Drexel women use balanced scoring to beat Delaware, 65-59, in CAA conference opener

The Drexel women’s basketball team’s Coastal Athletic Association title defense began in earnest on Friday, as it hosted rival Delaware at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. In a 40-minute battle that closely resembled the blueprint the Dragons followed last season, they took down the Blue Hens, 65-59.

Historically, the Drexel-Delaware matchup riles up the DAC. However, the stands largely were empty because of Drexel’s winter break.

But the product on the court did not disappoint.

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Head coach Amy Mallon and her staff challenged the Dragons (5-6, 1-0 CAA) during nonconference play, as they battled what WarrenNolan.com ranks as the 16th most difficult nonconference schedule. Drexel has struggled to find its offensive identity and entered conference play with the fifth-lowest scoring average in the CAA (60).

The Dragons seemed to buck this trend in the first half. Their first points came before the ball was tipped, as Delaware (3-8, 0-1 CAA) was assessed an administrative technical foul for failing to properly fill out the scoresheet. Amaris Baker sank both free throws, and the teams returned to center court to begin the game.

Drexel made on six of its 10 three-point attempts in the first half. The Dragons played some of their best basketball with evenly distributed shooting and their trademark defensive excellence.

Delaware’s zone press forced Drexel to work hard each time it brought the ball up the court and pass with precision to get a quality shot.

Six of the seven players that Mallon deployed scored at least five points, and Drexel shot 59.1% from the floor, including 60% from beyond the arc and held a 38-27 lead. The Dragons had nine turnovers in the half, but Delaware was only able to convert those into six points.

The second half was a different story for the Dragons. Shots stopped falling, and the Blue Hens effectively at denied Baker space. Baker, who entered the game averaging 17.5 points, was held to just 12 points on 40% shooting. .

Drexel shot 7-for-24 from the field, including 3-for-12 from beyond the arc in the second half. Cara McCormack finished with a team-high 13 points, six of which came after halftime. Delaware found more offensive success and shot 36.7% from the floor, including 40% from deep, while generating 15 second-chance points on 10 offensive boards after halftime.

The Blue Hens surged throughout the second half, cutting an 11 point lead down to one with 8 minutes, 17 second left in the fourth quarter. Chloe Wilson and Tara Cousins led Delaware with 24 and 20 points, respectively.

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McCormack and O’Neill hit back-to-back three-pointers to cap a 9-2 run and extend the Drexel lead to eight with 4:16 remaining. The Dragons were much more efficient at breaking down Delaware’s defense down the stretch to secure the victory.

“We made some really good adjustments,” O’Neill said. “We changed out what we ran against the zone, which I think was a really good move and helped us take care of the ball in the end there.”

With the focal point of their offense stifled, the Dragons earned a well-rounded victory. Of the seven players who entered the game, six contributed at least eight points. The Dragons had 17 assists on their 20 made baskets.

“You have to anticipate as you go into these games that they’re going to find ways to keep [Baker] from getting the ball, from getting easy looks,” Mallon said. “When that happens, you have to have the other players on the floor who can score and we certainly saw that from [McCormack] tonight and [O’Neill] and [Laine] McGurk off the bench. Just really happy with the overall distribution of the scoring. I think we’re going to need to continue to do that if we want to be successful each game.”