Facing their biggest test of the season, the Drexel women’s basketball team gave the No. 8 University of Maryland its closest competition of the young season. While the Dragons never led in the game, they were able to claw within three before falling short of the victory 69-63. Leading the upset bid for the Dragons were freshmen Alexis Smith and Sarah Curran, who led the team with 16 points each.

Curran was the primary offensive contributor for the first 10 minutes of the game, scoring the Dragons’ first 11 points. Along with Curran’s great start, Smith had six points in the first half.

“They obviously have proven to be scorers for us within our system, and their ability to move and score in different ways is definitely essential to us,” head coach Denise Dillon said. “They continue to grow, and they are comfortable with their position and they are just doing what they are capable of.”

Despite Smith’s and Curran’s solid first-half performances, other Dragons struggled to find their rhythm. Only sophomore Meghan Creighton, who scored six points in the first half, had any other points for the Dragons in the first 20 minutes. After a Creighton half-court heave at the halftime buzzer, the Terrapins still led 34-23.

In the second half, the Dragons started hitting their shots, and the tempo and style of the game picked up. Three-pointers from sophomore Rachel Pearson and senior Abby Reddick brought the Dragons closer. It became a back-and-forth affair between the two teams for the rest of the game.

While the Dragons battled to within three at 60-57 with 5:36 remaining, they couldn’t get any closer. They squandered several opportunities to tie in the following possessions, and instead Maryland increased its lead to nine. Alyssa Thomas led the Terrapins with 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds; they eventually pulled away with a six-point victory.

The win was their hardest fight of the season so far, and Maryland head coach Brenda Frese acknowledged Drexel as a difficult opponent.

“That was a team that never quit, they played hard for 40 minutes. Really high-IQ team [that is] really well coached,” Frese said. “They did a terrific job; they make you pay for any type of breakdowns. We need to be in these kinds of battles to get us ready.”

This was the first time that Drexel played a top-10 team since 2010, when they lost to Texas A&M University by a score of 74-45. Despite the loss, Dillon was proud of the effort her team has shown in every game this season, including this one.

“It was a tough game, as we knew it would be. We were just outmatched in size, as we knew we would be,” Dillon explained. “The girls never quit. They continued to play, and I think this was a great learning experience for us overall.”

The game was a homecoming for Smith — who is from Maryland — and her excellent performance in no way showed the nervousness she had.

“I felt nervous about coming back to Maryland because I had all of my family and friends coming,” Smith said. “However, once I got on the court, I just calmed down and played basketball the way I know how to play. I did anything I could to get our team back in the game and get the intensity level higher.”

The Dragons will not return to the court until Dec. 4 against Colgate University, when they will try to put an end to their two-game losing streak.

The post Women’s bball comes up short at No. 8 Maryland appeared first on The Triangle.

Sophomore Meghan Creighton drives to the hoop during Drexel’s 62-52 win over Providence College Nov. 15 at the DAC. The point guard leads the Dragons with four assists per game so far this season.

In their 2013-14 season home opener, the Drexel women’s basketball team completed a 17-point comeback against the Friars of Providence College. The Dragons found themselves down by as much as 17 in the first half, but the team received a second-half surge off the bench from freshman Alexis Smith to emerge victorious over Providence 62-52.

Providence headed into the game scoring over 100 points in consecutive games, and early on they showed their scoring prowess. They jumped out of the gate to claim an early 26-9 lead on the Dragons, but then Drexel’s defense clamped down and started to cause problems for Providence. Heading into the half, their 17-point lead was down to eight. Eight minutes into the second half, the Dragons took the lead at 37-35 and never looked back.

Senior Fiona Flanagan was a constant force, defensively grabbing key rebounds when they were necessary and offensively chipping in with 11 points. Sophomore Carrie Alexander had eight points in the game, while fellow sophomore point guard Meghan Creighton had seven points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. However, it was Smith’s performance that made the difference for the Dragons in this game.

Despite Providence’s hot start, the Dragons didn’t falter or sway from what they do best, which is playing defense. The Dragons held Providence to 18 percent shooting in the second half. At that point, the only question was: Could they score enough to pull out the victory? Smith answered that question emphatically by shooting 8-14 from the field and grabbing five rebounds. For her efforts, Smith was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week.

