Madison, NJ – Needing 34 points to become the eighth woman in Drew history to score 1,000 points, junior guard Melissa Kraft had one of her best games in green and blue to lead the Rangers to a 78-64 victory over rivals FDU. Kraft scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and hit nine three-point field goals to lift Drew in the hard fought Battle for Madison Avenue. Drew improves to 9-6, 4-1 in the conference while FDU falls to 9-5, 1-4.
Entering the contest on a three-game winning streak and with a chance to take over sole possession of second place in the Freedom Conference, Drew came out strong taking a 37-33 into the break. Both teams started hot with Drew scored on its first two possessions with FDU keeping pace. Tied at 8-8 at the 14 minute mark, FDU responded with a quick 10-3 run thanks to a pair of threes by Emily Ceranowski. Drew regained the lead at the 7:30 mark as Melissa Kraft’s third three of the first half gave the Rangers a 20-19 lead. One more Kraft three and a Kraft-assisted Cunningham lay-up put Drew up 25-22 with five remaining the half. Their offense clicking against the Freedom Conference’s best defense, the Rangers went into half time with a 37-33 lead. Kraft dominated the opening period with 19 points, five threes and four assists. Maggie Marquis pulled the strings for Drew well with seven points, three assists and three steals. Ceranowski’s three long range efforts and strong play from Danielle Yasko kept the Devils close as FDU hit seven three-pointers of their own in the opening twenty.
Fifteen points away from the 1,000 mark, Kraft hit two threes in the first four minutes to help the Rangers open an 11 point lead, 50-39. The Rangers continued to attack building a 57-42 lead at 11:42 with Kraft at 30 points on the night. The entire offense was click though as Genie Valantassis scored six in the run including a twisting lay-up to finish off the 20-9 run. FDU rallied though, cutting the lead to nine on an Ashley Flaherty free throws with 7:20 remaining. The teams traded baskets as the Rangers’ nine point advantage held through a 63-54 tally at the five minute mark.
Kraft’s 1,000 came with 4:02 on the clock to give Drew a 66-54 lead on a step-back three with a defender in her face. The Devils seemed intent on ruining the occasion as they battled back again to get within single digits at 70-61 with 1:46 on the clock, but the Rangers hit their free throws down the stretch to make sure the night was special all around.
Just the eighth women’s player in Drew history to reach the mark, Kraft joins the likes of Sarah Marquez who reached the plateau last season and current head coach Dana Tamuccio who achieved the feat in 1991. Kraft also set a school record with nine three point field goals and recorded the Freedom Conference’s highest point total since 2003.
The Devils were led by a trio of double digit scorers. Ashley Flaherty dropped in 13 points while Jessie Chalmers and Emily Cerankowski both scored 12. Cerankowski hit four threes to go with five rebounds.
FDU Devils vs Drew University Rangers 01/17/06 6:00 pm at Baldwin Gym At Baldwin Gym DREW UNIVERSITY RANGERS 78, FDU DEVILS 64 FDU DEVILS (9-5 (1-3 Freedo)) Ashley Flaherty 6-12 1-8 13; Emily Cerankowski 4-12 0-0 12; Jessie Chalmers 4-10 3-4 12; Nicole Iannotto 4-9 0-0 8; Danielle Yasko 2-6 2-4 7; Cara Jennings 2-6 0-0 5; Margy Goodspeed 1-5 1-2 4; Katherine Daly 1-3 0-0 3; Jessica Killeen 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-66 7-18 64. DREW UNIVERSITY RANGERS (9-6 (4-1 Freedo)) Melissa Kraft 12-26 2-2 35; Courtney Cunningham 5-18 3-4 14; Maggie Marquis 3-7 8-10 14; Genie Valantassis 2-4 5-6 9; Pam Kakalec 2-4 0-0 4; Laura Methvin 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-61 18-22 78. FDU Devils.................... 33 31 - 64 Drew University Rangers....... 37 41 - 78 3-point goals-FDU Devils 9-20 (Emily Cerankowski 4-8; Danielle Yasko 1-2; Jessie Chalmers 1-5; Katherine Daly 1-2; Margy Goodspeed 1-1; Cara Jennings 1-1; Jessica Killeen 0-1), Drew University Rangers 10-28 (Melissa Kraft 9-19; Courtney Cunningham 1-8; Maggie Marquis 0-1). Fouled out--FDU Devils-None, Drew University Rangers-None. Rebounds-FDU Devils 41 (Nicole Iannotto 9), Drew University Rangers 44 (Melissa Kraft 14). Assists-FDU Devils 9 (Katherine Daly 4), Drew University Rangers 19 (Courtney Cunningham 6). Total fouls-FDU Devils 15, Drew University Rangers 14. A-100