Seven bad minutes doomed Drew women's basketball to a 66-55 loss to the visiting Susquehanna Crusaders in Baldwin Gym on Friday night. The guests went on an extended run in the middle of the second half that gave them a decisive 13 point lead. Despite strong games from Eden Blazovic and Kat Luby, Drew was unable to overcome its turnovers and the Crusader opportunism in that stretch. The Crusaders won their second straight conference game to bring their overall record to 8-9, 2-4 in the Landmark. Drew fell to 10-5 overall, 2-4 in the Landmark Conference.
The Rangers jumped out to a quick 14-4 lead eight minutes into the first half on Eden Blazovic's fast break layup from Danielle Barber's assist. Susquehanna regained composure and began to chip away at the Drew lead. The Crusaders tied it up at 22-22 on Jessica Zigarelli's jumper with 4:42 left and took a 25-24 lead with 4:01 remaining in the half. Though Jessica DelVecchio gave the Rangers a short reprieve with a layup for a 26-25 edge, the Crusaders closed out the half with a 5-2 run that accounted for the 30-28 halftime score.
The start of the second half held much of the same as the lead bounced back and forth over the first few minutes. The Rangers tied the game three minutes in on Barber's steal and layup but that was as close as they would get to the Crusaders for the remainder of the game. The Crusaders sank their next five field goal attempts including a clutch three pointer from guard Erika Barron as the shot clock expired. A three point play and a layup from Jennifer Butts gave Susquehanna a 44-34 edge over the Rangers.
Kat Luby got the Rangers back to within seven with a three-pointer but the Crusaders answered with a three-point play from Ashley Watkins. Watkins shot just 3-12 from the field but was perfect from the free throw line allotting for seven of her game-high 13 points. A long three from Korey McCaffery followed and by the six minute mark Drew trailed by 12. From 17:00 to 10:00, the Crusaders outscored the Rangers 16-3. In the other 33 minutes of play, Drew outscored Susquehanna, 52-50.
The Rangers seemed to have one more run in them, but after DelVecchio's layup with two minutes left made it 57-48 Barron hit another three with time running down on the shot clock that secured the win for the guests.
The Crusader defense did a great job holding Drew's leading scorers Danielle Barber and Jessica Del Vecchio to a combined 13 points. Luby hit three three-pointers and finished with 11. Blazovic finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.
Ranger defense answered by holding the Crusaders leading scorers Jessica Zigarelli and Rachel Hughes to just 12 points combined but Watkins was there to pick up the slack along with Barron who knocked down 12 of her own. Susquehanna score 14 points off of Drew turnovers and recorded 15 off second chances, which ended up being the difference makers in the game. They also outscored the Rangers 16-7 from the free throw line.
The Rangers look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon and pick up their first conference win at home as they take on the Juniata College Eagles at 2:00pm in Baldwin Gym.
Susquehanna continues their travels tomorrow facing the United States Merchant Marine Academy at 2:00pm in Kings Point, NY.
Newspaper Box Score
SUSW vs Drew Rangers
1/22/10 5:30 at Madison, NJ- Baldwin Gym
At Madison, NJ- Baldwin Gym
SUSW 66, DREW RANGERS 55
SUSW (8-9, 2-4)
Ashley Watkins 3-12 7-7 13; Erika Barron 3-9 4-4 12; Korey McCaffrey 3-5 0-0
8; Jennifer Butts 3-6 1-3 7; Rachael Hughes 3-10 0-0 6; Jessica Zigarelli
2-6 2-8 6; Gina Palazzi 2-2 1-3 5; Samantha Jansson 2-5 1-2 5; Samantha
Cartwright 2-8 0-0 4; Nikki Schneck 0-1 0-0 0; Christina Jacoski 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 23-64 16-27 66.
DREW RANGERS (11-4, 2-4)
Eden Blazovic 5-9 2-2 12; Katherine Luby 4-7 0-0 11; Danielle Barber 4-13
1-1 9; Jessica Reid 1-8 2-2 4; Jessica DelVecchio 2-3 0-0 4; Ashley Logan
2-5 0-0 4; Jen Mateo 1-4 2-2 4; Dana Coronato 1-8 0-0 3; Rebecca Smith 1-1
0-0 2; Jana Jagodzinski 1-3 0-0 2; Whitney Mackay 0-0 0-0 0; Victoria Ault
0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-61 7-7 55.
SUSW.......................... 30 36 - 66
Drew Rangers.................. 28 27 - 55
3-point goals--SUSW 4-16 (Erika Barron 2-8; Korey McCaffrey 2-4; Rachael
Hughes 0-1; Ashley Watkins 0-3), Drew Rangers 4-17 (Katherine Luby 3-6; Dana
Coronato 1-4; Ashley Logan 0-2; Jen Mateo 0-2; Danielle Barber 0-3). Fouled
out--SUSW-None, Drew Rangers-None. Rebounds--SUSW 39 (Jessica Zigarelli 9),
Drew Rangers 36 (Eden Blazovic 8; Jessica Reid 8). Assists--SUSW 15 (Ashley Watkins 4), Drew Rangers 9 (Danielle Barber 5). Total fouls--SUSW 12, DrewRangers 24. Technical fouls--SUSW-None, Drew Rangers-None. A-74