Following the victory against the Friars, the Dragons’ next opponent was City 6 rival Saint Joseph’s University. The Dragons headed into the game against St. Joe’s after previously losing two straight against their cross-town rival. This time, Drexel could not complete another comeback against the Hawks, as St. Joe’s was able to build and hold a commanding lead and win 70-52.

The Hawks shot 54.2 percent from the field against the Dragons, and leading the way was sophomore forward Sarah Fairbanks, who scored a career-high 21 points. The Dragons had an early 13-12 lead, but an 11-0 run by the Hawks with nine minutes left in the first half proved to seal their fate. Fairbanks scored 13 of the first 17 points from the Hawks, and despite several runs made by the Dragons, they never got within 10.

The Dragons were held to 37 percent shooting on the evening, and Curran led the team with 12 points and seven rebounds. A positive from the game was a strong showing from redshirt junior Jackie Schluth, who gave the Dragons great production on both ends of the court. Schluth finished with nine points and four rebounds. For their next game, Drexel will travel to College Park, Md., Nov. 25 to take on the University of Maryland.

The post W. basketball shuts down potent Providence squad appeared first on The Triangle.

Senior guard Fiona Flanagan posts up against a James Madison University player during a March 6 game at the DAC. Flanagan leads the Dragons this season with 36 points in their first two games.

The Drexel women’s basketball team kicked off its 2013-14 season with a pair of mixed results. The Dragons opened their season against the University of Toledo in the first round of the Glass City Tournament in Toledo, Ohio.

The Dragons were led by senior Fiona Flanagan, who opened the season with a career-high 19 points. The Dragons started the game strong thanks to multiple baskets by Flanagan and sophomore Rachel Pearson, which gave them an early 12-4 lead. From then on, Toledo fought back to tie the game at 15-15. The following minutes until halftime were a back-and-forth affair that saw the Dragons head into the break with a 28-23 lead.

After halftime, the Dragons started to pull ahead of Toledo thanks to an 11-0 run led by Flanagan and freshman Sarah Curran, who was playing in her first collegiate game. Curran finished the game with seven points and three rebounds.

“Everything was a bit higher pace, but the team made it more comfortable for me, and the coaches did a good job, so I guess it was a smooth transition,” Curran said about her first game.

The Dragons eventually built a lead of 52-39 in the second half. Just when it seemed as if Drexel was going to pull away with a win, Toledo battled back once again and hit several shots to begin their comeback. With 4:30 to go, the score was 52-50, and Toledo was two points away from tying the game.

However, from that moment on, head coach Denise Dillon’s Dragons clamped down on defense and only allowed two points the rest of the game. While the team excelled on defense, it was sophomore Meghan Creighton who helped bring the game home for the Dragons on offense. Creighton hit several key shots and free throws to help close out the game for the Dragons. The final score was 65-52.

Dillon was pleased with her team’s performance against a tough Toledo team that has only lost 10 home games in the past five years.

“The girls came out ready to play; it was a pleasant surprise,” she said. “They knew what the game plan was. They stuck together and just battled it out.”

The following day, the Dragons took on Villanova University — Dillon’s alma mater — in the final round of the Glass City Tournament. Despite a familiarity with the Wildcats, the Dragons could not overcome a slow start to defeat Villanova. Villanova led for much of the game to beat the Dragons 63-52.

The Dragons received a strong performance once again from Flanagan, as she led the way for the Dragons with 17 points. Flanagan was 3-4 from three-point range and 7-9 overall from the floor. Freshman Alexis Smith scored the first 10 points of her collegiate career, all in the second half.

While the Dragons scored first thanks to a Curran basket 11 seconds into the game, Villanova controlled the pace of the game for much of the first half. Poor shooting from the Dragons also contributed to the lackluster first half, as the Dragons shot 7-23 from the field.

However, in the second half the Dragons built some momentum thanks to timely shots from senior Abby Reddick — who scored five of her six points in the second half — Smith, and sophomore Carrie Alexander. Alexander finished the game with six points. The Dragons were able to claw back within six in the second half but could not complete the comeback.

“We weren’t able to zero in on what we needed to do to make some of those stops,” Dillon said. “The inexperience, I think, really caught up to us quickly in day 2, but again, [in the] second half [we] kind of got together and recognized how can we make a difference.”

