Crane's last-second shot caps improbable comeback
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
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However, when she did get her chance, she certainly came through.
Crane knocked down a short jumper inside the key with two seconds left in overtime to snap a 74-all tie and give the women's basketball team a dramatic 76-74 victory over the William & Mary Tribe Feb. 8 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
"[Coach Denise Dillon] called a play for [Gabriela Marginean] and they were just doubling - they knew that was where it was gonna go," Crane, who finished with four points, said. "I was on the wing, there was a couple seconds left and there was really no choice. I figure if I shoot it and miss it we're going into [double] overtime [but] if I make it, that's great."
"Was that [shot] unbelievable?" Dillon said. "I was actually trying to run the same play for Gaby that we had run continuously. I think our lines got crossed with [Andrea Peterson] was just looking to attack. She made the pass. Marissa was actually looking for Gab. It was as if Gab set a screen for her to get into the paint and she was willing to take the shot."
Drexel (14-8, 9-2 CAA) has now won six straight games and will face Old Dominion in a key conference matchup Feb. 12.
Marginean finished with a game-high 31 points and 10 rebounds. She scored eight of her team's 10 points in overtime, including five straight to erase a 74-69 deficit and set-up Crane's heroics.
The junior had a chance to give the Dragons a one-point lead in regulation with 13 seconds remaining, but missed the backend of a pair of free throws. Overall she was 11-of-13 from the charity stripe.
"Well … how we come back … we usually go to our go-to … Gaby making plays," Dillon said. "I know she was disappointed with missing that foul shot at the end of regulation so we knew she was going to continue to go after it and want the ball in her hands."
Jasmina Rosseel was the only other Drexel player to finish in double digits. She had 13 points and was 3-of-9 from three-point range.
The Dragons were 7-of-27 from beyond the arc, but still managed to shoot 41.5 percent overall and 88.2 percent from the free throw line.
Drexel trailed by seven 64-57 with 3:48 remaining in the second half, but closed on a 9-2 run to extend the game an extra five minutes.
Janine Aldridge led the Tribe (11-11, 4-7) with 18 points. Courtney Portell finished with 17 points and Tiffany Benson added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Dragons lost to W&M earlier in the season 63-57 Jan. 8 in Williamsburg, Va.
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