WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Drexel pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat Elon 68-53 in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball tournament game Friday at CareFirst Arena. The Dragons, who led 37-32 at halftime, closed the game on a 20-10 run. Amaris Baker scored 16 points for Drexel. Ashanti Fox led all scorers with 17 points for the Phoenix. Drexel forced 20 turnovers and recorded 12 steals, capitalizing for a decisive edge in possessions. Elon shot just 34 percent from the floor. The Dragons improved to 21-9, while Elon finished its season at 16-16.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the Drexel Dragons pulled away late to defeat the Elon Phoenix 68-53 in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball tournament quarterfinal on Friday night at CareFirst Arena. The victory, witnessed by 1,400 fans, advanced Drexel to the semifinal round and improved its season record to 21-9. Elon’s season concluded at 16-16. The most important part of the game was Drexel’s overwhelming defensive performance, which systematically dismantled Elon’s offense over the final three quarters. While Elon started brightly, taking an early lead, Drexel’s relentless pressure, particularly in the passing lanes, created a cascade of turnovers that the Phoenix could never overcome. The Dragons finished with 12 steals, directly contributing to 20 Elon turnovers, while the Phoenix managed only three assists against those 20 giveaways. The game began with Elon showing early promise. Quinzia Fulmore won the opening tip and Tamia Watkins followed with a blocked shot on Drexel’s first possession, setting a defensive tone for the Phoenix. Maraja Pass and Watkins connected on early jumpers, and a three-pointer from Kamryn Doty gave Elon a brief 11-8 lead midway through the opening period. However, the Dragons quickly adjusted. A 12-2 run to close the quarter, fueled by active hands and transition opportunities, gave Drexel a 20-12 lead. The run featured layups from Mariah Watkins and Bria Watkins, assisted by the sharp passing of Júlia Garcia Roig, and established a pattern that would persist. Elon fought back in the second quarter, primarily through the scoring of guard Ashanti Fox. Her three-pointer at the 6:53 mark sparked a 9-0 Phoenix run that cut Drexel’s lead to 26-25. Fox led all scorers with 17 points. But just as Elon drew close, Drexel’s defense stiffened. The Dragons closed the half on an 11-4 spurt, with Amaris Baker hitting a critical three-pointer and Laine McGurk adding a step-back jumper to send Drexel into halftime with a 37-32 advantage. The third quarter proved decisive in stifling any lingering Elon momentum. Both teams endured a scoring drought for over three minutes to start the half before Drexel’s defense locked down completely. Elon was held to just 11 points in the quarter on 4-of-15 shooting. The Phoenix offense became disjointed, plagued by shot-clock violations and rushed attempts as the Dragons’ defensive intensity increased. Drexel, meanwhile, methodically built its lead. Deja Evans scored inside, Bria Watkins converted a three-point play, and Mariah Watkins added a layup to push the margin to 48-37. A late three-pointer from Fox brought Elon within 48-43 heading to the fourth, but the Phoenix had expended significant energy just to stay within striking distance. Any hope of an Elon comeback was extinguished in the final period as Drexel’s defense reached its peak. The Dragons opened the quarter with a 7-0 run, featuring a layup from McGurk and a three-point play from Evans, to extend the lead to 55-43 with 8:20 remaining. Elon’s offensive execution broke down entirely against Drexel’s pressure, managing only two field goals over the next six minutes. The Dragons capitalized with a balanced attack, getting key buckets from Bria Watkins, who finished with 13 points, and Baker, who added 16. Drexel’s lead ballooned to as many as 17 points in the closing minutes as they sealed the victory at the free-throw line. The statistical disparity told the story of Drexel’s defensive dominance. The Dragons shot 51% from the field (26 of 51) compared to Elon’s 34% (18 of 53). Drexel’s 12 assists on 26 made field goals illustrated a more cohesive offensive approach, while Elon’s 3 assists highlighted their isolation-heavy and turnover-prone night. Drexel also capitalized on second chances despite a rebounding deficit, scoring efficiently off Elon’s mistakes. For Elon, Fox’s 17 points led the way, with Fulmore adding 12 points and 9 rebounds. Tamia Watkins contributed 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. For Drexel, Baker’s 16 points led a balanced scoring effort that included 13 from Bria Watkins, 10 from Molly Rullo, 9 from Deja Evans, and 8 from Mariah Watkins. Guard Grace O’Neill orchestrated the offense with 4 assists and 4 steals. The win marked Drexel’s second victory over Elon this season, following a 68-59 decision on Feb. 13. The Dragons now move on to the tournament semifinals.

Elon, Drexel Set for Women’s Basketball Rematch in Washington WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Drexel Dragons and Elon Phoenix will meet for the second time this season in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at CareFirst Arena. The Dragons (20-9) enter as heavy favorites, having defeated the Phoenix 68-59 in Philadelphia just one month ago, on Feb. 13. Drexel’s season has been marked by consistency, while Elon (16-15) seeks to reach .500 in conference play and secure a winning overall record. Elon arrives with momentum from a 67-62 home victory over Hampton on Thursday. The Phoenix are led by guard Quinzia Fulmore, who scored 22 points in that win. Fulmore has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 15.4 points over her last seven games, including a 28-point performance against UNC Wilmington on March 7. Drexel looks to rebound from a 74-58 road loss to Towson on March 7. Despite the defeat, guard Amaris Baker continued her standout season with a 25-point effort. Baker has shouldered a significant scoring load, averaging over 17 points per game in her last six contests and playing major minutes, including a 42-minute outing in an overtime win on March 1. The Dragons have relied on a stout defense and clutch performances in close games, winning four of their last six contests by single digits. Elon has shown resilience on the road recently, including a narrow 58-56 win at Hofstra on Feb. 27, but has struggled against top-tier conference opponents away from home. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Drexel is projected with a 67.5% probability to win Friday’s rematch. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. EDT in the nation’s capital, a neutral site for both teams. A key matchup will be on the perimeter between Elon’s Fulmore and Drexel’s Baker, two of the conference’s most dynamic scorers. Elon will need to improve its offensive efficiency after shooting poorly in the first meeting, while Drexel aims to control the tempo and leverage its experience in tight situations.