PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — The Drexel Dragons used a dominant defensive performance and a balanced scoring attack to pull away from the Towson Tigers for a 68-45 victory in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball game Saturday at Daskalakis Athletic Center.

The game was effectively decided by a decisive third-quarter surge from the home team. Leading 35-24 at halftime, Drexel outscored Towson 23-9 in the third period, turning a comfortable lead into an insurmountable one. The Dragons opened the second half on a 13-2 run, fueled by their defense, which held the Tigers to a single field goal over the first six and a half minutes of the quarter.

Drexel’s defense was the story, forcing 12 Towson turnovers and converting them into 13 points. The Dragons also recorded 10 steals and four blocks, consistently disrupting the Tigers’ offensive flow. Towson struggled mightily from the field all afternoon, shooting just 26.2% on 16-of-61 shooting. Their offensive rating of 64.1 points per 100 possessions underscored a night of inefficiency.

Molly Rullo led all scorers with 16 points for Drexel, adding three assists and a block. Amaris Baker, a Philadelphia native, contributed 13 points, while Deja Evans posted a double-double with 10 points and was a force defensively. Iriona Gravley provided valuable energy off the bench with seven points and strong defensive play in 15 minutes.

Towson was led by India Johnston, who finished with 14 points, but she was the only Tiger to reach double figures. The team’s offensive struggles were pervasive, as they shot 20.8% from three-point range and managed only five assists against their 12 turnovers.

The Dragons set the tone early, opening the game on a 10-2 run. A steal by Rullo led to an Evans jump shot for the game’s first points, and Drexel never trailed. Towson stayed within striking distance for much of the first half, closing the gap to 21-18 in the second quarter after a three-pointer from Johnston. However, Drexel answered with a 14-6 run to close the half, capped by a Grace O’Neill three-pointer and a late layup from Baker, to take an 11-point lead into the break.

The third-quarter explosion removed all doubt. Drexel’s ball movement and interior scoring proved too much, as they outscored Towson 32-14 in the paint for the game. The Dragons also took better care of the basketball, committing only six turnovers.

With the win, Drexel evened its conference record and improved to 11-7 overall. Towson fell to 11-8. An announced crowd of 366 watched the contest.

The most critical segment of the game was Drexel’s initial burst to start the third quarter. Holding an 11-point halftime lead, the Dragons needed to stifle any hope of a Towson rally, and their defense accomplished exactly that. By holding Towson to just two points over an extended stretch while building their own lead to 48-26, Drexel transformed a competitive game into a commanding victory, showcasing the defensive intensity that would define the entire afternoon.

Drexel next travels to face Northeastern on Sunday, Feb. 1. Towson will look to rebound on the road at North Carolina A&T next Friday, Jan. 30.