In the game, redshirt junior Jackie Schluth scored two points, her first points for the Dragons since the 2011-12 season.

The Dragons will have their home opener Friday, Nov. 15, against Providence College. This will be another early test for the Dragons, as Providence has scored over 100 points in both of its first two games.

The post Women’s bball splits in Glass City appeared first on The Triangle.

Sophomore guard Rachel Pearson looks to pass around a University of North Carolina Wilmington defender during Drexel’s 59-47 victory over the Seahawks last season.

For Drexel fans, the upcoming women’s basketball season will be one of transition. Head coach Denise Dillon returns with only two starters from last year’s campaign. The Dragons have lost 74 percent of their scoring due to the graduation of Taylor Wootton, Hollie Mershon, Renee Johnson-Allen and Nicki Jones.

But as in previous years, Dillon has done an excellent job bringing in new talent and developing players who are ready to step in and fill those holes. Drexel will be boosted this season by the arrival of three freshmen whom Dillon expects to contribute to this team.

Sarah Curran, who is expected to be in the starting lineup in the team’s opening game against the University of Toledo, is a multidimensional player who brings versatility to the Dragons. Along with Curran, freshman guards Alexis Smith, Florence Ouattara and Ashida Cooper are expected to provide a spark coming off the bench this upcoming season.

Throughout the practices and preseason, one of the players who has most impressed Dillon is sophomore point guard Meghan Creighton. “I would say Meghan has shown the greatest jump in her performance, and her mentality is what’s allowing her to do that,” Dillon said.

Creighton is Drexel’s leading returning scorer from last season, as she averaged 5.9 points per game and shot 37 percent from three-point range. She believes that her experiences last year as a freshman will help her greatly this upcoming season. Specifically, one of the ways she believes she can improve is through her shot selection.

“Last year I took a lot of threes and just gave the ball to different people on our team, but this year I realize I need to take shots on different places on the floor,” Creighton said about her improvements heading into the new season.

When Dillon asked Creighton why her mentality has changed, the point guard replied, “Because I had to; this team needed me to.” That’s the type of mentality that Dillon will have, not only in Creighton but also in any player who steps on the floor for the Dragons. Along with Creighton and Curran, the remaining three players of the starting five include sophomore guard Rachel Pearson, redshirt junior forward Jamila Thompson and senior forward Fiona Flanagan.

While Creighton has had an excellent preseason, the player to watch this upcoming season will be Flanagan. The senior averaged 5.4 points per game last season while shooting close to 40 percent from three-point range, but she will be asked to become more of a scoring threat. Flanagan has always been known for her outstanding defense, and Dillon said she expects an improved output on the offensive end, as Flanagan will now be one of the focal points on the Drexel offense.

Other returning talent includes seniors Abby Redick and Tory Thierolf, redshirt sophomore Jackie Schluth, and redshirt freshman Pandora Wilson. Aside from Wilson, all of these returning players have game experience and should provide quality depth for the Dragons this upcoming season.

Although they were picked to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association, Dillon said she doesn’t put much stock in any preseason rankings or expectations. She ultimately knows that the women she has can accomplish whatever they want by buying into a system of hard work, great defense and teamwork. The Dragons’ transition into a new era begins Nov. 9 against Toledo in the first round of the Glass City Tournament.

The post Women’s bball season begins at Toledo appeared first on The Triangle.

[media-credit name=”Ajon Brodie” align=”alignleft” width=”300″] Senior Zeynep Mafa competed in both singles and doubles at the ITA Northeast Regional Championships at Harvard University Oct. 17-21. Cornell University freshman Marisa Cusick defeated Mafa 6-0, 6-0 in the first round.

Collegiate tennis players from around the country competed Oct. 17-21 at the 2013 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regional Championships held at the Murr Center at Harvard University. Players were competing for an automatic entry into the 2013 International Tennis Academy National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in Flushing, N.Y. The Drexel tennis team sent several players to compete in the tournament.

Juniors Badr Ouabdelmoumen and Dan Koehler along with senior Skyler Davis competed on the men’s side. For the women, seniors Marcela Rosales and Zeynep Mafa, junior Nicole Pivonka, and freshman Fiorella Coria all made appearances at the national tournament.

