WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Senior guard Hannah Nihill scored 16 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to lead Drexel to a 76-63 women's basketball victory over UNCW in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams at Trask Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Dragons, who played their first game since Dec. 13, upped their record to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the CAA. UNCW, meanwhile, stands at 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the league after suffering its third straight setback.
 
Nihill anchored four Drexel players in double figures by knocking 7-of-16 field goal attempts, including a 2-for-9 showing from lone range, along with both of her free throws. The Drexel Hill, Pa., native also grabbed five rebounds and dished out a game-high five assists.
 
Junior guards Keishana Washington and Maura Hendrixson each chipped in 12 points for the Dragons while senior guard Kayla Bacon came off the bench to contribute 11 points with eight rebounds.
 
Senior forward Carol-Anne Obusek paced the Seahawks in the loss with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and a 6-for-9 effort at the free throw line. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in 37 minutes.
 
Junior guard Za'Nautica Downs added 17 points off the bench while junior guard Camille Downs scored 12 points with seven rebounds and six steals.
 
Key Moment: After UNCW evened the score at 34-34 with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter, Nihill scored Drexel's next 11 points as the Dragons secured a 45-38 advantage they did not relinquish.  
 
Game Notes:

• Drexel extended its series win streak over UNCW to 19 consecutive games with Saturday's victory … The Dragons now hold a 28-8 all-time edge over the Seahawks.
• UNCW now stands 10-27 all-time in CAA openers … The Seahawks are opening their conference schedule at home for the ninth time in the last 11 years.
• UNCW set season highs for free throws made (20) and attempted (32) … The 32 free throw attempts are the most for the Seahawks since Jan. 3, 2020, when they had 39 tries against Delaware.
• The Seahawks grabbed 10 offensive rebounds against Drexel, marking the seventh straight game they have reached double figures in offensive rebounds.
• Drexel did not attempt a free throw until the fourth quarter but finished the game with an 11-for-12 effort at the line.
• Drexel and UNCW combined to make just 12-of-46 three-point field goal attempts … The Seahawks were 5-for-22 from beyond the arc while Drexel hit 7-of-24 attempts.
• UNCW forced Drexel into making a season-high 16 turnovers, which the Seahawks converted into 16 points.
• The Seahawks, who entered the game tied for eighth in the nation in fewest personal fouls per game, had 14 fouls against Drexel … UNCW has committed fewer personal fouls than its opponent in all seven games this season.
• Obusek has reached double figures in scoring in all six of her games this season … The Cary, N.C., product entered the season with eight career double-digit scoring efforts in 67 games.
• Obusek also became the first UNCW player to lead the team in scoring in multiple games this season … The Seahawks had a different leading scorer in each of the first six games.
• Za'Nautica Downs has scored in double figures in each of her last three contests after netting 17 points against Drexel … During her last three games, the Moultrie, Ga., product is averaging 20.0 points per game, including a season-high 32 points at South Carolina State on Dec. 7.
• Freshman guard Evan Miller, who made her second start in a row, scored a season-high nine points while grabbing six rebounds.

Up Next: UNCW and Drexel complete their CAA weekend series on Sunday, Jan. 3, with a 1 p.m. contest.   

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