Feb. 12, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Player of the Year Gabriela Marginean exploded for 40 points to help lead the Drexel Dragons to a 67-55 victory over Old Dominion Thursday night at the Daskalakis Center to give the Lady Monarchs its fourth conference loss of the year.
The Lady Monarchs fall to 13-9 overall and 8-4 in the CAA. It is the most CAA losses for the ODU women's basketball squad since falling in five league contests during the 1991-92 season. That year began the first of 17 consecutive CAA crowns for the Lady Monarchs.
The Dragons meanwhile remain in a three-way tie for first place in the CAA standings with a 15-8 overall and 10-2 conference mark. The victory was the seventh straight for Drexel.
Marginean scored 23 of Drexel's 33 first half points as the Lady Monarchs entered the lockerroom down 33-25 at the half. Marginean posted 16 of the Dragon's first 18 points helping her squad to a 18-9 lead with 9:43 left in the half.
Drexel led by double figures a majority of the second half. Old Dominion got as close a nine following a pair of three throws by junior Jessica Canady (Williamsburg, Va.) with 18:38 left in the game. From that point, the Dragons outscored the Lady Monarchs 20-9 capped by an Andrea Peterson jumper for a 20-point, 56-36 advantage, Drexel's largest lead of the night, with 8:44 remaining.
Sophomore Jasmine Parker (Norfolk, Va.) scored 11 of her career-high 21 points during the final five minutes of the contest. Parker who was one of two Lady Monarchs in double figures finished the night going 5-of-10 from the field and 12-of-13 from the line.
Senior Tiffany Green (Chesapeake, Va.) netted 10 in the loss as the other Lady Monarch in double digits.
Peterson joined Marginean in double figure scoring for the Dragons with 12 points. Marginean also hauled in 11 boards for her sixth double-double of the year.
Old Dominion returns to the court in its annual HOOPS FOR A CURE game on Sunday, February 15th against Delaware. Fans can purchase tickets from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tidewater and $5.00 from every ticket will support breast cancer programs and research. Call 757-490-7794 or order online at www.komentidewater.org.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game to PINK OUT the Constant Center and are reminded to attend the pre-game Health Fair in the lobby and to get to your seats early for the pre-game Survivor Walk on the court.