Spring Break
Rosseel's 18 points provide spark in upset win
James Mason
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Sports
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"I think it was the biggest [win] we've had so far," senior forward Nicole Hester, who had eight points and a game-high seven assists, said. "It was major. I'm glad that we won and it puts us in a good spot for the end of the year and our conference push."
All-CAA Players Tamera Young and Gabriela Marginean were the focal points for most of the game. Young dominated the glass on both ends and keep the Dukes close throughout the contest, finishing with 23 points and 20 rebounds. Marginean scored a game-high 26 points for Drexel to go along with eight rebounds and three assists.
The Dukes, who came in to the match-up on a seven-game winning streak, were down early in the first half as the Dragons played tough defense and forced several turnovers. Eventually, JMU settled down, cutting Drexel's lead to 32-26 at the half.
The Dukes slowly chipped away at Drexel's lead in the opening minutes of the second half before taking the lead 37-36 with 13 minutes left. Drexel regained the lead as Gabriela Marginean scored six straight points for Drexel to give the Dragons a three-point lead. The rest of the half remained close, but JMU never regained the lead.
With 2:26 remaining, the game turned into a shootout between Rosseel and Evans. Following two Dukes' free throws, Rosseel took the inbounds pass and dazzled the crowed with a behind the back crossover on Evans, going coast-to-coast and hitting a foul line jumper to push Drexel's lead to 64-60.
Jennifer Brown hit a free throw to cut the Dragons' lead to 64-61, but was quickly answered by a 3-pointer by Rosseel with 1:25 remaining. On the next possession Evans nailed a deep three of her own.
Rosseel converted a three-point play with 48 seconds left, but once again Evans hit a three to reduce Drexel's lead to 70-67. Marginean finally sealed the game with four free throws in the last 12 seconds of the game.
Drexel's bench outscored the Dukes' reserves 31-1. Coach Dillon said that the players off the bench are becoming more comfortable with their roles.
"Now you see with the younger ones, with Allison [Lupariello] and with Jasmina [Rosseel] getting more comfortable; now they're knocking down key shots for us," Dillon said. "Brooke [Cornish] is doing what she's capable of doing, taking up space and getting some rebounds. They're understanding their roles and doing what they have to."
Hester agreed that it is important for the team to start peaking down the stretch.
"This is where we plan to peak," Hester said. "Everybody, every team in the nation plans to peak [at this time], and I'm just glad we're here and hopefully we can roll on and get victories."
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