Dana Cornato had 13 points as the Drew Rangers closed out their 2010 regular season with a 60-48 win over the USMMA Mariners.
The Rangers improved their record to 14-11, 5-9 in the Landmark while the Mariners despite a 17 point, 16 rebound performance from Janay Weathers, finished their season 10-15, 2-12 in the Conference.
The game turned into a physical battle immediately and stood at a 2-2 stand still up until Drew Freshman, Eden Blazovic dropped in a perfect lay-up at 15:10. The Rangers stretched their lead to four, 6-2, after another Blazovic bucket but the Mariners answered quickly and tied things up at 6-6. After getting tied up at 10-10 and 12-12, USMMA freshman, Tamera Kaileh nailed a 3-pointer to give the Mariners a 3-point advantage. Ranger freshman, Brenda Kramer would score four consecutive points to put Drew up 16-15 at 6:43. Sophomore Kat Luby, took note of Kramer's excellent free-throw shooting and converted on a 1-and-1 opportunity after being fouled by Roshenda Josephs.
The Rangers extended their lead to five, 20-15, after Luby took the ball away from Josephs and finished the play with a lay-in. The Mariners hung around and came within one, 25-24, at the 2:00 mark after senior Kiersten Healy converted a three point opportunity. Sophomore Dana Cornato, scored the final six points for Drew as the Rangers took a 29-26 lead into the locker room at the half.
The Rangers picked up where they left off in the second half and quickly went up by five, 33-28, after senior Jessica Del Vecchio converted a second chance opportunity in the paint. Blazovic pulled down the offensive board on the play.
Sophomore Danielle Barber turned the heat up for the Rangers as she drilled a 3-pointer to stretch the Drew advantage to six, 36-30 at 17:32. The Mariners fought back hard again and got their next five points from junior Janay Weathers. Weathers led the Mariners with 17 points and her experience showed as she scored 11 under Ranger-pressure in the second half.
Despite Weather's numerous physical plays under the basket, the Mariners could get within reach of the Rangers. The Rangers began to stretch their lead, and went up by nine, 44-35, after another Del Vecchio deuce. The Mariners went on a 4-0 run later in the half to bring the score to 46-39, but Cornato sank a 3-pointer from well behind the arc to put the game back in the Ranger's hands. The Rangers continued their dominance of the second half after Luby followed with another three.
The story of the afternoon was Drew's free-throw shooting. The Rangers shot 76.5% from the free throw line, and finished 19-26. Drew closed out the game with four converted free throw opportunities, three from Kramer, one from freshman Rebecca Smith.
Drew defense held USMMA's leading scorer, Rebecca Grimes to just six points. Grimes, who got into foul trouble early in the half, finished the game with six points, two assists. Weathers efforts earned her a double-double, while Kaileh and Picillo would each finish with six for the Mariners.
Luby finished with nine points, six boards, Blazovic with eight points five rebounds. Barber contributed four points, four assists before exiting the game briefly due to injury. Drew's only senior Del Vecchio shined with eight points and received a standing ovation as she exited in her final game in Baldwin Gym.
The Rangers hope their 14-11 performance this season will earn them a bid in the ECAC tournament but will have to wait till next week to find out.
Official Basketball Box Score
USMMA vs Drew Rangers
2/20/10 2:00 pm at Madison, NJ
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VISITORS: USMMA 10-15, 2-12 LC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
11 Olivia Norris....... * 1-5 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 1 1 0 0 30
21 Brooke Picillo...... * 2-7 0-0 2-3 0 2 2 1 6 5 1 0 1 38
22 Kiersten Healy...... * 2-9 0-0 1-1 0 3 3 5 5 1 2 0 1 28
25 Rebecca Grimes...... * 2-10 1-5 1-2 0 0 0 4 6 3 2 0 0 24
32 Janay Weathers...... * 7-14 0-0 3-3 5 11 16 3 17 0 2 0 0 32
15 Tamara Kaileh....... 2-3 2-2 0-0 1 0 1 3 6 0 1 0 0 20
23 Emily Meehan........ 2-6 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 4 0 0 0 0 15
24 Roshenda Josephs.... 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 1 8
40 Alicen Heinrich..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5
TEAM................ 2 1 3
Totals.............. 19-56 3-7 7-9 8 22 30 24 48 12 10 0 3 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-30 36.7% 2nd Half: 8-26 30.8% Game: 33.9% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd Half: 1-4 25.0% Game: 42.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-4 50.0% 2nd Half: 5-5 100 % Game: 77.8% 0
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HOME TEAM: Drew Rangers 14-11, 5-9 LC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
01 Eden Blazovic....... * 4-6 0-0 0-0 2 3 5 3 8 0 3 0 0 20
10 Victoria Ault....... * 0-2 0-1 2-2 5 1 6 0 2 1 4 0 2 20
14 Danielle Barber..... * 1-3 1-2 1-2 1 2 3 2 4 4 4 0 1 26
23 Jessica DelVecchio.. * 4-12 0-5 0-0 3 2 5 3 8 1 4 0 0 32
44 Jessica Reid........ * 1-4 0-0 1-2 0 3 3 4 3 1 1 1 0 28
05 Katherine Luby...... 3-10 1-4 2-2 2 4 6 2 9 3 0 0 1 23
22 Ashley Logan........ 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
24 Dana Coronato....... 3-6 1-2 6-7 0 3 3 0 13 0 1 0 0 15
35 Brenda Kramer....... 1-4 0-0 5-8 1 3 4 0 7 2 0 0 0 16
45 Rebecca Smith....... 2-3 0-0 2-3 1 5 6 1 6 0 1 0 0 16
TEAM................ 3 3 1
Totals.............. 19-51 3-15 19-26 15 31 46 15 60 12 19 1 4 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 8-25 32.0% 2nd Half: 11-26 42.3% Game: 37.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-7 0.0% 2nd Half: 3-8 37.5% Game: 20.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 13-17 76.5% 2nd Half: 6-9 66.7% Game: 73.1% 2
