PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will face off with a very potent offensive duo at Drexel on Saturday (Nov. 19) as they look for their first road victory.
The pair of graduate student Keishana Washington and freshman Kylie Lavelle are averaging more than 50 of the 79 points per contest the Dragons have scored this season.
"The fact that they average 80 is something, but then they have two kids averaging 25 apiece," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "And it's a point guard and the post. We are going to look to focus our defensive attention on those two and at the end of the day try to make the other players beat us."
The Hawks held Washington to 13 points in a 65-60 loss at Drexel last season, but while much of the roster has turned since then the other players on it are not exactly devoid of talent.
Fifth-year point guard Maura Hendrixson averages 8.5 assists per game so far this year. Lavelle also leads the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game, while Hendrixson picks off three steals a game.
"That's the plan," Batchelor said. "We have to make it difficult and get the ball out of Washington's hands and pay close attention to the post player because she can score inside and out. She can hit the mid-range, the three and she scores in all three phases."
The Hawks (1-3) got into a little bit of foul trouble in Wednesday's home loss to Wagner, but are hoping to put that behind them as they face a defensive challenge still shorthanded in the backcourt because of injury.
"Having Cache' Wilson out presents a lot of problems, but particularly in our perimeter defense because she adds a level of resistance we don't have with anybody else," Batchelor said. "We are going to have to do some unique things defensively. I thought we found some things in the last game that we need to do more of with a young team and then also give us an opportunity to try and find some other ways to score."
That could mean creating some chaos for the Dragons offense with pressure, like they employed late against Wagner.
"We want to make it a fast-paced game and try to find some ways to get some easy baskets as opposed to playing against a set defense," Batchelor said.
Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game can be seen on FloSports.
