Basketball opens 2013 season

Drexel’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will take the court on Friday to open the 2012-13 season. Both squads reached the Colonial Athletic Association Championship last year and return with equally high aspirations for this season. The men’s, who were picked to win the league in the preseason conference coaches/media poll, play at Kent State at 7 p.m. The women’s team, who are once again projected for a top-four finish in the conference, will travel to play at Providence with a 7 p.m. tip.

After a record-breaking season that saw the team amass 29 wins and advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament, Bruiser Flint’s team returns all but one starter this season. Led by CAA Preseason Player of the Year Frantz Massenat, the Dragons have been touted by national basketball publications as one of the top mid-major teams in the country.  Drexel went 16-2 in CAA play last season and advanced to the conference championship game and are looking for a repeat performance this year.

Sophomore guard Damion Lee, who was the CAA’s Rookie of the year in 2012, joins Massenat as a Preseason First Team All-CAA selection on a team that is loaded with experience and talent.  The team will open its home schedule on Nov. 15 against Illinois State and will also host games against Rider, Davidson and Saint Joseph’s before opening conference play in January.

The women’s basketball team also turned in one of its most successful seasons last year. The Dragons posted 19 victories and played their way into the CAA Championship game for the second time in the program’s history before falling to rival Delaware.

Denise Dillon, who became the winningest coach in the program’s history last season, returns a strong core of players this season, including Preseason First Team All-CAA guard Hollie Mershon. Returning seniors Taylor Wootton, Nicki Jones and Renee Johnson-Allen helped anchored the stingiest scoring defense in the team’s history, letting up just 54.3 points per game last season. 

The Dragons will open on the road this Friday and play their first home game on Nov. 14 against Saint Joseph’s.  Drexel plays just three non-conference home games before opening CAA play on Jan. 6 against Towson. 

Tickets for all home games are available at www.drexeltickets.com.