PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 7) ?Drexel defeated Georgia State 64-48, in a Colonial Athletic Association game Thursday afternoon at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
The CAA's number-one three-point shooting team made eight of its nine treys in the first half in today's win and their number one defense that allows 54 points a game held State below that. Drexel jumped out to a 38-18 halftime advantage with its eight treys in the opening half. State outscored the host Dragons 30-26 in the second half as they overcame their season-low 18-point first half.
Georgia State (6-15, 3-7) was led by sophomore forward Danyiell McKeller with 14 points on 7-of-9 field goals and junior guard Brittany Hollins add 12 more points for her 15th consecutive game in double figures. Georgia State held a 35-31 rebound advantage with Hollins' six leading that statistical column by one over Danielle Anderson and Shay Rawls. Hollins' four assists were also a game best for either team.
Senior guard Narissa Suber topped Drexel (12-9, 7-3) with 21 points and four treys, plus eight rebounds. Gabriela Marginean added 17 points and Nicole Hester scored 13 points for the Dragons.
“They shot well early and we didn't,” Coach Lea Henry noted. “Our young players weren't aggressive enough on defense early and we missed early on a lot of our looks on offense. The team didn't back down in the second half and we competed better. But, our inexperience showed again today.”
The game started with Drexel jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first four minutes with a pair of three-point baskets from Hester and Narissa Suber. State got its first basket at 14:55 from McKeller. As State made just one of its first 10 shots, Drexel was up 12-2 after seven minutes. At the 10-minute mark, Drexel led 15-7. The Dragons then went on a 12-2 run sparked by five points each from Marginean and Rosseel to make it 27-9 with 5:30 on the clock. Three more treys by Drexel opened a 38-15 advantage before State closed with a basket and free throw to make it a 20-point Drexel halftime lead of 38-18. Drexel shot 53 percent outside the arc and 50 percent overall in the opening half.
The Panthers will stay on the road and travel to CAA rival UNC Wilmington for a Sunday afternoon 2 p.m. game.
