

Four years of hard work, broken records and accolades, and Gabriela Marginean has more than fulfilled it.

Last night, the senior forward further cemented her legacy as one of the greatest players ever, surpassing former Penn star Diana Caramanico (2001) as the all-time leading Division I collegiate scorer in Philadelphia women's basketball history, notching her record-breaking 2,416th point in the first half.

"I was really honored [to break the record]," said Marginean, who came into the game seven points behind Caramanico. "I've really embraced it and I appreciate all that my teammates and coaches have done for me over the years."

Marginean, the nation's seventh leading scorer (23.1 points per game) as of games played through Sunday, finished with 19 points, and the Dragons (17-8, 11-3 Colonial Athletic Assocation) fended off Towson (13-12, 7-7), 58-52, at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

"It's an amazing accomplishment," said Drexel coach Denise Dillon, who recruited Marginean out of Mount de Chantal Academy in Wheeling, W.Va. "She's done so much for this program. She's given me a chance to coach at my best. We'll [eventually] sit down and recognize all the great accomplishments she had as an individual that will take her to the next level, but she understands right now we're about taking care of business as a team."

The 6-1 Marginean eclipsed Caramanico's mark of 2,415 points with 7 minutes, 18 seconds remaining in the first half, catching an inbounds pass from Allison Lupariello on the left block, spinning on her defender and converting a hook shot inside, springing the crowd of 918 to its feet in admiration and applause. Minutes later, public address announcer Jeff Asche made it official over the loud speaker, prompting Dillon to shake Marginean's hand.

"I just [told her] 'Congratulations,' " Dillon said. "I was just making it professional."

Marginean tied the record with a layup at the 11:56 mark. Then she proceeded to miss her next two shots before topping it.

"I didn't feel like I was forcing anything," said Marginean, whose followup comment sounded rather Americanized. "I can't make everything."

Most nights, however, she can. She has scored at least 20 points 64 times, 30 points nine times and 40 points three times, including a career-high and program-record 47 in a five-overtime win over Northeastern on Feb. 22, 2007.

Marginean entered the 2009-10 campaign with 1,854 points and now holds the all-time scoring records for Drexel and the CAA.

Michelle Maslowski (1,900 points, 2003 graduate) and Michael Anderson (2,208 points, 1988) previously held the Drexel records. Former James Madison standout Tamera Young (2,121 points, 2008) previously held the CAA scoring mark.

"I don't know if I rank them," Marginean replied on where this one stood with her other records.

Last season, Marginean guided the Dragons to their first conference title and women's NCAA Tournament berth in program history, earning CAA Player of the Year honors in the process.

With 2,428 total points, Marginean is 203 away from tying Duquesne's Korie Hlede (2,631 points, 1998) for 25th place on the NCAA's Division I women's basketball all-time scoring list.