2021–22 Drexel Dragons women's basketball team

The 2021–22 Drexel Dragons women's basketball team represented Drexel University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Dragons, led by second-year head coach Amy Mallon, played their home games at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Colonial Athletic Association.

2021–22 Drexel Dragons women's basketball
CAA regular season champions
WNIT, Third Round
Conference	Colonial Athletic Association
Record	28–6 (16–2 CAA)
Head coach	Amy Mallon (2nd season)
Assistant coaches	Stacy Weiss (10th season) Laura Kurz (2nd season) Jillian Dunston (2nd season)
MVP	Keishana Washington (1st year)
Home arena	Daskalakis Athletic Center

2021–22 CAA women's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Drexel	16	–	2		.889			28	–	6		.824
Delaware †	15	–	3		.833			25	–	7		.781
Towson	14	–	4		.778			24	–	8		.750
James Madison*	10	–	8		.556			14	–	15		.483
Elon	9	–	9		.500			17	–	12		.586
Charleston	9	–	9		.500			18	–	13		.581
Northeastern	8	–	10		.444			14	–	18		.438
William & Mary	5	–	13		.278			10	–	20		.333
Hofstra	4	–	14		.222			8	–	20		.286
UNC Wilmington	0	–	18		.000			3	–	26		.103
*Ineligible for the CAA Tournament due to a postseason ban imposed by the CAA.
† 2022 CAA tournament winner

Previous season

Main article: 2020–21 Drexel Dragons women's basketball team

The Dragons finished the 2020–21 season 14–9, 8–6 in CAA play to finish tied for third place. They defeated Delaware in the CAA tournament championship, and earned an automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.

Offseason

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Year	Hometown	Notes
Kayla Bacon	4	G	5'8"	Senior	Owings Mills, MD	Graduated
Elizabeth Dufrane	14	G	5'8"	Freshman	Falls Church, VA	Transferred to University of Mary Washington

Incoming transfers

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Tessa Brugler F	Nazareth, PA	Bucknell University	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	N/A	Apr 1, 2021
	Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Drexel 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022. "Drexel Dragons". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

2021 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Momo LaClair G	Syracuse, NY	Jamesville-DeWitt	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	N/A
	Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Sira Ba F	Montreal, Canada	Antoine-de-St-Exupéry	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	N/A
	Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Drexel 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022. "Drexel Dragons". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

Preseason

In a poll of the league coaches, media relations directors, and media members at the CAA's media day, Drexel was picked to finish in first place in the CAA. Hannah Nihill and Keishana Washington were named to the preseason All-CAA first team.

Roster

2021–22 Drexel Dragons women's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown G 1 Keishana Washington 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Sr Durham Elite Prep Pickering, Ontario F 2 Hetta Saatman 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Jr Linden Hall Lancaster, PA F 3 Tessa Brugler 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) RS Sr Nazareth Area/Bucknell Nazareth, PA F 5 Chloe Hodges 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) So St Michael's Adelaide, Australia F 10 Brianne Borcky 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Jr Garnet Valley HS Glen Mills, PA G 11 Tori Hyduke 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) RS Jr Rumson-Fair Haven/George Washington Fair Haven, NJ G 12 Hannah Nihill 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) Sr Cardinal O'Hara Drexel Hill, PA G 13 Erin Sweeney 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So Archbishop John Carroll HS Havertown, PA F 20 Kate Connolly 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Sr Souderton Area HS Harleysville, PA F 21 Jasmine Valentine 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) So St. Vincent Pallotti HS Odenton, MD G 22 Maura Hendrixson 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Sr Cardinal O'Hara HS (PA) Garnet Valley, PA G 23 Momo LaClair 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Fr Jamesville-DeWitt Syracuse, NY F 24 Sira Ba 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) Fr Antoine-de-St-Exupéry Montreal, Canada F 30 Mariah Leonard 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) RS Sr Broad Run Ashburn, VA	Head coach Amy Mallon (Saint Joseph's) Assistant coach(es) Stacy Weiss (Drexel) Laura Kurz (Villanova) Jillian Dunston (Michigan) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: January 18, 2022

