Dartmouth Falls 69-53 at Drexel Despite Late Rally

Friday, November 13

Philadelphia

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

0-1

Drexel

1-0

Dartmouth

Drexel

Dartmouth Falls 69-53 at Drexel Despite Late Rally

11/13/2015 5:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Lakin Roland Fanni Szabo Belle Koclanes Kate Letkewicz

By: Dartmouth

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — After a valiant effort in the fourth quarter, the Dartmouth women's basketball team fell 69-53 to Drexel in the opening round of the preseason WNIT Tournament Friday night.

The Big Green start the season 0-1 and will play in the second round of the tournament in the consolation bracket. The opponent and location will be announced at a later date.

Dartmouth shot 33 percent from the field, as senior Lakin Roland led her team with 15 points going 5 for 15 from field goal range and sinking three out of four from the charity stripe.

The Dragons outscored the Big Green for the majority of the game, except for the fourth when Dartmouth put up 22 points compared to Drexel's 14. Big Green head coach Belle Koclanes was pleased with the statement her team made toward the end of the game.

“We executed at high level and put the ball in the basket,” Koclanes said. “Defensively I was happy with the way we defended. Drexel has flares and we really did a nice job. Drexel has multiple weapons and other cuts and actions they go to. They are a very high level team and an established program, so I'm excited to get to the film and take all the lessons. I will definitely focus my attention on the fourth quarter going into the game with UNH on Monday night.”

Drexel started the game on a 7-0 run, which was broken up by a Fanni Szabo three-pointer. The Big Green battled back in the first, closing the Dragons lead to just three. Drexel heated up scoring 23 points before the halftime buzzer. Sarah Curran went 2-2 from behind the arc in the first half for the Dragons. She finished the game with 20 points and six rebounds.

Roland led the Big Green with seven points in the first half as the team shot 25 percent from the field and went three for nine from three point range.

Dartmouth down 35-19 at the half, came out in the third quarter with a strong presence. Drexel sent Szabo and Roland to the free throw line in the quarter's opening minutes as the Green attempted to chip away at the lead. However, the Dragon's offense picked up where they left off in the first half adding 20 points to their lead before the final stanza of the game.

With just under three minutes left to play in the game, Dartmouth closed the gap to 63-51 after a Kate Letkewicz jumper, but the Dragons held on for their first victory of the season. Letkewicz finished her night with team leading eight rebounds.

Before the next round of the preseason WNIT tournament, the Big Green will host Granite State rival New Hampshire on Monday for the home opener. Tip off from Leede Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.