Spring Break
Drexel wins CAA Championship, headed to the NCAA Tournament!
Brett Fischer
Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: Sports
In the time Drexel University has been in the Colonial Athletic Association, no sports team has been able to listen to Queen's "We Are the Champions" on the winning end in a CAA Tournament - until now.
For the first time in program history, Drexel is the CAA Tournament Champion and will head to the NCAA Tournament.
The women's basketball team (24-8) defeated James Madison University (23-9) for its 16th straight win 64-58 March 15 at the JMU Convocation Center in Harrisonburg, Va. to win the CAA Title.
Not even Dawn Evans' 12 points in the final 56 seconds could prevent the Dragons and the hundreds of Drexel fans from storming the court.
"I don't think it has really sunk in yet," senior guard Andrea Peterson, who was named to the All-CAA Tournament Team, said. "It has, but it hasn't. It should sink in tomorrow."
CAA Tournament Most Valuable Player Gabriela Marginean finished with 26 points and two rebounds. But more importantly, she was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line.
"To my surprise, I wasn't even nervous," Marginean said. "I knew how to shoot foul shots."
James Madison's Evans, who finished with 26 points, five rebounds and five assists, did everything she could to keep her team in the contest.
After only scoring two points during a 30-minute stretch, the James Madison superstar took over.
Evans scored 15 points in the final 1:44, including two 3-pointers from beyond the NBA 3-point line. But Drexel's pressure forced her into seven turnovers and just 7-of-20 shooting from the field.
"Drexel's plan was to frustrate me and I think I let them get to me a little bit," a teary eyed Evans said. "We didn't handle their pressure very well."
It looked like the Dragons were going to walk away in easy fashion after building as big as a 16-point lead and eventually a 15-point lead with 9:23 left.
But the Dukes fought back and cut the lead to 49-43 with 2:51 remaining in the game and had a chance to cut it to just one in the final minute.
For the first time in program history, Drexel is the CAA Tournament Champion and will head to the NCAA Tournament.
The women's basketball team (24-8) defeated James Madison University (23-9) for its 16th straight win 64-58 March 15 at the JMU Convocation Center in Harrisonburg, Va. to win the CAA Title.
Not even Dawn Evans' 12 points in the final 56 seconds could prevent the Dragons and the hundreds of Drexel fans from storming the court.
"I don't think it has really sunk in yet," senior guard Andrea Peterson, who was named to the All-CAA Tournament Team, said. "It has, but it hasn't. It should sink in tomorrow."
CAA Tournament Most Valuable Player Gabriela Marginean finished with 26 points and two rebounds. But more importantly, she was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line.
"To my surprise, I wasn't even nervous," Marginean said. "I knew how to shoot foul shots."
James Madison's Evans, who finished with 26 points, five rebounds and five assists, did everything she could to keep her team in the contest.
After only scoring two points during a 30-minute stretch, the James Madison superstar took over.
Evans scored 15 points in the final 1:44, including two 3-pointers from beyond the NBA 3-point line. But Drexel's pressure forced her into seven turnovers and just 7-of-20 shooting from the field.
"Drexel's plan was to frustrate me and I think I let them get to me a little bit," a teary eyed Evans said. "We didn't handle their pressure very well."
It looked like the Dragons were going to walk away in easy fashion after building as big as a 16-point lead and eventually a 15-point lead with 9:23 left.
But the Dukes fought back and cut the lead to 49-43 with 2:51 remaining in the game and had a chance to cut it to just one in the final minute.
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DAC Pack
posted 3/16/09 @ 2:13 AM EST
We're champions! We won!!!!!! We're the best!!!
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