Since they started practice back in August, Dragons head coach Mehdi Rhazali has preached competitiveness to his players. He believes that Drexel isn’t far away from competing consistently with the ranked teams of Division I tennis.

“Our players have the talent to compete with some of the best teams like Princeton and Cornell,” Rhazali said about his team’s potential. At the ITAs, the Dragons faced the very same competition their coach spoke about.

On the women’s side, Mafa took on Cornell University freshman Marisa Cusick, one of the top 35 ranked newcomers in the country, in the first round of play and was defeated 0-6, 0-6. Pivonka, who received a bye in the first round of competition, faced another highly touted freshman, Harvard University’s June Lee. Pivonka battled in a tough match but also fell 1-6, 6-1, 0-6.

“In Nicole’s match, she started flat and defensive, but then she changed her game and became more aggressive; that’s why she took the second set,” Rhazali said of Pivonka’s match. “[Lee] was really good and became more aggressive and won third set.”

In doubles, Rosales and Mafa took to the court in the first round against Katherine Flanagan and Dorothy Tang of Princeton University and lost 8-5. Pivonka and Coria challenged Brown University duo Hanna Camhi and Dayna Lang but were defeated 8-2.

On the men’s side, Ouabdelmoumen competed in the singles draw. In his first-round match, he came from behind and defeated Hofstra University’s Ari Richman 5-6, 6-4, 6-4. In his second-round match, Ouabdelmoumen played competitively against Alex Sidney of Cornell but fell late by a score of 3-6, 6-2, 3-6.

“When Badr lost the first set, he didn’t quit. He stuck to everything we have been teaching everyone all season, which is to keep fighting — and he did,” assistant coach Jaime Vazquez-Catoira said. “He won the second set, but that third set was tough. … He fought but just couldn’t get the victory.”

Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, Koehler and Davis lost to Army by a score of 8-3.

In the upcoming week, the men will take on Rider University Oct. 27 in their last team match of the season. Meanwhile, the women wrapped up the fall season Oct. 23 with a 7-0 win against Monmouth University at Vidas Athletic Complex.

The post Tennis players lose early at ITAs appeared first on The Triangle.

[media-credit name=”The Triangle File Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″] Senior Skyler Davis, pictured above, and junior Dan Koehler will form a doubles team for the Dragons in the main draw of the ITA Northeast Regionals Oct. 17-22. Davis and Koehler have been Drexel’s top men’s doubles team for the past two years.

More than 100 women will compete at the 2013 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regional Championships which will be held at the Murr Center at Harvard University Oct. 17-22. Singles and doubles champions will receive an automatic berth into the 2013 Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Indoor Championships Nov. 7-10 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Among those competing will be several members of the Drexel Dragons tennis team.

On the men’s side, only one Dragon will be participating in the main singles draw: Badr Ouabdelmoumen. The junior, a Saint Joseph’s Invitational men’s Flight 1 winner, is coming off a victory against Loyola University Maryland at the Lehigh Invitational.

Head coach Mehdi Rhazali believes that there is potential for Ouabdelmoumen to make an impact on the draw. “Badr did not play sophomore year due to an injury, and this year he has been waiting for it and been really hungry to taste the ITAs. This week he had a lot of practice and probably didn’t lose a set in practice. Anything can happen.”

Senior Skyler Davis and junior Dan Koehler will represent the Dragons in the doubles main draw. They have been the top doubles team for the Dragons for the past two years and look to continue their recent string of excellent results at the ITAs.

“Both of them have a very good net game, and their strength is positioning. … They are very mature on the court,” Rhazali said of his top doubles team. “They have played and won some pretty big matches over the summer. They play very well together.”

On the women’s side, senior Zeynep Mafa and junior Nicole Pivonka will both compete in the main singles draw. Mafa will look to improve on last year’s performance in the ITAs, when she advanced to the second round, while Pivonka will make her first appearance. Mafa and Pivonka had pivotal victories against highly touted University of Pennsylvania and University of Richmond No. 1 players this year, which bodes well for them heading into the tournament. In doubles, Mafa will team up with fellow senior Marcela Rosales.

“They have a lot of confidence and work well together,” Rhazali said. “With Marcela being out because of an injury the past two weeks, she can focus on doubles, and hopefully we’ll do better than last year.”

