Spring Break
Drexel earns No. 1 seed after beating George Mason
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
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But did she really believe it would be postseason bound just two seasons later?
"I definitely thought it was possible because those teams played hard," Dillon said. "We lost a lot of close games the years we didn't do so well but each year after that we continued to pick it up. After what we did last season I knew the girls were hungry for a little bit more and with experience they got better."
Well coach, you were right.
For the first time in Division I program history, which dates back to 1982-83, Drexel guaranteed itself at least a berth in the National Invitational Tournament by virtue of winning its first Colonial Athletic Association regular season title after defeating George Mason 64-47 March 1, Senior Day, at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
The Dragons (20-8, 15-2 CAA) won their 12th consecutive game and clinched the No. 1 seed in the CAA Tournament, which will take place March 6-9 in Harrisonburg, Va.
Dillon, who looks like a sure lock to win the conference's Coach of the Year award, credited seniors Andrea Peterson, Nicole Hester and Brooke Cornish for her team's seemingly improbable two-season turnaround.
"Having Petey [Andrea Peterson] back on the floor and having Nicole [Hester], who missed the end of last season and counting on Brooke [Cornish] to do some more things this year, I thought some special things could happen, and we talked about it a lot at the beginning of the year," Dillon said. "We struggled out of conference, but they kept their heads in the game and knew what we had to do to re-group, stay focused and win some games, and they certainly did it."
Each of the seniors certainly left their mark playing in their final home game.
Hester (10 points, six rebounds), Peterson (six points, four rebounds, two assists) and Cornish (eight points, two rebounds) each played a vital role in helping the Dragons turn the game into a rout by halftime. Hester's nifty scoop shot on the left block at the buzzer put Drexel up 37-16 after the first 20 minutes.
All three would exit to chants and applause from the DAC Pack in the second half.
Gabriela Marginean, a favorite to garner CAA Player of the Year honors, led the Dragons with 19 points and eight rebounds while playing just 30 minutes.
Drexel shot 41.5 percent from the field, while going 17-of-22 from the free throw line.
Brittney Wilkins led the Patriots (4-24, 2-15) with 14 points.
The Dragons will wrap up the regular season March 4 against Towson, but obviously have greater aspirations, as they are just three tournament wins from reaching the NCAA Tournament.
"It's one-and-done at that point," Dillon said of the CAA Tournament format. "So you gotta give it everything you have."
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