The Guru Report: Drexel Routs La Salle on a Night Four Other Locals Are Swept

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

 

PHILADELPHIA — The way it went for the locals Wednesday night the one saving factor when two play each other is somebody has to win.

 

In this instance, that happened to be Drexel, which routed La Salle 71-46 at home in the Dragons’ Daskalakis Athletic Center in West Philadelphia in a game that when they meet against next year will be an official Big Five event pending how the new configuration goes for the women following the new-look men’s competition this season.

 

However, as for as how it went here, the Dragons’ performance should not be minimized.

 

With second all-time leading scorer Keishana Washington’s eligibility expired, coach Amy Mallon is finding other ways to to execute and on Wednesday night that came from a pair of newcomers reaching career highs — freshman Laine McGurk out of West Chester Rustin in the suburbs, who was 9-for-12 from the field, including 2-of-4 from deep for 20 points along with six rebounds, while starter Amaris Baker, a junior transfer from Harcum Junior College on the Main Line and graduate of Cardinal O’Hara had 19 points, including two connections from beyond the arc.

 

Chloe Hodges, a 6-0 senior forward from Australia, had 14 points, seven boards and five assists for the Dragons (2-1).

 

Brooke Mullin, a transfer from Villanova’s nationally ranked contingent that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season, had four points, five assists and four rebounds.

 

With the schedule of Mullin’s former team allowing, a bunch of Wildcats including retired coach Harry Perretta, whose longtime guidance ended several seasons ago, were among the crowd.

 

 All-American Maddy Siegrist, who set game and career scoring marks at Villanova and in the area last season and went third overall in the WNBA draft to Dallas, was also in the house. This winter she is working in a newly created behind-the-scenes role with the program.

 

To say that Drexel was on fire from the field can be attested by the 29-for-60 for 48.3 percent as can the way the Dragons defended, holding the Explorers (2-2) to .328 (19-for-58).

 

Especially woeful was the attack from the perimeter which saw Australian Emiliee Tahata give La Salle a 3-0 lead at the outset before the squad then missed 18 straight from beyond the arc until Spaniard Laia Monclova connected in the final minute.

 

Freshman Nicole Melious with 10 points was the only Explorer to score in double figures.

 

Aiding Drexel’s cause was the work on the boards with a lopsided 48-26 rebounding advantage.

 

“We always say rebounding ends up being the little battle that wins the war,” Mallon said. “That’s making it difficult for teams and keeping us in games.

 

“The defensive rebounding can really set the tone for us,” Mallon observed. “I’m hoping moving forward when we may be struggling to score that is something that’s going to stay consistent.”

 

As for her performance, McGurk said, “With the confidence my teammates have in me, no shot looks hard for me. I’m just going to shoot. I know they have my back.”

 

 

Of course, with a local background, this particular game served with extra adrenalin for both Drexel stars.

 

“It especially means more from being around here and playing against teams that you watched growing up,” McGurk said. “To play here against a team like that, it’s just incredible.”

 

Baker chipped in on the local meaning, saying, “There is nothing like home and Drexel is my home now. Just having my teammates and coaches preparing us every single day just to perform and meet our goals means everything.”

 

Of the pounding on the boards, La Salle coach Mountain MacGillivray said, “This is the first time I’ve ever given up more rebounds than points in a game. Clearly, it wasn’t the Explorers’ night.”

 

While admitting that the youthful roster is going to cause a roller coaster season, he was dismayed in this one that his group didn’t seem to have effort.

 

“It was the complete level tonight,” MacGillivray said of Drexel’s attack. “Drexel outcompeted us. I really thought everything I’ve seen from this group, that we were not going to be outcompeted.

 

“Maybe Drexel was special tonight.”

 

Another stat pleasing Mallon was concerning the flow.

 

“I think the most impressive stat on the sheet is 24 assists to 29 shots made,” she said. “That shows me the teamwork on the floor. It’s something we’ve been working on.

 

“To see that and have 31 bench points, to be able to do that in a game against a city school we know is always a big rival and do what we needed to do on the defensive end was really important to us.”

 

La Salle stays on the road a while, visiting Rider up at the Broncs’ Alumni Gym, Tuesday, at 7 (ESPN+) in Lawrenceville, N.J., then on Nov. 29, a Big Five encounter down the street from here at Penn in The Palestra at 6 p.m. before returning to Tom Gola Arena to host Virginia of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m., also on ESPN+.

 

Drexel will be part of a viewing and playing twin local attraction on Sunday that begins at 2 p.m. when Villanova hosts Temple in a Big Five game at Finneran Pavilion before the Dragons greet Saint Joseph’s at 4:30 p.m.

 

Both will air on FloHoops.

 

Disaster City: There’s not much to be said on the victimization of the rest of the local card.

 

Down in Ocford, Miss., Temple traveled to complete the home-and-home arrangement from last year and fell to No. 23 Ole Miss 80-63, wasting a 24-point effort from Tiarra East, who was just one off her career best.

 

She was a perfect 9-of-9 from the line for the Owls (2-2).

 

Ole Miss (2-1), which had just plunged 11 spots in the Associated Press women’s poll after an upset loss to then-Oklahoma, shot 51.8 percent from the field, including 56.7 percent in the first half.

 

Demi Washington, a Vanderbilt transfer, was also in double figures with 14 points, a second personal best.

 

Five Ole Miss players scored in double figures led by Kharyssa Richardson and KK Deans with 16 each.

 

Rutgers in the ongoing series among Central Jersey schools went up the road to Seton Hall (3-1) of the Big East and fell 82-63 in South Orange in Walsh Gym, ruining an effort from Destiny Adams, who scored a career high 27 points for the Scarlet Knights.

 

Kaylene Smikle scored 13.

 

Seton Hall’s Azana Baines had 25 points and eight boards, while Micah Gray had 18 points propelled by four shots from deep, while reserve Savannah Catalon scored 10. A’jah Davis grabbed 10 rebounds.

 

Rutgers (2-2) next hosts St. Francis (Pa.) Saturday at noon in Jersey Mike’s Arena at home in Piscataway.

 

Rider fell at NJIT in Newark 70-57 as Trinity Williams and Madilyn Dogs each scored 15 for the host Highlanders (3-1).

 

Kaylan Deveney scored 13 and Taylor Langan scored 10 for the visiting Broncs (1-2), who go home to host Boston U. Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

 

Lafayette rallied but fell at home in overtime 84-76 to Marist (2-1) in the Kirby Sports Center in Easton, Pa.

 

Abby Antognoli scored 22 points and grabbed nine boards for the Leopards (0-3), still looking for their first win.

 

Makayla Andrews added 21 points, while Halee Smith had 10 points and Kayla Drummond also grabbed nine rebounds.

 

Smith’s shot with two seconds left in regulation forced the overtime.

 

Zaria Shazer poured 29 points with eight assists for the Red Foxes, while Julia Corsentino scored 23.

 

Lafayette is at Long Island U. at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

 

That’s the report.