PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - Sophomore forward
Sarah Curran (Archbishop Carroll H.S./Media, Pa.) scored 12 of her game-high 16 points in the second half as Drexel University (9-6, 3-1) overcame an eight-point deficit after the intermission to earn its third win in the last four games, a 58-53 Colonial Athletic Association victory over UNCW (6-9, 2-2) at the Daskalakis Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon.
Led by five points from freshman forward
Kelsi Lidge (Regis Jesuit H.S./Aurora, Colo.), the Dragons overcame a 32-24 deficit by scoring nine consecutive points to claim a 33-32 edge with 15:06 left in regulation.
The Seahawks battled back to tie the game at 41-41 on a jumper by freshman forward
Rebekah Banks (Cary Academy/Durham, N.C.) before a seven-point Drexel spurt gave the Dragons a 48-41 advantage with 5:46 left.
UNCW closed within a 56-53 deficit with 30 seconds left on a three-point field goal by junior guard
Shatia Cole (Myrtle Beach H.S./Myrtle Beach, S.C.), but the Seahawks were unable to get any closer. Â
In the first half, the Seahawks fell behind by a 9-4 margin before scoring 14 consecutive points, including nine points from sophomore guard
Jasmine Steele (Midfield H.S./Birmingham, Ala.), to take an 18-9 advantage with 9:19 left.
The Dragons scored 11 of the next 13 points, including seven points from junior guard
Rachel Pearson (Archbishop Carroll H.S./West Chester, Pa.), to tie the game at 20-20 with 5:29 remaining before UNCW used an 8-4 spurt to end the first half with a 28-24 advantage.
Curran made 7 of 12 shots from the floor and added five rebounds to lead the Dragons to their sixth straight win over the Seahawks. Meanwhile, senior forward
Jamila Thompson (London, England) posted her first "double double" of the season by scoring 12 points with a game-high 10 rebounds.
Cole matched her season high by scoring 14 points after a 6-for-13 effort from the field while Steele came off the bench to score a season-high 10 points, including nine points in the opening stanza.
The Seahawks will continue their three-game road trip on Friday, Jan. 16 when they visit Northeastern University for a 7:00 p.m. CAA game against the Huskies at the Cabot Center.
