DREXEL BREAKS LOOSE IN FOURTH QUARTER TO DEFEAT ELON 68-53
Ben Kane
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PHOTO GALLERY |
PRESS CONFERENCE- DREXEL |
PRESS CONFERENCE - ELON
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2026) – Third-seeded Drexel broke open a close game with a 14-2 run to start the fourth quarter and topped No. 6 Elon, 68-53, in the final quarterfinal matchup of the Credit Union 1 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship on Friday night at CareFirst Arena.
The Dragons (21-9) advanced to the semifinals for the ninth time in the past 10 tournaments and will meet No. 10 Hofstra at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Elon closed its season with a 16-16 record.
For Drexel, All-CAA guard Amaris Baker poured in a team-high 16 points and freshman Bria Watkins came off the bench to contribute 13 points, six rebounds and four steals. Elon got a game-high 17 points from Ashanti Fox and Quinzia Fulmore recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Dragons, who were up by just five entering the final frame, got a layup from Laine McGurk and a Deja Evans three-point play to quickly extend the margin to double digits. After a pair of free throws from Fox, Drexel reeled off eight consecutive points over the next four minutes to go up 62-45 and take control of the contest.
Down 9-8 late in the opening quarter, Drexel closed the period on a 12-3 run thanks to a pair of reserves. Mariah Watkins started the surge with six straight points and Bria Watkins followed with two buckets as the Dragons went on top 20-12 after one.
Drexel expanded its advantage to 10 early in the second quarter on a Baker trey, but Elon responded with eight straight points that included a Fox triple and a three-point play from Fulmore to pull within 26-24 midway through the stanza. The Dragons never relinquished the lead and headed to halftime ahead 37-32.
The Dragons came out on fire in the second half, putting together an 11-3 surge. A three-point play by Bria Watkins followed by a Mariah Watkins jumper gave Drexel its biggest lead, 48-35, with 4:00 left in the quarter. However, the Phoenix finished the period with eight unanswered points, including four by Fulmore, to trail just 48-43 heading into the fourth quarter.
Drexel forced 22 Elon turnovers that led to 30 points in the contest.