Women’s Basketball loses to Drexel 63-55

VCU Women’s Basketball (10-12 overall, 7-6 CAA) lost to Drexel University (10-13 overall, 6-8) 63-55 Sunday evening in Philadelphia, Pa. Senior forward Kristine Austgulen earned her 14th double-double of the season in a team leading performance against Drexel. Austgulen had a team best 24 points and 10 rebounds. Austgulen shot 11-15, landed 2-3 free throws and received the most playing time for the Rams with 39 minutes.

Junior guard Cyndy Wilks also scored in the double digits for VCU with 14 points in 36 minutes of play. Wilks went 5-12 including one three-pointer and made 3-3 free throw attempts.

Freshman guard Natalia Oehninger led the Rams with seven assists. Sophomore forward Maria Giovannetti came in second on the team in rebounds with four.

On the Dragon’s side, guard Bridget Scanlan broke Drexel’s single game three-point record with seven three-point baskets. Scanlan’s career high 23 points led Drexel against VCU. Scanlan also led the Dragons with five assists.

Steph Frysinger was the only other player for Drexel to score in the double digits. After going 6-10 including three three-point baskets and two free-throws Frysinger had 17 points for the Dragons.

Guard Catherine Scanlon led the team with eight rebounds and came in third with six points.

The Rams began the game with a 7-0 run and stayed in the lead for the first 11 minutes of the game, leading by as much as six. Just before the break the Dragons took control and would head into the locker room three points above the Rams, 29-26.

The Rams had another run in the second half, going 5-0 and holding the Dragons scoreless for more than six minutes. With two free throws and a three-point basket Scanlan put Drexel up 58-51 with only 2:09 left in the game. A final three-pointer from Scanlan with only 40 seconds remaining brought the score to 61-55, and sealed the fate of the Rams.

Both teams shot 46 percent for the game. VCU shot 77.8 percent from the free-throw line while Drexel shot 75 percent.

Drexel had 20 assists to VCU’s 17 and out rebounded VCU30-27.

VCU’s next home game is against Towson University, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m.