MADISON, N.J. (Nov. 27, 2016) – The Drew University women's basketball team used a 16-3 run in the final four minutes to defeat Wesleyan (Conn.) University, 71-61, on Sunday afternoon in non-conference play.
By the Numbers: The Rangers improve to 2-2 overall while winning their first game in Baldwin Gymnasium. The Cardinals fall to 1-3 with their third straight loss.
Top Performers: Senior guard
Hannah Miller turned in her second straight prolific performance on the offensive side of the ball, scoring 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting with four 3-pointers, four rebounds, three assists and a 7-of-8 mark from the free throw line. Senior forward
Sam Lane added 15 points and a team-high six rebounds, while junior point guard
Michaela Keegan produced a well-rounded line of 10 points, four boards and three assists.
Turning Point: The back-and-forth nature of the game produced nine tie scores and six lead changes. Wesleyan's last lead came with 4:09 to play on a three-pointer to put the Cardinals up 58-55. Lane tied the game on Drew's next possession with one of her two triples on Sunday. That long-range basket, immediately followed by a charging layup by Lane, sparked a 13-0 run to put the Rangers up for good. Miller completed a three-point play, senior forward
Ryan Jackson hit a jumper and junior center
Ally Raulf nailed two free throws for the 68-58 lead with under a minute to play.
Highlights
• The Rangers' first 10-point lead came early in the contest. A 7-0 run capped by a Miller trey saw Drew up 14-4 just six minutes into the game.
•
Ally Raulf sank a layup with seven seconds left in the first quarter to hault a 5-0 Cardinals run and send the Rangers to the second period up 19-14.
• Wesleyan used the three-pointer to creep back in the second period, hitting 3-of-5 and eventually taking a five-point lead with 3:07 before halftime. The Cardinals took a 31-28 advantage into intermission by making a layup at the buzzer.
• Sophomore guard
Hailey Stine (8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) started the third with a good three-pointer to tie the game.
• The Cardinals used a 9-1 run to take a 43-36 lead with 2:10 left in the third, their largest lead of the game, but they wouldn't score again for the remainder of the period.
• The Rangers took advantage with a run of their own, scoring the final 11 points of the third period and taking a 47-43 lead into the final period.
Stat Sheet: The Rangers' recent trend of being outrebounded continued, but didn't prove to be a major difference maker on Sunday. The Cardinals led 43-33 on the boards and outscored Drew in the paint, 32-22. The Rangers also continued a positive trend, lowering their turnover total for the third consecutive game, committing a season-low 11 on Sunday.
Up Next: The Rangers play the first of three straight road games on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Vassar College at 6:00 p.m.