Mafa and Rosales will be joined by Pivonka and freshman Fiorella Coria, victors in the Flight 2 doubles draw of the Saint Joseph’s Invitational. Pivonka and Coria will have an advantage on those in the main draw because Pivonka is right-handed and Coria is left-handed. This combination will likely give them an advantage above most of the competition they will face.

While no Dragon has ever won the ITA Northeast Regional Championship, Rhazali knows that the tournament will have close competition and anything can happen.

“There are a lot of teams that get nationally ranked, but anybody can win this. For us, I don’t [just] see it as, ‘Oh, we can get to round of 16 or quarters,’” he said. “I feel that our one and two are in the same level as any girl competing in the main draw.”

“Anything is possible [because] the level is very close. Whoever is mentally tough and believes more in themselves is going to win that tournament because … most of them are at the same level,” he continued. “If you got in the main draw, there is a reason … you are a good player.”

Such is the belief of Rhazali in his players. They have worked hard throughout the summer and early on in the season; he said he hopes and believes that their hard work can pay off.

The post Dragon tennis prepares for Northeast Regionals appeared first on The Triangle.

Along with Fiona Flanagan, Meghan Creighton will be one of two returning starters for the Dragons. The guard averaged 5.9 points per game in 38 starts last season.

After watching their most recent practice, I believe that one thing is clear about the 2013-14 Drexel women’s basketball team: They are nowhere near the caliber of the team that won the Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship last year. They are a young, raw team trying to find out what type of team they can be.

After losing key players from last year, the Dragons have a void, not only in scoring but also in leadership. Taylor Wootton, Hollie Mershon, Renee Johnson-Allen and Nicki Jones are all gone, and, while she will not be asked to fill those holes alone, senior Fiona Flanagan will be asked to step up now that she is the most experienced returning starter.

Flanagan has been a steady contributor for the Dragons over the past three seasons, starting in all 36 games she played last season. Her game has been defined by her defensive skills and ability to hit shots from the outside. Flanagan finished third in the Colonial Athletic Association in three-point shooting percentage, with a 39.7 percent mark outside the arc.

Heading into the season, head coach Denise Dillon acknowledged that Flanagan’s role on the team needs to change from what it has been in previous years.

“Obviously we need her role to change a bit more; she’s looking for her shot. Besides being a great three-point shooter, she’s learned to create a shot off the dribble,” Dillon said.

Dillon said she knows what she will be getting from Flanagan on the defensive end of the court: “Her ability to guard both post and perimeter players is a must; her versatility on both ends is a must.” She continued, “She is a great competitor and has great work ethic. With so many new players she just has to remain patient and things will work [themselves] out.”

Flanagan was named a team captain for the second consecutive year and said she believes that her experience last year with a championship team will help this young team moving forward.

“It just showed us we know what we need to do to get things done, and we need to carry that over to this year,” she said.

This year, the only other starter who will be returning is sophomore guard Meghan Creighton, who averaged 5.9 points per game last season. Flanagan, who averaged 5.4 points herself, said she believes she is capable of improving her scoring, which will go a long way in determining how successful the Dragons will be.

“I’m just looking to drive and kick more and [hit] my shots,” Flanagan said.

While the senior knows that this team is different from last year’s, she said she believes that they still have the ability to accomplish great things.

“It’s still early; we are young and there will be a learning curve, but the work ethic is there and the desire is there,” she said. “It’s just a matter of figuring out the X’s and O’s right now.”

The Dragons have only been practicing for a week, and much can happen between now and their first game Nov. 9. There have been several moving pieces and parts so far for the Dragons, but if the team expects to have a successful season, the stability and improvement of Flanagan will be a big reason why.

The post W. basketball looks for Flanagan to be a leader appeared first on The Triangle.

[media-credit name=”The Triangle File Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″] Head coach Denise Dillon will see an injection of youth on the floor this year.

The Drexel women’s basketball team kicks off its new season with three freshmen who will be looking to make an impact on the team. Sarah Curran, Florence Ouattara and Alexis Smith will all make their debut for the Dragons this season.

Throughout Denise Dillon’s tenure as head coach, she has never been afraid of putting young players in the game and throwing them into the fire. This has proven effective in the past, and she hopes her strategy will continue to be beneficial.

