Spring Break
Women's basketball wins first-round game
James Mason
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports
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Paced by CAA Rookie of the Year Gabriela Marginean's 28 points and 11 rebounds, the Drexel Dragons defeated the Georgia State Lady Panthers on 73-62 in the opening round of the CAA tournament March 8.
The first half was competitive, but the Dragons used their tough zone defense to pull away in the second half. Both teams shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, with Drexel only up by 33-31 at the break.
The opening half was a duel between the star freshman Marginean, who scored 16 points and had five rebounds in the first half, and Georgia State's All-CAA Second Team performer Kelcey Roegiers-Jensen, who had 11 points at the half.
After halftime, Marginean - who was also selected to the All-CAA Third Team - and the Dragons picked up their intensity. Drexel went on a 10-0 run shortly after halftime and never looked back. The Dragons led by as many as 16 points in the second half.
Some of the team's newfound grit might have come from the record five-overtime victory against Northeastern Feb. 22.
Narissa Suber, Drexel's star junior guard, said that the game "made us stronger as a team. Probably mentally stronger the most, because we know we can outlast anybody."
They used defensive pressure to outlast Georgia State and frustrate Lady Panthers star senior guard Roegiers-Jensen, who went scoreless for over 25 minutes before she scored two layups during the last minute of play.
After only scoring two points in the first half, Suber finished the game with 12 points and contributed tough defense against Roegiers-Jensen.
Senior guard Kira Karlstrom scored all thirteen of her points in the second half, helping to ignite the victory.
Marquitta Head led Georgia State with 20 points, while Roegiers-Jensen finished with 18 points.
The Dragons, who have won four out of their last five games, will face Old Dominion in the quarterfinals of the CAA Women's Basketball Tournament March 9.
While ODU is the top seed, Drexel is not intimidated.
"We're ready," Suber said.
"At this point, we have nothing to lose," coach Denise Dillon added. "We just keep going out each and every game with something to prove."
The Lady Monarchs swept the season series with the Dragons. Old Dominion has won the tournament 15 years in a row.
The first half was competitive, but the Dragons used their tough zone defense to pull away in the second half. Both teams shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, with Drexel only up by 33-31 at the break.
The opening half was a duel between the star freshman Marginean, who scored 16 points and had five rebounds in the first half, and Georgia State's All-CAA Second Team performer Kelcey Roegiers-Jensen, who had 11 points at the half.
After halftime, Marginean - who was also selected to the All-CAA Third Team - and the Dragons picked up their intensity. Drexel went on a 10-0 run shortly after halftime and never looked back. The Dragons led by as many as 16 points in the second half.
Some of the team's newfound grit might have come from the record five-overtime victory against Northeastern Feb. 22.
Narissa Suber, Drexel's star junior guard, said that the game "made us stronger as a team. Probably mentally stronger the most, because we know we can outlast anybody."
They used defensive pressure to outlast Georgia State and frustrate Lady Panthers star senior guard Roegiers-Jensen, who went scoreless for over 25 minutes before she scored two layups during the last minute of play.
After only scoring two points in the first half, Suber finished the game with 12 points and contributed tough defense against Roegiers-Jensen.
Senior guard Kira Karlstrom scored all thirteen of her points in the second half, helping to ignite the victory.
Marquitta Head led Georgia State with 20 points, while Roegiers-Jensen finished with 18 points.
The Dragons, who have won four out of their last five games, will face Old Dominion in the quarterfinals of the CAA Women's Basketball Tournament March 9.
While ODU is the top seed, Drexel is not intimidated.
"We're ready," Suber said.
"At this point, we have nothing to lose," coach Denise Dillon added. "We just keep going out each and every game with something to prove."
The Lady Monarchs swept the season series with the Dragons. Old Dominion has won the tournament 15 years in a row.
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