The Rangers led by three at the half 34-31. FDU jumped out to an early 11-7 lead before Kraft scored the game’s next eight point on a layup and a pair of threes. After a pair of Devil buckets, Kraft scored the next five, including her third three of the half. Drew eventually built up a lead as large as nine points with six minutes left before FDU chipped away. The Devils tied the score at 31-31 with just over two minutes remaining in the half before JaQuelia Conley and Cunningham hit free throws in the final minute for the three point halftime advantage.
FDU quickly tied the game in the second half on a Cerankowski three and even took the lead with 16 minutes remaining on a Danielle Michlovsky hoop, but that would be the last time the Rangers trailed in the game. Cunningham turned an offensive rebound into a lay-up and Maggie Marquis hit a three before Allison Hartnett’s bucket made it a six point lead and forcing a Devil time out. FDU hung close until Drew pulled away for good at the 12 minute mark.
Another Hartnett layup gave Drew a 53-49 lead. After Cunningham knocked down a jumper, Hartnett’s steal led to a Cunningham trey and a seven point lead for Drew. In Drew’s 18-3 run that followed, Cunningham, Stephanie Leondis, Marquis and Conley all scored as the Rangers took a commanding 71-54 lead at 6:20. The advantage remained in double digits for the rest of the game as Drew began their Freedom season.
Cunningham finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. The senior guard picked up where Kraft had left off in the first with 16 points and six boards in the second. Kraft was the main weapon in the first half as she netted 15 of her 20 points on five of seven shooting. Stephanie Leondis added nine points and six boards while Allison Hartnett had another solid outing with nine points, four boards, three assists and two steals of the bench.