Buzzer Beater Pushes Drew Past Catholic

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Danielle Barber hit a buzzer beating three-pointer to cap a miraculous comeback as the Rangers women's basketball team defeated the Catholic Cardinals, 65-63, in Washington, D.C. The Rangers rallied from 13 down in the final four minutes of play and scored eight unanswered points in the final minute to secure a dramatic Landmark Conference victory. The game-winner polished off Barber’s career night as the sophomore had a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Not to be lost in Barber’s heroics are Whitney Mackay’s clutch free throws, two critical threes from Ashley Logan and an outstanding defensive stand with 12 seconds left. The Rangers improve to 10-4, 2-3 in the Landmark Conference while Catholic (11-4, 4-1) suffers its first conference defeat.

The Rangers led the game for no active time in the contest, so let’s begin with 3:50 left to play in the game. Catholic’s star player, Brianna Peterson, hit a foul shot for her 28th point of the game and a 61-48 Catholic lead. Even worse for the Rangers, their starting forward, Eden Blazovic, fouled out of the game with the infraction. It was an unlikely starting point for an historic comeback. Whitney Mackay began the charge with a pair of free throws at 3:39 to make it 61-50. Drew forced a turnover at the other end and Jessica DelVecchio made it count by drilling a three off Barber’s assist. Catholic struck next as Kate Robinson put in a layup with 2:02 left for a ten point Cardinal lead. The Rangers seemed to have wasted too much time, but it just meant they had to get a little bit lucky. Jana Jagodzinski, the replacement for Blazovic, had the first of her two key plays as she scored off Barber’s feed with 1:44 left to play. The Cardinals missed both free throws at the other end and then Barber drew a foul grabbing the rebound. The sophomore hit both as Drew cut the lead to 63-57.

Catholic’s next possession saw a Cardinal get in good position, but Jagodzinski’s block prevented the hosts from scoring. Though Drew didn’t convert on the ensuing possession, the key defensive play did mean that the game entered its final minute with the Rangers trailing by six after two more missed Catholic free throws. This time, the Rangers did take advantage as Logan drilled a long three from Barber’s assist. Drew quickly called time out after the make and set up full court pressure which worked perfectly. Whitney Mackay intercepted Peterson’s pass and was fouled in the process. With cool belying her rookie status, Mackay hit both free throws to cut the lead to one, 63-62, with 44 seconds left.

Catholic had the ball with 44 seconds left, but a tremendous defensive stand by the Rangers forced a shot clock violation with 12 seconds remaining to give Drew the chance to win it. Head Coach Gail Gilchrest drew up a play in the timeout and the Rangers ran it to perfection. Barber had a look from the top of the key as the clock expired and guard responded with one of the best plays of the last five years of Drew athletics by knocking down the game winner. When the game ended, it was the first time that Drew led in the contest.

Way back in the first half, the Cardinals built a quick lead as Peterson had five of the game’s first seven points. The hosts would lead by as many as nine, on Peterson’s three with 4:51 left at 32-23, and finished the period up by eight, 36-28. Catholic was up by 12, 40-28, just over two minutes into the second, but it was their 13 point lead with 3:50 left that mark the crest of their advantage.

Among the numerous key performances for the Rangers, Logan’s eight points, all in the second half, were the tops off the bench. Mackay came through with a statsheet-filling seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. All of her points came in the second half. Jagodzinski played just four minutes, but four critical ones which have already been detailed. DelVecchio fought through an uncharacteristically poor shooting night to finish with eight points and six rebounds, including that big three late in the game. Jessica Reid’s nine and Victoria Ault’s seven were keys to the Rangers’45-41 rebounding advantage. Blazovic had ten points, the only other Ranger in double figures besides Barber.

As for Barber, the sophomore has threatened to reach triple-double status previously in her career. Most notably in last season’s Rose City Classic final victory against Hood (13 points, nine boards, six assists) and in the road win over Goucher (12 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists). Today’s 21 point, 10 rebound, 10 assists and four steal performance must go down as one of the best in the last decade of Ranger hoops. It is not immediately known when the last Ranger triple-double occurred, but neither Melissa Kraft nor Courtney Cunningham did it and though Sarah Marquez took care of the two more difficult stats (12 rebounds and 11 assists), she had only eight points against Lycoming in 2004.

For the Cardinals, Peterson had another Player of the Year type performance with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

Drew will look to carry the moment of this win over to the weekend as the Rangers are next in action against Susquehanna (7-9, 1-4) on Friday at 5:30. With the win, the Rangers jump into a tie for fourth place with Juniata at 2-3 in the Landmark Conference.

Story provided by Drew Sports Information