The Rangers struggled early going down by as many as 16 just nine minutes into the game, but a major turnaround on the defensive end keyed a rally. Drew was losing 22-6 at the 11 minute mark, but allowed just four points for the rest of the half all of them coming from the foul line. Though the Rangers were finding baskets hard to come by as well, solid play from first-year guard JaQuelia Conley helped Drew fight its way back into the game. Conley had eight points in the first half, six of them coming during the 16-6 run. Cunningham added eight of her own with Kraft getting the other bucket.
Trailing 26-22 at halftime, Drew quickly brought the game back to even as they forced the second tie of the game just three and a half minutes into the period. After some back and forth, the Bulldogs took a 34-32 lead. Allison Hartnett then scored Drew’s next six points to put the Rangers up by two with 12:04 left, 38-36. At the ten minute mark, Kraft got hot, drilling a three for a 43-38 lead. Cunningham followed with a drive and one for an eight point Rangers edge. DeSales’ star Kirby Lutz responded with a three point play of her own and Kim Rarick, who had broken Ranger heart’s two weeks ago with a game-winning three pointer in the final moments, had a pair of buckets to cut the lead to one. With 6:25 left, Kaila Wiand hit a three to put the visitors back up by two, 48-46, but a quick response with a Kraft bucket tied the game for the sixth time.
At 48-48 with five minutes left to play in regulation, Kraft scored on another tough drive to put drew up. Cunningham followed with a three of her own before trading hoops with Jenna Stampf. At 55-50, Rarick scored on a lay-up and Kirby Lutz hit a jumper to cut the lead to one. Drew’s Laura Methvin made a free throw for 56-54, but Amanda Kuperavage hit both of her free throws to tie the game for the seventh time at 56-56 with 54 seconds left. With 14 seconds left it seemed that Rarick had stung the Rangers again with a jumper to give DeSales a 58-56 lead.
In the final ten seconds of play, Kraft drew her defender out and then drove the lane missing her shot under contact, but the senior grabbed her own rebound and stuck in a lay-up with four seconds left to force overtime.
For the first four minutes of overtime Cunningham kept the Rangers in the game. DeSales had twice been up by two hoops, but Cunningham kept making tough shots to prevent the Bulldogs from pulling away. A soft fade away jumper with three minutes left gave Drew a 60-59 lead. A driving runner off the glass cut the DeSales lead to 64-62 with 2:13 remaining and a jumper from the elbow kept it at two, 66-64, with 1:34 left.
In the final minute, Kraft took over. A three pointer gave Drew a 67-66 lead with 56 seconds left. After Lindsey Sykes hit two free throws to put DeSales back up by one, Kraft completed a three point play to put Drew up by two with 21 seconds left. The Rangers forced DeSales into a tough shot on the other end and got the rebound. Kraft hit both of the free throws with five second left to secure the win, 72-68. In overtime Drew made 5-6 shots and hit all three of their free throws.
For the game, Courlissa Kraftingham had 51 points, 16 rebounds and five steals. Actually, Courtney Cunningham had 24 points, nine rebounds and three steals while playing all 45 minutes. Kraft emerged from a shooting slump to score 27 points, grab seven rebounds and record two steals. Conley had eight points in 30 solid minutes of play. Hartnett, who fouled out in the second half, had six points. Lutz had 19 points and seven rebounds while Rarick had 17. Kaila Wand had 12 points off the bench for the Bulldogs.
The win moves Drew to 4-5 in the Freedom and into a tie for fourth place. It also gives the Rangers an important win over the Freedom’s second place team should it come to a tie-breaker. Drew will look to keep their momentum when they face Lycoming on Saturday.
Newspaper Box Score DeSales University vs Drew Rangers 01/31/07 6:00 pm at Baldwin Gym At Baldwin Gym DREW RANGERS 72, DESALES UNIVERSITY 68 DESALES UNIVERSITY (15-5, 7-2) Kirby Lutz 6-21 7-10 19; Kim Rarick 8-12 0-0 17; Kaila Wiand 4-6 2-4 12; Amanda Kuperavage 3-11 2-2 8; Kelly Magrann 1-2 1-1 3; Erica Sovak 1-2 0-0 2; LeighAnn Burke 1-4 0-0 2; Jenna Stampf 1-4 0-0 2; Caitlin Miller 0-3 1-4 1. Totals 25-65 15-23 68. DREW RANGERS (9-10, 4-5) Melissa Kraft 11-25 3-3 27; Courtney Cunningham 11-23 1-1 24; JaQuelia Conley 4-5 0-0 8; Allison Hartnett 2-5 2-2 6; Laura Methvin 1-4 1-2 3; Maggie Marquis 1-4 0-2 2; Genie Valantassis 1-2 0-0 2; Cailin McGrorry 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 31-71 7-10 72. DeSales University............ 26 32 10 - 68 Drew Rangers.................. 22 36 14 - 72 3-point goals-DeSales University 3-6 (Kaila Wiand 2-2; Kim Rarick 1-2; LeighAnn Burke 0-1; Amanda Kuperavage 0-1), Drew Rangers 3-15 (Melissa Kraft 2-8; Courtney Cunningham 1-6; Laura Methvin 0-1). Fouled out--DeSales University-None, Drew Rangers-Allison Hartnett. Rebounds-DeSales University 47 (Kaila Wiand 7; Amanda Kuperavage 7; Kirby Lutz 7; Jenna Stampf 7; Caitlin Miller 7), Drew Rangers 34 (Courtney Cunningham 9). Assists-DeSales University 9 (Kirby Lutz 5), Drew Rangers 5 (Allison Hartnett 1; Maggie Marquis 1; Melissa Kraft 1; Laura Methvin 1; Courtney Cunningham 1). Total fouls-DeSales University 16, Drew Rangers 19. A-300