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
November 5, 2021* 7:00 pm		Chestnut Hill	W 61–25		–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center  Philadelphia, PA
Non-conference regular season
November 9, 2022* 5:00 pm		Marist	L 50–52	0–1	14 – Nihill	14 – Brugler	6 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,846) Philadelphia, PA
November 12, 2021* 8:00 pm, NBCSPHI+		Saint Joseph's	W 63–55	1–1	19 – Brugler	7 – Tied	5 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,351) Philadelphia, PA
November 17, 2021* 7:00 pm, NBCS+		La Salle	W 71–65	2–1	17 – Brugler	11 – Brugler	7 – Washington	Daskalakis Athletic Center (611) Philadelphia, PA
November 20, 2021* 2:00 pm		at Maryland Eastern Shore	W 65–60	3–1	16 – Brugler	14 – Leonard	7 – Nihill	Hytche Athletic Center (200) Princess Anne, MD
November 26, 2021* 7:00 pm, ESPN+		vs. Nebraska The Dana on Mission Beach Semifinals	L 53–65	3–2	19 – Nihill	10 – Brugler	4 – Washington	Jenny Craig Pavilion (368) San Diego, CA
November 27, 2021* 5:00 pm		vs. Fresno State The Dana on Mission Beach 3rd place game	W 63–46	4–2	15 – Nihill	14 – Brugler	7 – Washington	Jenny Craig Pavilion (286) San Diego, CA
November 30, 2021* 7:00 pm		Dartmouth	W 67–44	5–2	18 – Washington	6 – Nihill	4 – 3 Tied	Daskalakis Athletic Center (502) Philadelphia, PA
December 4, 2021* 12:00 pm, ESPN3		at Maine	W 57–33	6–2	25 – Washington	8 – Brugler	4 – Nihill	Cross Insurance Center (897) Bangor, ME
December 11, 2021* 2:00 pm		Longwood	W 79–57	7–2	23 – Nihill	16 – Leonard	7 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (524) Philadelphia, PA
December 14, 2021* 5:00 pm		Yale	W 59–52	8–2	25 – Washington	12 – Brugler	2 – 3 Tied	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,155) Philadelphia, PA
December 21, 2021* 1:00 pm		at Delaware State	Postponed due to COVID-19					Memorial Hall  Dover, DE
CAA regular season
January 7, 2022 7:00 pm		at Charleston	W 61–60	9–2 (1–0)	33 – Washington	13 – Brugler	7 – Tied	TD Arena (203) Charleston, SC
January 9, 2022 1:00 pm		at UNC Wilmington	W 71–68 OT	10–2 (2–0)	19 – Washington	13 – Leonard	5 – Nihill	Trask Coliseum (418) Wilmington, NC
January 14, 2022 7:00 pm		Northeastern	W 63–50	11–2 (3–0)	19 – Brugler	10 – Brugler	5 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (626) Philadelphia, PA
January 16, 2022 2:00 pm		Hofstra	W 72–53	12–2 (4–0)	22 – Washington	5 – Leonard	7 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (519) Philadelphia, PA
January 18, 2022 7:00 pm		Towson	W 58–54	13–2 (5–0)	17 – Washington	12 – Leonard	6 – Hendrixson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (511) Philadelphia, PA
January 23, 2022 2:00 pm, NBCSPHI		Delaware	W 70–62	14–2 (6–0)	22 – Nihill	7 – Tied	9 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (667) Philadelphia, PA
January 28, 2022 7:00 pm		at Elon	W 72–60	15–2 (7–0)	21 – Nihill	13 – Brugler	5 – Nihill	Schar Center (721) Elon, NC
January 30, 2022 2:00 pm		at William & Mary	W 75–67 2OT	16–2 (8–0)	40 – Washington	11 – Leonard	4 – Hendrixson	Kaplan Arena (256) Williamsburg, VA
February 4, 2022 7:00 pm		UNC Wilmington	W 72–39	17–2 (9–0)	19 – Nihill	4 – Tied	4 – Tied	Daskalakis Athletic Center (620) Philadelphia, PA
February 6, 2022 1:00 pm		Charleston	L 73–74	17–3 (9–1)	28 – Brugler	12 – Brugler	5 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (522) Philadelphia, PA
February 11, 2022 7:00 pm	No. RV	at Hofstra	W 63–47	18–3 (10–1)	21 – Washington	8 – Tied	7 – Nihill	Hofstra Arena (301) Hempstead, NY
February 13, 2022 12:00 pm	No. RV	at Northeastern	W 61–46	19–3 (11–1)	19 – Washington	13 – Valentine	6 – Nihill	Cabot Center (209) Boston, MA
February 16, 2022 5:00 pm		James Madison	W 64–61	20–3 (12–1)	18 – Nihill	7 – Brugler	7 – Hendrixson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (498) Philadelphia, PA
February 20, 2022 1:00 pm, NBCSPHI		at Delaware	W 65–64	21–3 (13–1)	32 – Washington	9 – Brugler	5 – Nihill	Bob Carpenter Center (1,834) Newark, DE
February 25, 2022 7:00 pm, NBCSPHI+		William & Mary	W 63–43	22–3 (14–1)	20 – Washington	7 – Brugler	8 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center (570) Philadelphia, PA
February 27, 2022 2:00 pm		Elon	W 72–57	23–3 (15–1)	27 – Washington	9 – Brugler	7 – Nihill	Daskalakis Athletic Center  Philadelphia, PA
March 3, 2022 7:00 pm		at James Madison	W 80–60	24–3 (16–1)	23 – Nihill	9 – Brugler	7 – Tied	Atlantic Union Bank Center (2,549) Harrisonburg, VA
March 5, 2022 2:00 pm		at Towson	L 61–69	24–4 (16–2)	18 – Nihill	9 – Brugler	5 – Nihill	SECU Arena (816) Towson, MD
CAA Tournament
March 11, 2022 12:00 pm	(1)	(8) Hofstra Quarterfinal	W 60–39	25–4	21 – Washington	10 – Brugler	6 – Hendrixson	Daskalakis Athletic Center  Philadelphia, PA
March 12, 2022 1:00 pm	(1)	(5) Charleston Semifinal	W 71–65	26–4	25 – Washington	16 – Brugler	9 – Hendrixson	Daskalakis Athletic Center  Philadelphia, PA
March 13, 2022 1:00 pm	(1)	(2) Delaware Championship	L 59–63	26–5	22 – Washington	8 – Brugler	5 – Hendrixson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,812) Philadelphia, PA
WNIT
March 17, 2022 6:00 pm		Norfolk State First round	W 54–47	27–5	16 – Washington	13 – Hendrixson	8 – Hendrixson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (435) Philadelphia, PA
March 21, 2022 6:00 pm		Bucknell Second round	W 61–58	28–5	18 – Nihill	7 – Tied	5 – Hendrixson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (667) Philadelphia, PA
March 24, 2022 7:00 pm		at Seton Hall Third round	L 71–78	28–6	20 – Nihill	12 – Brugler	4 – Nihill	Walsh Gymnasium (593) South Orange, NJ
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time.