“We always have the philosophy of throwing a lot at them,” Dillon said. “They are really taking it all in and responding.”

Smith hails from Calvert High School in Prince Frederick, Md. At Calvert, Smith was very versatile, playing every position except center. From 2011 to 2013 she was on a state champion team at Calvert. She leaves Calvert as the school’s all-time leading scorer for both boys and girls. Smith was a four-time First Team All-SMAC, Washington Post All-Met Second Team three times and was First Team in her senior season.

Ouattara is a 5-foot-11-inch combo guard from Life Center Academy in Burlington, N.J. Originally from Ivory Coast, Ouattara has been in the United States for a little over two years. At Life Center Academy she was part of a team that was ranked No. 3 in the county with a 28-3 record.

Even with her limited basketball experience, Dillon said she views Ouattara as a contributing factor on the team. However, her contribution will be limited in the early stages of the season due to an injury.

“It’s going to be a long time before she is going to be mobile,” Dillon explained. “Her season will be a learning process, first getting her healthy where she will be learning a lot from the sidelines.”

Following a long line of Dragons from Archbishop Carroll High School, Curran will join current players Rachel Pearson and Meghan Creighton as they help fill the void created by the departure of former Archbishop Carroll star Hollie Mershon.

Lindsay Genther of the Philly Comets, Curran’s club team, said this of the freshman to ESPNU: “She is a versatile, athletic forward who can hurt you both inside the lane area and take you away from the basket and shoot the three. She has tremendous hands and is able to guard post players as well as small forwards.”

During her time at Archbishop Carroll, Curran played center, power forward and small forward. The versatility is a key reason why Curran will see a significant amount of playing time this season.

“She fits well with what we do. She’s the tweener that can do a little bit of everything,” Dillon commented. “She just has that versatility to play a number of different positions. She can help fill a lot of roles we lost in past years.”

As a junior, she was a member of the state championship team and was MVP of the Catholic League the same year. A First-Team All-State and All-Delaware County member, Curran knows she can be an integral member of the Dragons.

“Whatever Coach [Dillon] needs me for, I want to do. If she wants me to box out, make a shot, whatever my team needs me to do,” Curran said about her role on the court this season.

All three freshmen will have an opportunity not only to play but also to make a big impact for the Dragons this season. The loss of key starters from last year means that there are many open positions available. Whether or not any of the freshmen will be able to earn a starting position remains to be seen, but Dillon has brought in three talented players who will be the foundation of many Drexel teams to come.

The post W. basketball freshman to play major roles appeared first on The Triangle.

[media-credit name=”The Triangle File Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″] The return of sophomore forward Jackie Schluth, pictured above, and the debut of junior forward Jamila Thompson will give Drexel depth despite the loss of four seniors.

As good as the Drexel women’s basketball team was last season, there were two players missing from the team that won the Women’s National Invitation Tournament: forwards Jamila Thompson and Jackie Schluth.

Thompson, a redshirt junior from London, missed the 2012-13 season as a result of the NCAA rule requiring student-athletes to sit one year after transferring institutions. Schluth was given a medical redshirt season after injuring her knee. Both forwards would have contributed greatly to a defense that was already one of the best in the country.

Many Drexel fans should already be acquainted with Schluth, who has played sparingly in two previous seasons at Drexel. Schluth made eight appearances in her freshman year before an injury cost her the rest of her season. In her sophomore year, Schluth played in 15 games.

Head coach Denise Dillon is confident that Schluth has recovered fully from the knee injury that cost her a whole season. “Jackie is good to go full speed ahead. It’s all about getting comfortable and finding her niche on the team,” Dillon said.

While many Dragon fans have already seen Schluth in action, Thompson has yet to step on the court for the Dragons. Fans should expect Thompson to take over Taylor Wootton’s spot in the frontcourt.

Dillon said about the loss of Wootton, “In Taylor, we lost probably the best post defender and big perimeter defender we’ve had at Drexel.”

Thompson relayed those same points but knows that she is also a very good defender. “It’s going to be tough replacing Taylor; she was great,” she said. “But my goal is just to be a major factor defensively.”

