Washington comes up big for Drexel in OT

Kieshana Washington stepped up biggest when Drexel needed her most.

Washington scored 10 of her game-high 35 points in overtime as No. 3 seed Drexel downed No. 2 James Madison,

79-76, in the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals.

The win earns the Dragons

(13-8) a date with top-seeded Delaware in Saturday’s final.

JMU forced overtime on a Kiki Jefferson jumper with 19 seconds left. Jefferson scored

31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. A shot by Hannah Nihill with two seconds left that could’ve won it in regulation didn’t go.

Washington made sure that wasn’t a problem. She hit a 3-pointer, off a feed from Nihill, on Drexel’s first possession of OT, and Drexel never trailed in OT, leading by as many as six.

Nihill, the two-time Daily Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year from Cardinal O’Hara, was outstanding again with 16 points. Kate Connolly added 11 points and eight rebounds before fouling out.

DAYTON 85, LA SALLE 70 » The Explorers battled the top seed, narrowing a 12-point deficit after one quarter to four on two occasions in the second half, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.

Molly Masciantonio (Archbishop Carroll All-Delco) supplied a jolt off the bench with

15 points. Kayla Spruill led the way with 17 points and seven rebounds for the ninthseeded Explorers (12-14). Haleigh Hill tallied 11 points, and Amy Jacobs added 10. WIDENER 71, ARCADIA 52 » A day after letting a fourthquarter lead slip, Widener atoned by outscoring Arcadia, 19-3, in the final period.

Nicole Barnes (Garnet Valley) scored 21 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Kyra Schenk paired

11 points with 12 rebounds as nine members of the Pride (73) hit field goals.

MESSIAH 72, EASTERN 38 » Naomi Harris scored 11 points and Mikayla Wright added 10 but the Eagles were outscored 22-5 in the final quarter to embellish the final margin.

Men’s Basketball

Pat Holden scored 21 points, but Widener couldn’t overcome a 23-point halftime deficit in an 87-78 loss to Arcadia.

Kevin Schenk came off the bench with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Steven Matlack added 12 points for the Pride (4-6). MESSIAH 68, EASTERN 62 » Kaeshawn Ward paired 16 points with five steals, and William Blet posted a double-double of 12 points and 14 boards, but the Eagles dropped a second straight to Messiah. Sam Gallardo added 15 points.