Drexel Falls to Texas in First Round of NCAA Tournament

Drexel Falls to Texas in First Round of NCAA Tournament

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Hunter Peters

 AUSTIN, Texas (March 22, 2024) – Top-seeded Texas defeated Drexel 82-42 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
 
The Longhorns (31-4) advance to face the winner of No. 8 Alabama and No. 9 Florida State in the second round on Sunday, March 24. Drexel concludes its season 19-15 after winning its third CAA Championship in program history.
 
Four reached double figures for the Big 12 Champions in the contest, led by Shaylee Gonzales with 21 points. Gonzalez went 8-of-11 from the floor, shooting 5-for-6 from three to match her season-high. Taylor Jones added 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and DeYona Gaston contributed a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Aaliyah Moore (10) rounded out the quartet in double figures, while Big 12 Freshman of the Year Madison Booker tallied a career-best 14 assists in her first NCAA Tournament game.
 
Amaris Baker – the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Performer – reached double figures for the 11th straight game, leading the Dragons with 10 points.
 
Texas opened the game 5-for-5 from the floor, sprinting to a 9-0 lead, and led wire-to-wire in the victory. Despite a slow start, Drexel settled in and outscored the Longhorns 12-10 over the final 7:40 of the opening stanza. Erin Sweeney pulled Drexel within 19-12 at the end of the first, scoring a layup with 27 seconds remaining in the frame.
 
Baker started the second quarter with a layup 12 seconds in, but it was all Texas from that point forward. The Longhorns responded with a 12-0 run, pushing its lead to 31-14 midway through the quarter, and maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
 
Texas dominated the glass, outrebounding Drexel 51-23, including 26-10 on the offensive glass, leading to 22 second-chance points for the Longhorns. The Dragons, who lead the CAA in fewest turnovers per game, were forced into a season-high 21 miscues, which led to 28 points off turnovers for Texas. 
 
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