Before transferring to Drexel, Thompson spent her first two seasons at Dayton State University, where she led her team to back-to-back Mid-Florida Conference titles. During those two seasons, she earned the 2011 and 2012 Mid-Florida Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. Thompson also has international experience under her belt, as she has been a member of both the England U-16 and U-18 teams.

“With Jamila and all the experience she’s had, including at the international level, it’s all about getting her adjusted to our system and how we do things,” Dillon said about integrating Thompson into the team.

While it may seem that Thompson has it all covered on the defensive side of the ball, Dillon disclosed that during her redshirt year she was working with former Dragons defensive stopper Nicki Jones on her shot-blocking skills. Along with getting back on the court, Thompson cites spending time with her teammates as a big motivation to start playing again.

“After last year and watching how good the team did, it was tough. I tried to provide positive energy for the team, but I’m just looking forward to playing with my team and spending time with my teammates,” Thompson said of the upcoming 2013-14 season.

The return of Thompson and Schluth will help the Dragons greatly in the frontcourt and will also alleviate the losses of Jones and Wootton. While fans shouldn’t expect the same standard of production, they should be prepared for the same defensive mentality that will be instilled in them through the coaching of Dillon. Their return to court will be a welcome sight for many Dragon fans once the season starts.

The post Thompson and Schluth return for women’s bball appeared first on The Triangle.

Last season, Drexel women’s basketball coach Denise Dillon led the Dragons through a season unlike any other. There was little expectation heading into the 2012-13 season, as the Dragons were picked to finish fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association. They had lost their leading scorer, Kamile Nacickaite, and were heading into a tough CAA schedule with a freshman point guard. But led by four seniors — Taylor Wootton, Renee Johnson-Allen, Nicki Jones and Hollie Mershon — the Dragons had the best season in Drexel basketball history.

In 2013 the Dragons broke several school records and finished with a list of accomplishments. Dillon led the team to 28 wins in her 10th season with the Dragons — a program record for both men and women. Two of those victories were wins over Southeastern Conference schools, the University of Florida and Auburn University. The victories against those schools marked the first times Drexel had defeated a school from the SEC.

Along with setting a new record for victories in a season, the Dragons also captured the 2013 Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship thanks to a narrow 46-43 victory over The University of Utah. The victory made Drexel the first Division I women’s basketball team in Philadelphia ever to claim a postseason tournament title.

Along with team accomplishments, the Dragons had several standout performers throughout the season. Wootton stepped up her production from her junior year by improving her scoring by almost five points per game. Wootton averaged 12 points per game, and at the end of the season, she became the 21st player to join the 1,000 point club at Drexel. Her 16 points in the championship game gave her 1,003 points to finish her career. Wootton’s play improved both offensively and defensively as she became more of a force for the Dragons in the paint, especially after Jones went down with an injury.

Mershon had a season for the ages for the Dragons. She was named the WNIT Most Valuable Player and was a First-Team All-CAA selection. Mershon’s 19.4 points per game were good for second in the CAA and 25th in the nation. But especially during the WNIT, she elevated her game and scoring, averaging 21.2 points per game. As a result of her improved scoring performance, she became the first Dragon to score 100 points in a single postseason tournament.

Dillon came into the year looking to Mershon to lead the team, and she did so fearlessly. Mershon was a constant force for the Dragons in every single game. Whenever the Dragons needed a play to be made, she was there to make a play. Her versatility allowed her to be both a scorer and a provider on the court. In the 2012 season, Mershon was everything the Dragons needed her to be, as she led the team in points, rebounds and assists. She also became the first player in Drexel history to reach 1,600 points and 300 career assists. Mershon’s leadership was noticed not only by her team but also by her peers and other coaches around the CAA. She was the recipient of the CAA’s Dean Ehlers Leadership Award. Mershon deserves her place among the best to ever play at Drexel.

While there will be no Mershon, Wootton or defensive stopper Johnson-Allen running on the court this season for the Dragons, they will still have a strong leader in Dillon to guide them in a new era of Drexel basketball. Before the 2013-14 season opens and we get a chance to see what this new team can do, we can’t forget just how unique and special last year was. The 2012-13 Dragons were champions through and through. We were fortunate to watch them play, and they will not be forgotten any time soon.

The post New stars must emerge for DU women’s bball appeared first on The Triangle.