MADISON, N.J. (Dec. 2, 2014) – The Drew University men's and women's basketball teams look to carry their winning records forward as Landmark Conference competition begins on Wednesday, Dec. 3 against The United States Merchant Marine Academy. The men (3-2) travel to Kings Point for a 7 p.m. tip, while the women (3-1) host the Mariners in Baldwin Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
 
Drew Women Looking for 4^th Straight in Landmark Opener

Drew vs. USMMA Game Program
 
The Rangers began the season with a 78-74 loss to Clarkson University in the Rose City Classic in Baldwin Gym. Clarkson went on to win the 23^rd playing of the Classic, while Drew rebounded with a vengeance on that Sunday of opening weekend with a 92-60 victory over College of St. Elizabeth.
 
The win over their local rivals now shows up four times in the Rangers Record Book. The 92 points scored were the fourth most in school history, and the 33 field goals made is tied for eighth. The Rangers drained 10 three-pointers, which ties for sixth all-time in a single game, and their 17 steals are tied for sixth in the record book.
 
The victory over St. Elizabeth sparked a three-game winning streak on the home hardwood, featuring wins over Albertus Magnus College (68-60) and Centenary (N.J.) College (71-57). Since the opening day loss, Drew has outscored opponents by 54 points. The Rangers have been outrebounded in three of four games, but have held opponents to a 40-percent shooting percentage during the 3-1 start.
 
Sophomore guard Hannah Miller has reprised her role as the squad's leading scorer early in 2014. Her 15.3 points per contest pace the offense, with junior forward Courtney Stephens (13.3 ppg) and senior guard Breana Wilson (12.5 ppg) also scoring in double-digit averages.
 
Wilson, the team's captain, has led the ball distribution for the Rangers, totaling 24 assists through the first four games. Her 6.0 assists per game average ranks 10^th in NCAA Division III through games played on Nov. 30. The senior guard has improving her turnover numbers since committing 12 in the season opener. During the three-game winning streak, Wilson has a 2.33 assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
As a team, the Rangers lead the nine Landmark Conference teams in three categories during non-conference play. Drew is ranked first in free throw shooting percentage at .755 (45^th in DIII) and leads in scoring offense with 76.3 points per contest (36^th in DIII). Their 22.4-percent three-point field goal defense is tops in the Landmark and 55^th in the nation.
 
Ranger Men Banking on Landmark Leading Offense in First Conference Game
 
Similar to their campus counterparts, the Drew men rebounded from an opening night loss at the Rose City Classic with a historic offensive output. The Rangers broke school records with 120 points and 22 three-point field goals in a victory over Penn State Abington. The 120 points in the Rose City consolation game also set a new record for points in a game in the 30^th edition of the Classic, while the 44 field goals made tied for the most ever in school history, the 57 rebounds were the third most, and the 27 assists tied for third in the record book.
 
The victory was the first in a three-game winning streak for the Rangers that saw wins over Bryn Athyn College (84-61) and Vassar College (80-60) in Baldwin Gym before Drew dropped its first road contest at King's (Pa.) College, 74-59, last Tuesday. During the three-game winning streak, the men from Madison outscored opponents by 90 points and outrebounded the opposition by 46.
 
Junior guard Mike Klinger (17.8 ppg) leads a diverse offense made up of four double-digit scoring averages. Newcomer Kevin Herring II, a junior guard, has 14.4 ppg and is tied with Klinger for the team-lead in three-pointers with 10. Junior center Kevin-Michael Miller is the leading rebounder with 7.8 per game to go with 12.6 ppg on an incredible .769 shooting percentage, and juniors Ozan Yucetepe (12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Jason Huelbig (9.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg) round out a potent Drew starting lineup. Huelbig is second on the club with 16 assists behind Klinger's 21 (3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio).
 
The Rangers' 84.4 points per game leads the Landmark Conference heading into the league's opening day of competition. Individually, Klinger leads the Landmark with his 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, and Miller ranks first with his 76.9 shooting percentage and 3.6 offensive rebounds per game.
 
Both the Drew men and women continue Landmark Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 6 with a doubleheader at Goucher College. The women start the evening at 5 p.m. followed immediately by the men.