Awards

Brianne Borcky

• Steven Sher Academic Award

Tessa Brugler

• CAA All-Conference Second Team
• City of Basketball Love All–City 6 First Team
• CAA Player of the Week
• Rebounding Award (team leader in rebounds)
• Mo Cronin Spirit & Leadership Award

Maura Hendrixson

• Lil Haas Coaches Award

Mariah Leonard

• Charge Leader Award (team leader in charges drawn)

Amy Mallon

• CAA Coach of the Year

Hannah Nihill

• CAA All-Conference Second Team
• CAA All-Defensive Team
• City of Basketball Love All–City 6 Second Team
• Preseason CAA All-Conference First Team
• Meghan Creighton Assist Award (team leader in assists)
• Team Defensive Player of the Year

Hetta Saatman

• Steven Sher Academic Award

Jasmine Valentine

• Liz Berry Most Improved Award (team's most improved player)

Keishana Washington

• CAA All-Conference First Team
• City of Basketball Love All–City 6 First Team
• CAA Player of the Week (4)
• CAA All-Tournament Team
• CAA Scholar Athlete of the Year
• Preseason CAA All-Conference First Team
• Team Most Valuable Player
• Steven Sher Academic Award

Rankings

Main article: 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings

Regular Season Polls

Poll	Pre- Season	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9	Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13	Week 14	Week 15	Week 16	Week 17	Week 18	Final
AP														RV					N/A
Coaches													RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV

Legend

		Increase in ranking
		Decrease in ranking
		Not ranked previous week
RV		Received votes
NR		Not ranked
( )		Number of first place votes

See also

• 2021–22 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team